Relação entre altura de garupa de vacas da raça Nelore com peso a desmama da progênie

Abstract

Weaning represents a critical stage in beef cattle production, directly impacting the productive performance of both calves and dams. Morphological characteristics of cows, such as hip height, may influence calf growth and have been considered in studies focused on zootechnical efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the hip height of Nelore cows and the weaning weight of their calves. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda GW Nelore Angus from 2019 to 2022, involving 46 Nelore cows artificially inseminated by fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) with Angus bull semen. The cows were kept in confinement and fed a balanced diet. Hip height was measured during handling at the beginning of the breeding season, with the animals on pasture. Calf weaning weight was recorded using a scale during routine handling at the time of weaning. Statistical analysis showed that hip height ranged from 132 to 157 cm, with an average of 140.54 ± 5.75 cm, while weaning weight ranged from 118 to 240 kg, with an average of 179.26 ± 28.94 kg. Despite the initial expectation of a potential relationship between the variables, the results indicated that there was no significant correlation between the cows’ hip height and the calves’ weaning weight. It is concluded that, under the conditions of this study, hip height is not a reliable indicator of calf weaning performance. These findings suggest that other factors, possibly related to genetics, nutrition, or management, should be considered for a more accurate assessment of the productive potential of cows and their offspring, highlighting the need for continued research with multivariate approaches and larger sample sizes.