Abstract
The objective of this study was to use morphometric and ultrasound evaluations to estimate the growth curve of the Pantaneiro cattle breed, raised in its natural habitat, aiming at the re-insertion of this breed in production systems. One hundred and three females, aging from months to 11 years, and raised on native pastures, were evaluated. The animals belonged to the Conservation Nucleus of Embrapa Pantanal, located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Weight, thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), rump height (RH), height at withers (HW), hip height (HH), depth (DP), distance between the ilia (DI) (cm) and rib-eye area (REA) were measured. To relate the measurements with the age of the animals, the univariate regression model was used, assigning the variable response to gamma distribution. The Pearson correlation between variables was also estimated. The inflection point of the growth curve was 37 months for HH; between 38 and 39 months for TP and HW; between 40 and 41 months for DI, HH and DP; and 45 months for BL. The REA results could not fit in a statistical model. The majority of the variables presented a correlation above 60% among themselves, except for REA × Age, of 15.81%; REA × HW, of 34.44%; HH × Age, of 46.19; HH × DI, of 58.07%; REA × HH, of 24.57%; and REA × TP, of 39.9%. The cows showed maturity age at 40 months, which may have occurred because they were raised in natural farming conditions. In Pantaneiro cows reared in extensive systems only on natural pastures, the use of ultrasound is not effective to estimate the curve of muscular development, perhaps because this breed was not selected for weight gain.
Highlights
In Pantaneiro cows reared in extensive systems only on natural pastures, the use of ultrasound is not effective to estimate the curve of muscular development, perhaps because this breed was not selected for weight gain
Even though the rich ecosystem of the Brazilian Pantanal region can be considered harsh for some cattle breeds, the Pantaneiro cattle has been naturally selected in that region and is perfectly adapted to that ecosystem with its native pastures, which sometimes do not meet the requirements of other cattle breeds
The relationship between the biometric variables and the age of the animals, and the time when the growth of these animals is stabilized can be seen from the inflection point (Figure 1)
Summary
Even though the rich ecosystem of the Brazilian Pantanal region can be considered harsh for some cattle breeds, the Pantaneiro cattle has been naturally selected in that region and is perfectly adapted to that ecosystem with its native pastures, which sometimes do not meet the requirements of other cattle breeds. The Pantaneiro cattle is an excellent option for sustainable production in the Pantanal region due to its unique traits, acquired after almost 500 years of natural selection, which even include the habit of grazing in flooded areas (Mariante et al, 2009). Breed selection has allowed an increase in meat production, but presently there are concerns about meat quality (Alberti et al, 2008). According to Koury Filho (2005), it is possible that animals with different growth curves present different capacity to utilize energy resources available for production. It is extremely important to study the muscle development of locally adapted breeds, but the quality of their meat as well
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