Caracterización morfométrica de los bovinos pantaneiros del núcleo de conservación "in situ" de Nhumirim

Una de las metas para aumentar los índices productivos de la ganadería de carne del Pantanal es obtener un biotipo animal adaptado a las peculiaridades de su ambiente, y que atienda a las exigencias del mercado. En la búsqueda de estos animales, la caracterización morfológica y zoométrica de razas locales es de extrema importancia. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar un rebaño de bovinos Pantaneiros pertenecientes al núcleo de conservación in situ de la finca Nhumirim, ubicados en la sub-región de la Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Brasil. Fueron evaluados 99 animales, siendo: 49 hembras en reproducción, 30 terneros y 20 toros reproductores. Se hicieron las siguientes medidas: largo del cuerpo (LC), largo de la grupa (LG), altura del tercio posterior (AP), altura del tercio anterior (AA), altura del costado (AC), anchura de la grupa (AG), perímetro torácico (PT) y perímetro del antebrazo (PA). Los animales presentaron medidas corporales pequeñas en relación a otras razas de la región. Las técnicas multivariadas utilizadas fueron los componentes principales y cluster, separados por categoría. De manera general, los animales del núcleo presentaron poca variación en las medidas morfométricas, con excepción de algunos individuos. En todas las categorías, el perímetro torácico fue la medida más significativa, pues explicó gran parte de la variación corporal

Variation in rectal and skin temperature of pantaneira and nelore cows and calves in the pantanal

The Pantanal region of Brazil has an inhospitable environment and highly variable climatic conditions. Animal productivity depends on the animal¿s ability to dissipate heat efficiently. The Pantaneiro (Bos taurus) and Nelore (Bos indicus) are cattle breeds that are considered adapted to these conditions. Nevertheless there are few studies showing heat tolerance of these breeds in the region. This work aims to evaluate body and skin temperatures of cows and calves of these two cattle breeds during an extremely dry year in the sub region of Nhecolândia, Pantanal. Lactating cows of the Pantaneira and Nelore, with suckling calves, raised during the same season were evaluated in November 2002 until October 2003. These animals were measured monthly for skin and body temperature and environment temperature and relative humidity of the air were also measured as the animal went through the stall. During the study period, environmental temperature varied from 22 to 43°C and relative humidity from 22 to 100 percent. Rectal temperature was influenced by environmental temperature and skin temperature. The mean rectal temperature for cows was 37.9±1.0°C and 38.1±1.7°C and calves was 39.3±0.6°C and 40.0±0.8°C for the Pantaneira and Nelore breeds, respectively. Skin temperature for the cows was 33.6±3.8°C and 32.9±3.3°C and for calves was 34.2±3.5°C and 35.6±3.2°C for the Pantaneira and Nelore breeds, respectively. The Pantaneira cows had lower rectal and skin temperatures than Nelore, and vice versa for the calves. Rectal and skin temperatures were lower in cows than calves for both breeds. Skin temperature had a high negative correlation with relative humidity for both breeds, where lower values were expected in the rainy season. This probably did not happen as there was an extreme dry season during this period. Generally, the values found for rectal and skin temperatures show thee two breeds to be adapted to conditions in the Pantanal

Performance of pantaneiro, nellore and crossed calves reared in the Pantanal, Brazil

In the Brazilian Pantanal, two breeds have been shown to be well adapted to the environmental conditions found there: Pantaneira (Bos taurus) and Nellore (Bos indicus). However, the Pantaneira breed has been almost entirely replaced by the Nellore, due to this latter be considered more productive by farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Pantaneiro, Nellore, Nellore x Pantaneiro and Nellore x Caracu calves, reared in the same environmental conditions in the Pantanal region. The data were collected from birth to 12 months of age , during the hydrological year of 2002/2003, considered to be extremely dry. A total of 40 cows and calves were evaluated, being 10 of each one of the genetic groups. In addition to weight, four body measurements including croup height (CH), body length (BC), thoracic perimeter (TP) and forelimb circumference (FC) were measured, using calipers and a steel tape. The statistical model included the effects of genetic group, sex, cow body condition score and date of measurement. The weight and all measures registered at birth presented significant differences (p<0.05) among genetic groups. The Nellore calves were heavier and presented larger TP and CH than the other groups. The Pantaneiro calves presented larger BC than the other evaluated genetic groups. Only the daily weight gain (DWG) and FC did not differ significantly among genetic groups. The weight measures were more influenced by dam age than skeletal measures. In general, the Nellore group had better growth performance followed by Nellore x Caracu, Nellore x Pantaneiro and purebred Pantaneiro. Even though DWG did not present significant differences among groups, where there was a tendency for the Nelore x Caracu show better responses followed by Nellore x Pantaneiro, Pantaneiro and Nellore. Additional studies are necessary to verify the precocity and meat quality of the different genetic groups, especially the Pantaneira bree

Performance of pantaneiro, nellore and crossed calves reared in the Pantanal, Brazil

In the Brazilian Pantanal, two breeds have been shown to be well adapted to the environmental conditions found there: Pantaneira (Bos taurus) and Nellore (Bos indicus). However, the Pantaneira breed has been almost entirely replaced by the Nellore, due to this latter be considered more productive by farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Pantaneiro, Nellore, Nellore x Pantaneiro and Nellore x Caracu calves, reared in the same environmental conditions in the Pantanal region. The data were collected from birth to 12 months of age , during the hydrological year of 2002/2003, considered to be extremely dry. A total of 40 cows and calves were evaluated, being 10 of each one of the genetic groups. In addition to weight, four body measurements including croup height (CH), body length (BC), thoracic perimeter (TP) and forelimb circumference (FC) were measured, using calipers and a steel tape. The statistical model included the effects of genetic group, sex, cow body condition score and date of measurement. The weight and all measures registered at birth presented significant differences (p<0.05) among genetic groups. The Nellore calves were heavier and presented larger TP and CH than the other groups. The Pantaneiro calves presented larger BC than the other evaluated genetic groups. Only the daily weight gain (DWG) and FC did not differ significantly among genetic groups. The weight measures were more influenced by dam age than skeletal measures. In general, the Nellore group had better growth performance followed by Nellore x Caracu, Nellore x Pantaneiro and purebred Pantaneiro. Even though DWG did not present significant differences among groups, where there was a tendency for the Nelore x Caracu show better responses followed by Nellore x Pantaneiro, Pantaneiro and Nellore. Additional studies are necessary to verify the precocity and meat quality of the different genetic groups, especially the Pantaneira bree