Caracterização da curva de crescimento de fêmeas Crioulas Lageanas criadas em condições naturais / Growth curve characterization of Crioula Lagena cows raised under natural conditions

ABSTRACT

Morphometry and ultrasound of carcasses were used to estimate the growth curve of Criola Lageana cows, raised under natural conditions. A total of 111 cows, raised under extensively production system in Central Plateau of Santa Catarina, were evaluated. Morphometrics and ultrasound measurements were related with the age of the animals using the targeted univariate regression model, assigning the variable response to gamma distribution. The inflection points of the growth curve were 24 and 25 months for withers height and hip height, between 27 and 29 for weight, body length, rump length, thorax perimeter, depth and distance between ilea. For ribeye area (REA), inflection point was 18 months. The Crioula Lageana cows presented greater growth velocity around 27 months, showing good productive performance under the natural conditions of the Central Plateau of Santa Catarina.(AU)