Abstract
Simple SummaryPantaneira cattle are descendants of the genetic group of crossed European animals and are a breed locally adapted to the Brazilian Pantanal. The use of this breed in organic systems can have benefits for the conservation of the breed and because it is a genetically rustic breed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Pantaneira primiparous cows under systems with reduced use of concentrate, simulating organic production conditions. There was a reduction in milk yield, but the energy-corrected milk yield and efficiency were not affected. The Pantaneira breed has the genetic potential for the maintenance of competitive production and quality in organic systems.Pantaneiro cattle (Bos taurus taurus) is a breed locally adapted to the Brazilian Pantanal. Local breeds are essential for the quality production of organic systems based on planned grazing practices, because of their results in resilient and productive ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Pantaneira primiparous cows, and systems with reduced use of concentrate, simulating organic production conditions. Five animals, with an average body weight of 396.2 ± 43.5 kg, were kept in individual continuous grazing regimes and supplemented with different concentrate levels (1.2%, 0.9%, 0.6%, 0.3%, and 0.0% of body weight). The animals were allocated at random in a 5 × 5 Latin square design repeated twice during the study time. The cows had a low dry matter and nutrient intake with a reduction in concentrate level, with improvement in neutral detergent fiber digestibility and a reduction in total nutrient digestibility. No changes were observed in plasma glucose levels or urea excretion, but the plasma urea nitrogen decreased with reductions in concentrate levels. There was a reduction in milk yield, but the energy-corrected milk was not affected by the reduction in concentrate levels; furthermore, the milk yield efficiency was not affected. The milk fat content improved with the reduction in concentrate levels. The Pantaneira breed has the genetic potential for the maintenance of competitive production and quality in organic systems.
Highlights
Consumer demand for high quality and safe animal products, such as organic products, has been growing
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Pantaneira cows under systems with reduced use of concentrate, simulating organic production conditions, and, from the perspective of sustainable management in small farms, to help in the conservation of natural areas of Pantanal, contributing to better environmental conditions and ensuring animal genetic biodiversity
With the reduction in concentrate levels, a linear increase in forage consumption was observed, changing the forage:concentrate ratio (For):Con ratio, demonstrating that the animals had the ability to compensate for the reduction in the supply of concentrate by increasing the consumption of forage
Summary
Consumer demand for high quality and safe animal products, such as organic products, has been growing. Organic foods are commonly marketed as being healthy foods from healthier animals [1]. Local breeds are essential for the maintenance of the competitive production and quality of organic systems [2]. Pantaneira cattle are descendants of the crossing of European animals, carriers of the genes of. According to an FAO report [6], there are currently only 500 pure-bred animals, split between two conservationist herds, because the main threat to Pantaneira breed is the crossing with commercial breeds. Pantaneira cattle have a smaller body size but have kept their bovine ancestors’ genes related to high maternal ability and longevity [7] and featuring high birth rate, normal deliveries, and healthy offspring [8]
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