Body condition score and reproductive performance in beef cows in the pantanal area of Mato Grosso do Sul state – Brazil

Abstract

It was evaluated the effect of nutritional condition over reproductive performance of 69 Nelore beef cows under Artificial Insemination from December 2005 to April 2006. Teaser bulls wearing chin-ball marker and visual observation were used for heat detection. Body Condition Scoring was performed individually at insemination with an scale ranging from 1 to 6. The variables, estrous occurrence and positive pregnancy showed binomial probability distribution, allowing to estimate the behavior of heat detection, heat detection after first insemination and positive pregnancy as a function of the effects of age, body condition score and current status (weaned or with suckling calf). Results indicated that the variables positive pregnancy, heat detection and heat detection after first insemination were influenced by the cow’s body condition score. The effects of age and body condition score showed significant interaction for positive pregnancy and heat detection after first insemination. Cow’s current status showed significant effect over heat detection and over body condition score, pointing out that cows having suckling calves showed the lowest scores.