Energy metabolism of pregnant zebu and crossbred zebu dairy cattle.

The purpose of this study was to determine the energy partition of pregnant F1 Holstein x Gyr with average initial body weight (BW) of 515.6 kg and Gyr cows with average initial BW of 435.1 kg at 180, 210 and 240 days of gestation, obtained using respirometry. Twelve animals in two groups (six per genetic group) received a restricted diet equivalent to 1.3 times the net energy for maintenance (NEm). The proportion of gross energy intake (GEI) lost as feces did not differ between the evaluated breeds and corresponded to 28.65% on average. The daily methane production (L/d) was greater for (P<0.05) F1 HxG compared to Gyr animals. However, when expressed as L/kg dry matter (DM) or as percentage of GEI there were no differences between the groups (P>0.05). The daily loss of energy as urine (mean of 1.42 Mcal/d) did not differ (P>0.05) between groups and ranged from 3.87 to 5.35% of the GEI. The metabolizable energy intake (MEI) of F1 HxG animals was greater (P < 0.05) at all gestational stages compared to Gyr cows when expressed in Mcal/d. However, when expressed in kcal/kg of metabolic BW (BW0,75), the F1 HxG cows had MEI 11% greater (P<0.05) at 240 days of gestation and averaged 194.39 kcal/kg of BW0,75. Gyr cows showed no change in MEI over time (P>0.05), with a mean of 146.66 kcal/kg BW0. 75. The ME used by the conceptus was calculated by deducting the metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) from the MEI, which was obtained in a previous study using the same cows prior to becoming pregnant. The values of NEm obtained in the previous study with similar non-pregnant cows were 92.02 kcal/kg BW0.75 for F1 HxG, and 76.83 kcal/kg BW0.75 for Gyr (P = 0.06). The average ME for pregnancy (MEp) was 5.33 Mcal/d for F1 HxG and 4.46 Mcal/d for Gyr. The metabolizability ratio, averaging 0.60, was similar among the evaluated groups (P>0.05). The ME / Digestible Energy (DE) ratio differed between groups and periods evaluated (P<0.05) with a mean of 0.84. The heat increment (HI) accounted for 22.74% and 24.38% of the GEI for F1 HxG and Gyr cows, respectively. The proportion of GEI used in the basal metabolism by pregnant cows in this study represented 29.69%. However, there were no differences between the breeds and the evaluation periods and corresponded to 29.69%. The mean NE for pregnancy (NEp) was 2.76 Mcal/d and did not differ between groups and gestational stages (P>0.05).

Características produtivas da lactação de quatro grupos genéticos F1 Holandês x Zebu / Lactation productive characteristics of four genetic groups F1 Holstein x Zebu

Estudou-se a lactação de vacas F1 Holandês x Gir, Holandês x Guzerá, Holandês x Azebuado e Holandês x Nelore em nove ordens de partos obtida em duas ordenhas diárias. Analisou-se a produção média diária, o pico de lactação, o dia que ocorreu o pico e a proporção da produção na primeira e segunda ordenha diária. O sistema de produção, no qual os animais foram criados, utilizava-se de pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens e Brachiaria brizanta como alimentação volumosa na época das chuvas e silagem de milho e ou cana-de-açúcar como suplementos na época da seca.. A ração concentrada foi fornecida de acordo com a produção leiteira. Observou que todas as características avaliadas foram diretamente influenciadas pela ordem de partos e base materna. Dentre os resultados encontrados, destaca-se que, a produção média diária de leite das vacas F1 Holandês x Gir e Holandês x Azebuado foram maiores e similares entre si, enquanto que vacas F1 Holandês x Guzerá e Holandês x Nelore tiveram menores produções e também foram similares entre si. Conclui-se que todos os grupos genéticos podem ser utilizados para a produção de leite por apresentarem produções médias diárias superiores a 10 kg/vaca/dia, sendo compatíveis com a produção de leite em pasto.

We studied the lactation of F1 Holstein x Gir, Holstein x Guzerat, Holstein x Azebuado and Holstein x Nellore cows in nine calvingorders from two daily milkings. The average daily production, the lactation peak, the day when the peak occurred and the ratio ofproduction in the first and in the second daily milking were analyzed. In the production system, in which the animals were raised, Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizanta grazing were used as roughage in the rainy season, and corn silage or cane sugaras supplement in the dry season. The concentrate ration was supplied in accordance with the production. It was observed that all of the evaluated traits were directly influenced by the calving order and maternal basis. Amongst the findings, it is outstood that, the average daily milk production of F1 Holstein x Gir and Holstein x Azebuado cows were higher and similar between them while F1 Holstein x Guzerat and Holstein x Nellore cows presented lower productions and they were also similar between them. It is concluded that all of the genotypes groups can be used for the milk production because presenting average daily production higher than 10 kg/cow/day, being compatible with milk production in pasture.

Desempenho de bezerros filhos de vacas F1 Holandês Zebu submetidas a diferentes sistemas de alimentação e manejo / Performance of calves from F1 Holstein x Zebu cows under different feeding systems

A viabilização de modelo de produção no qual o bezerro é componente econômico torna-se muito relevante para todo o setor produtivo. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento de bezerros 3/4 Zebu Holandês filhos de vacas F1 Holandês Zebu, submetidas a diferentes períodos de ordenha e alimentadas com diferentes volumosos. As 30 vacas F1 Holandês Zebu, mães dos bezerros, foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1 – Pastagens, mais 1,250kg de proteinado por dia e ordenhadas até o final da lactação; T2 – pastagens, mais 1,250kg de proteinado por dia e ordenhadas até o 200o dia de lactação; T3 – volumoso em cocho e ordenhadas até o final da lactação. Os bezerros foram criados em piquetes, e sua alimentação constituída de leite até 90 dias de idade e como volumoso silagem de milho na época seca e pastagens no verão. Os bezerros do T2, após o 200o de lactação, permaneceram com suas mães. Nos primeiros 200 dias de lactação, período em que todas as vacas foram ordenhadas, não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos (P>0,05) sobre os ganhos médios de peso dos bezerros. Bezerros do grupo T2, mantidos a pasto com as respectivas mães, a partir do 200º dia de lactação até a secagem definitiva das vacas, apresentaram maior ganho de peso. O manejo alternativo de ordenhar vacas até o 200o dia de lactação e posteriormente mantê-las com os bezerros até a secagem definitiva, sem que sejam ordenhadas, promove maior ganho de peso dos bezerros em relação ao manejo tradicional.

The viability of production system in which the calf is an economic component is relevant for the entire production sector. This study was carried out to evaluate the growth of ¾ HZ calves, progenies of F1 HZ cows submitted to three milking periods and fed different roughages. Thirty F1 cows were randomly allotted to three feeding treatments: T1 – Pasture plus 1.250 kg of supplement/day; T2 – Pasture plus 1.250 kg of supplement/day; T3 – Roughage offered in feedlot. The cows were milked daily to the end of the lactation period, except for cows of treatment T2, which were milked during 200 days of lactation. Calves were fed milk until 60 days of age and corn silage during the dry season and pastures in the rainy season. The T2 calves remained with their mothers from 200 days to the end of the lactation period. No difference (P>0.05) among treatments for calf weight gain until the 200 days of lactation was observed. After 200 days of lactation, T2 calves, remaining with their no milked mothers, showed higher weight gain (P<0.05) in comparison to calves of the other treatments. Calves allotted to the alternative system in which they remained with their no milked mother from 200 days of lactation to the end of lactation period show higher weight gain, in comparison to calves from the traditional system.