Animal temperament and reproductive implications in Nelore bovine females in FTAI programs

• Grant number: 17/06521-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: May 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Maria Bertan Membrive
• Grantee: Barbara Piffero Mello
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The behavioral reactivity and stress determine some changes in the release pattern of some hormones in the animals organism. Such circumstances cause effects on the reproductive system and consequently can affect the success of the conception. Zebu females, which represent more than 80% of the national female herds, are the most susceptible to stress. Just in a few studies, the relationship between behavioral reactivity and the pregnancy rates was evaluate. The great majority of the studies performed in this context were not with the Nelore breed and most of them used a small number of experimental units. Therefore the objective of this study is to relate the effect of behavioral reactivity during the management of the fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol with pregnancy rates (Experiment 1) and to verify if the use of Vitamin and Minerals supplements as an antioxidant, combined with FTAI favors pregnancy rates in Nelore cattle with different patterns of behavioral reactivity (Experiment 2). The data that will be used in the mentioned proposal compose an existing database, generated in the Administrative Campus of USP, in Pirassununga / SP, with heifers, primiparous and multiparous of the Nelore breed, during the breeding seasons between 2011 and 2015. In Experiment 1, the animals (n = 1500) will be selected from an existing database, where the pregnancy rate will be related to the data of rectal temperature, temperature and humidity index (THI) and behavioral reactivity during usual procedures of FTAI programs. Statistical modeling will be performed to retrospectively verify the relationships between environmental and behavioral factors with the fertility of these females. In Experiment 2, a prospective experiment will be carried out with a comparative analysis of the pregnancy rate of Nelore females (n = 750) with different behavioral reactivities supplemented or not with vitamins and minerals (MIN and VIT Adapter - Biogenesis Bágo) allied to the FTAI. A better understanding of the relationship between these factors and the pregnancy rate may contribute to the elaboration of strategies and practices of animal welfare and management that favor the increase of reproductive performance in bovine females, especially in more temperamental breeds. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MELLO, BARBARA PIFFERO; MATURANA FILHO, MILTON; LEMES, KLEBER MENEGON; GONCALVEZ, REUEL LUIZ; MENDES LOLLATO, JOAO PAULO; ZANELLA, ADROALDO JOSE; DE VASCONCELOS FERREIRA, TEISSIANE FERNANDA; PUGLIESI, GUILHERME; MADUREIRA, ED HOFFMANN; GONELLA-DIAZA, ANGELA; et al. Importance of temperament in the pregnancy by timed insemination in bovine females Bos taurus indicus. LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, v. 240, OCT 2020. (17/06521-3)