Influence of calf vigour and suckling assistance from birth to weaning in Guzera beef cattle

Author(s)

Vilela Pires, Bianca ^[1] ; de Freitas, Luara Afonso ^[1] ; Voltareli da Silva, Gabriele ^[2] ; Brasil Garcia Pimenta Neves Pereira Lima, Sergio ^[3] ; dos Santos Goncalves Cyrillo, Joslaine Noely ^[3] ; Bonvino Stafuzza, Nedenia ^[3] ; Pereira de Lima, Maria Lucia ^[3] ; Paro de Paz, Claudia Cristina ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Genet, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Nutr & Anim Prod, Ave Duque Caxias Norte 225, Campus Fernando Costa, BR-13635900 Pirassununga, SP - Brazil

^[3] Anim Sci Inst, Beef Cattle Res Ctr, Rodovia Carlos Tonanni, Km 94, Caixa Postal 63, BR-14160900 Sertaozinho, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE; v. 61, n. 8 MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Context. Maternal ability, cow nutrition, and calf sex are factors that affect beef cattle production in extensive systems. The Guzera cattle is an important breed in Brazil, where satisfactory growth rates are reported; however, studies on post-parturition calf and cow behaviour are scarce. Aims. This study aimed to identify the influence of vigour at birth (ability to stand and suckle without assistance) and human assistance in colostrum intake (HA) on the haematological profile, cortisol concentration, and growth until weaning of Guzera beef calf. Methods. The following traits were observed in 73 male and 83 female calves: cow age at calving, sex, birthweight, vigour, HA, haematological profile, cortisol concentration, bodyweight at 120 days (W120), weaning weight, average daily gain and mortality. Variance analysis was performed using the general linear model procedure of the SAS software. Key results. Haematocrit (P = 0.04) and red blood cells (P = 0.004) were higher in calves requiring HA. Cortisol was also higher (P = 0.03) in calves that required HA (81.34 ng/mL x 59.40 ng/mL). The weaning weight and average daily gain were higher (P < 0.05) in calves that did not require HA and showed good vigour (200.38 kg and 0.83 kg/day respectively) than in calves that required HA and showed good vigour (163.7 kg and 0.68 kg/day respectively). The mortality rate was higher in calves that showed poor vigour at birth (25%). Conclusions. Both vigour and the need for HA are important traits that should be evaluated during the development of newborn calves. These assessments in the herd can contribute to minimise the mortality rate and maximise the health and weight gain until weaning of beef calves. Implications. Few studies have reported the role of vigour and colostrum intake in the development of calves. Despite the difficulty of human interference in extensive cattle farming, the calf vigour combined with human assistance at birth can minimise the losses and increase the performance of beef cattle. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/10438-0 - Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyzes to identify biomarkers for feed efficiency, heat stress and tick resistance in Caracu breed
• Grantee: Nedenia Bonvino Stafuzza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 17/50339-5 - Institutional research development plan of the Animal Science Institute (PDIp)
• Grantee: Lenira El Faro Zadra
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - State Research Institutes Modernization Program
• FAPESP's process: 18/01540-2 - Prediction of genomic values using Bayesian models and neural networks for endoparasite resistance traits in Santa Inês sheep
• Grantee: Luara Afonso de Freitas Januário
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate