Effect of early weaning and average daily gain on the appearance of puberty in Nellore and crossbred heifers (Angus x Nellore)

• Grant number: 18/06242-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Vaz Pires
• Grantee: Janaina Socolovski Biava
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/14136-4 - Technological innovations to increase productivity in beef cattle: nutritional and genetic interrelationships about puberty, reproduction and production. Protocols for TAI. Gene expression in reproductive processes, AP.TEM

Abstract

The food production in the world needs to increase around 70% by 2050 to feed an additional 2.3 million people. The expected increase in beef consumption is even greater, and its production is expected to increase from 60 to 130 million tonnes in the same period (FAO, 2013) using the same resources in limited areas. Therefore, only increasing the efficiency in the segment can provide strategies that promote such production. One of the world's leading beef exporters, Brazil have a beef herd composed of 80% of zebu breeds, especially Nellore. Despite this economic importance, there are still large gaps in the scientific approach that limit knowledge of nutrition and reproductive physiology of Nellore and its crossbreed with Angus, the most common crossbreed on a commercial scale in Brazil. Then, this project aims to advance significantly in filling these gaps by including eleven experiments that will cover the understanding of anticipating puberty in Nellore and crossbred heifers, evaluation of hormonal TAI protocols, including studies that detail the understanding of luteolysis, a nutritional supplementation after insemination to minimize losses, and lately, with a study of the impacts that heifers with improper temperament cause on its reproductive rates. In order to perform this, a strong partnership between researchers from ESALQ-USP, The Ohio State University, Oregon State University, UNESP Araçatuba and FMVZ-USP will provide the accomplishment of this project, enabling the advancement in nutritional and reproductive physiological knowledge of Nellore and the main commercial crossbreed for the production of beef cattle in Brazil. (AU)