Reproductive development of dairy heifers in an integrated livestock-forest system during the summer.

This study aimed to assess the cortisol, body and reproductive development of prepubertal Holstein and Holstein-Gir ¾ heifers at 27 months of age maintained in an integrated livestock-forest (ILF) system for 60 summer days compared to the monoculture system in full sun (FS). The ILF system promoted changes (P=0.02) in the cortisol levels of Holstein-Gir ¾ heifers and did not affect weight gain in any of the breed groups studied. Animals in ILF system presented a lower (P=0.006) vulvar development for the rima height parameter and similar for the vulva width parameter. The ovarian follicular population of Holstein-Gir ¾ heifers in the ILF system was lower (P=0.004); however, for the Holstein heifers, no statistical difference was found, and numbers were higher (P=0.08) in the ILF system. None of the other ovarian parameters studied had any changes, and we also found important racial differences. Weight gain (P=0.003), vulvar development (P<0.001), and mean follicular size (P=0.008) were higher in the Holstein-Gir ¾ animals. Based on such results, the effect of the ILF system at 27 months of age on stress and reproductive parameters in the Holstein breed is considered positive, although negative effects have been detected on reproductive parameters in the Holstein-Gir ¾ breed.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	DIAS, H. R. S., CAMARGO, A. J. dos R., OLIVEIRA, G. F., MOURÃO, A. M., SARAIVA, N. Z., CAMARGO, L. S. de A., MULLER, M. D., MARTINS, C. E., NOGUEIRA, L. A. G., BRANDÃO, F. Z., OLIVEIRA, C. S.
Other Authors:	HUGO ROCHA SABENÇA DIAS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL FLUMINENSE; AGOSTINHO JORGE DOS REIS CAMARGO; GABRIELA FERREIRA OLIVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO; ANDERSON MOREIRA MOURÃO; NAIARA ZOCCAL SARAIVA, CNPGL; LUIZ SERGIO DE ALMEIDA CAMARGO, CNPGL; MARCELO DIAS MULLER, CNPGL; CARLOS EUGENIO MARTINS, CNPGL; LUIZ ALTAMIRO GARCIA NOGUEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL FLUMINENSE; FELIPE ZANDONADI BRANDÃO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL FLUMINENSE; CLARA SLADE OLIVEIRA, CNPGL.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	Ingles English
Published:	2023-10-31
Subjects:	Estresse térmico, Desenvolvimento reprodutivo, Sistema integrado, Integração pecuaria-floresta, Bovino, Bem-Estar, Gado Leiteiro, Reprodução Animal,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1157603 https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2023-0100
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!