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Reproductive performance of Pitangueiras cattle in Brazil

R.B. Lôbo^I; J.C. Reis^IIF.A.M. Duarte^I; C.J. Wilcox^III

^IDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil Send correspondence to R.B.L.
^IIRural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
^IIIDairy Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

ABSTRACT

Data from 1,775 parturitions of 453 cows by 100 sires for 1977 to 1982 were analyzed, using least squares and maximum likelihood procedures. Overall means for traits studied were age at first parturition (AFP), 39.5 months; calving interval (CI), 409 days; days open (DO); 121.9 days; gestation length (GL), 286.2 days; number of services per conception (NSC), 1.84: AFP, CI and DO were significantly affected by genetic group. Age of cow, and month and year of calving had significant effects on CI, DO, and NSC; AFP was affected only by year of birth. Repeatabilities estimated from intraclass correlation were CI, 0.18 ± 0.03: DO, 0.18 ± 0.03: GL 0.10 ± 0.02, and NSC, 0.12 ± 0.02. Heritability of AFP was 0.38 ± 0.18. Reproductive performance of Pitangueiras cows is considered satisfactory for tropical conditions, and these cattle could be raised economically in large regions of Brazil for milk production Under pasture conditions.

Keywords: reproductive; Pitangueiras; cattle.

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