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Volume 19, Issue 7 (Supplementary Issue - 2017)
Abstract
Knowledge of buffalo growth curves is essential for improving reproductive management, nutritional strategies and identifying the best slaughter age. We provided the first joint study comparing growth curves of the three major buffalo breeds. Additionally, we used principal component analysis and Biplot graphics to evaluate the degree of similarity between the groups (breed by sex) and their relationship with mature weight, maturation rate and weight at different ages. The dataset included 8,550 weight records from 1,391 Jaffarabadi, Mediterranean and Murrah buffaloes. The Bertalanffy model had the best fit. The mature weights were 696.64±8.50 and 678.53±9.44 kg (Mediterranean), 716.26±48.54 and 629.28±32.11 kg (Jaffarabadi) and 694.69±17.97 and 556.53±15.49 kg (Murrah) male and female, respectively, by Bertalanffy model. All breeds reaching 75% of mature weight in less than two years. Murrah females were particularly productive, having high precocity and low weight maturity - important biotypes for milk production. Murrah males showed intermediate characteristics, and high potential for meat production in dairy herds. Mediterranean animals showed high weight gain, median precocity and medium to high weight at maturity, supporting its status as the main breed for beef production in Brazil. Jaffarabadi males had high mature weight, slow growth in the first year of life followed by high growth thereafter. Female Jaffarabadi were smaller and showed a similar level of precocity to Mediterranean animals. Buffaloes in Brazil have traditionally been used for milk production; however, our study clearly demonstrates that all three breeds have appropriate characteristics for meat production.
Volume 22, Issue 4 (6-2020)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the differences in digit sizes from both pelvic limbs of 169 dairy cows of different genetic groups (Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, and Jersolando), in lactating and non-lactating conditions, and their relation with diseases. Images were taken from the plantar view of the lateral and medial digits, and the length and width of the sole and bulb were then measured. Variables were discarded and factors for analysis were defined. Data were defined according to the highest coefficients and used to discriminate genetic groups and their association with indexes of foot diseases and productive performance. The Chi-square test showed that higher involvement occurred in lactating cows and in the right pelvic limb. Differences among all genetic groups were observed regarding the variables body weight, productive longevity, incidence of foot diseases, and generated factors. The Jersey breed was isolated from the other genetic groups because it presented lower coefficients for all variables; Holstein and Brown Swiss presented the highest morphometric measures of the digits, a higher body weight, and productive longevity, and higher rates of foot diseases. The Jersolando presented intermediate values between those of the two breeds from which it originated. The susceptibility to foot diseases is associated with breed, lactational stage, body weight, and with the morphometric parameters of the digits.