Effect of feeding strategies on weaning weight and milk production of Holstein × Zebu calves in dual purpose milk production systems.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of five feeding strategies on calf weaning weight, and cow milk production and composition in Brazilian Holstein × Zebu cows. A total of 60 cows and their calves were allocated to each of five treatments. Cows in treatments 1, 2 and 3 were milked for 270 days and cows in treatments 4 and 5 were milked for 180 days. Calves in treatment 1 (CON) were not supplemented with concentrate whereas calves from treatment 2 (CLPN) received 1 kg of concentrate daily from 90 to 270 days of age and calves from treatment 3 received 1 kg of concentrated from 180 to 270 days of age. Calves in treatment 4 (CCPS) were supplemented with 1 kg of concentrate from 90 to 180 days of age and calves in treatment 5 (CLPS) were supplemented with 1 kg of concentrate from 90 to 270 days of age. Calves from the CLPS treatment had greater milk and protein intakes (P < 0.05) and greater growth rate than calves from the other treatments. Our results indicate that the traditional system of feeding calves with no concentrate results in a weight gain of 600 g/day. The CLPS treatment produced calves with the highest live weight and growth rate. The nutritional strategy with restricted supply of milk for the calves with concomitantly short-term concentrate supplementation does not improve performance of calves but did increase feed costs.

Meat production in a feedlot system of Zebu-Holstein steers and heifers with dairy genetics: productive and biological analyses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive and biological efficiency of steers and heifers from dairy genetics in a feedlot system in terms of meat production. Twenty-four steers and 24 heifers at 10 monthes of age, (3/4) Zebu × (1/4) Holstein were utilized. They were distributed over four feedlot times, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days with four replications for each sex, and were slaughtered at the end of each period. The productive and biological analyses were performed through comparative slaughter to determine the body composition. Heifers presented with greater intakes (P < 0.05) of dry matter in grams per kg of body weight. Steers presented with a greater (P < 0.05) final empty body weight, carcass gain, cold carcass weight, and meat proportion in the carcass; however, heifers presented with a greater subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.05) and, consequently, a greater (P < 0.05) fat proportion in the carcass. We conclude that steers are more efficient in their productive performance than heifers in a feedlot. For the finishing carcass fat cover, heifers need 90 days in the feedlot. The net energy requirements for maintenance are 67 kcal/EBW(0.75)/d, and the net requirements of energy (NEg) and protein (NPg) for gain can be estimated by the following equations: NEg(Mcal/d) = 0.067 × EBW(0.75) × EBG(1.095) and NPg = 162 × EBG - 5.62 × RE for the two sexes.

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.

Efeito do número de ordenhas diárias sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas mestiças Holandês-Zebu / Effect of the number of daily milking on reproductive performance of crossbred (Holtein x Zebu) cows

Avaliou-se a influência do número de ordenhas diárias sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de 63 vacas mestiças (Holandês-Zebu) com boa condição corporal ao parto, distribuídas em três grupos (G) experimentais: GI – vacas ordenhadas uma vez aodia; GII – vacas ordenhadas duas vezes ao dia; GIII – vacas ordenhadas alternadamente a cada 14 dias, uma ou duas vezesao dia. O retorno ao estro (84,3 dias; 81,7 dias e 71,2 dias); a taxa de manifestação de estro (80,9%; 80,90% e 80,90%); operíodo de serviço (99,0 dias; 114,0 dias e 93,1 dias) e a taxa de gestação até 120 dias pós-parto (66,7%; 57,1%; 66,7%) nãoforam influenciados (P>0,05) pelo aumento do número de ordenhas diárias

This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the number of daily milking on reproductive performance of 63 crossbred(Holstein-Zebu) cows, with good body condition score at calving, allocatted into three groups (G) according the number of dailymilking: GI – cows milked once a day; GII – cows milked twice a day; GIII - cows milked alternating once or twice a day, everyfourteen days. The return to estrous (84.3 days; 81.7 days and 71.2 days); estrous rates (80.9%; 80.90% e 80.90%); serviceperiod (99.0 days; 114.0 days and 93.1 days) and pregnant rates until 120 day postpartum (66.7%; 57.1%; 66.7%) were notinfluenced (P>0.05) by the number of daily milking