Eficiência de utilização da energia alimentar para a produção de bezerros em vacas Nelore e mestiças

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of conversion of dry matter (DM) and metabolizable energy (ME) of the diet on weight gain and weight of calf weaned per cow. A total of 13 Nellore, 13 crossbred F1 Simental x Nellore (SN) and 13 F1 Limousin x Nellore (LN) cows with 5 to 9 years of age and their offspring was used. Between 15 and 210 days post calving, the cows were kept in individual stalls, with the calves. Diets contained 30:70% (% DM) concentrate to corn or sorghum silages ratio, in the first and second half of the experimental period, respectively. The metabolizable energy content of the diet was obtained using the 0.82 factor in the conversion of digestible energy, experimentally determined, in metabolizable energy. The milk production was determined monthly using the calf weigh-suckle-weigh method. The efficiency was evaluated considering the ratios: kg of calf weaned and kg weight gain of calf per kg DM, or by Mcal of EM consumed by the cow, or by cow/calf pair in the period of lactation or were estimated for all the year. The relationship of calf weight/weight of the cow (CP/LW) at weaning was also considered. The crossbred cows showed higher efficiency of conversion of the DM and the feed energy in weight of weaned calf and in weight gain of calf. They showed also the highest relations CP/LW at weaning. The two crossbred groups did not differ on the efficiency. The use of matrices obtained by crossing European breeds and Nellore cattle enables raising the efficiency of cow-calf enterprise. © 2008 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.