RESUMO
Investigating factors that could affect milk production of cows is an important way to improve the efficiency of production systems. This purpose of this study was to verify and quantify the influence of calf sex on milk production and lactation length in herds of Holstein, Gir, and Guzera cows. Data from 10,780 lactations of 4,807 Holstein cows that calved between 2001 and 2013; 18,898 lactations of 13,172 Gir cows that calved between 1985 and 2013; and 5,277 lactations of 3,972 Guzera cows that calved between 1987 and 2013 were used. Both the accumulated 305-day milk yield (P305) and the length of the lactation period up to 305 days (DL305) were evaluated. Analysis of variance was performed by the least squares method using the GLM procedure in the SAS statistical program. The P305 was not influenced by the sex of the calf in the Holstein breed. However in the zebu breeds (Gir and Guzera), both P305 and DL305 were significantly affected (P 0.01) by the sex of the calf, with higher production and average length of lactation in cows that calved males. In addition, a significant difference was also nested within sex of calf and age at first calving (P 0.05) in the Gir breed. The results indicate that for the zebu breeds, calf sex influences production characteristics.
A investigação de fatores que interferem na produção de vacas leiteiras é de grande importância para eficiência dos sistemas de produção. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar e quantificar a influência do sexo do bezerro sobre produção de leite e sobre a duração da lactação em rebanhos das raças Holandesa, Gir Leiteiro e Guzerá. Foram avaliadas 10.780 lactações de 4.807 vacas Holandesas, paridas entre 2001 e 2013; 18.898 lactações de 13.172 vacas Gir Leiteiro paridas de 1985 a 2013 e 5.277 lactações ocorridas entre 1987 e 2013, de 3.972 vacas Guzerá. As características estudadas foram produção de leite acumulada em 305 dias e duração da lactação (até 305 dias). A análise de variância foi realizada pelo método de quadrados mínimos, através do procedimento GLM do programa estatístico SAS. A produção de leite acumulada aos 305 dias (P305) na raça Holandesa não foi influenciada pelo sexo do bezerro. Entretanto, para os animais de origem zebuína (Gir leiteiro e Guzerá), ambas as características foram significativamente influenciadas (P 0,01) pelo sexo do bezerro, sendo observadas maiores produções de leite e duração de lactação para vacas que pariram machos. Também foi observada diferença significativa do sexo do bezerro aninhado dentro de idade da vaca ao parto (P 0,05) para a raça Gir leiteiro. Estes resultados indicam que para as raças zebuínas, o sexo do bezerro influe
RESUMO
Investigating factors that could affect milk production of cows is an important way to improve the efficiency of production systems. This purpose of this study was to verify and quantify the influence of calf sex on milk production and lactation length in herds of Holstein, Gir, and Guzera cows. Data from 10,780 lactations of 4,807 Holstein cows that calved between 2001 and 2013; 18,898 lactations of 13,172 Gir cows that calved between 1985 and 2013; and 5,277 lactations of 3,972 Guzera cows that calved between 1987 and 2013 were used. Both the accumulated 305-day milk yield (P305) and the length of the lactation period up to 305 days (DL305) were evaluated. Analysis of variance was performed by the least squares method using the GLM procedure in the SAS statistical program. The P305 was not influenced by the sex of the calf in the Holstein breed. However in the zebu breeds (Gir and Guzera), both P305 and DL305 were significantly affected (P 0.01) by the sex of the calf, with higher production and average length of lactation in cows that calved males. In addition, a significant difference was also nested within sex of calf and age at first calving (P 0.05) in the Gir breed. The results indicate that for the zebu breeds, calf sex influences production characteristics.
A investigação de fatores que interferem na produção de vacas leiteiras é de grande importância para eficiência dos sistemas de produção. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar e quantificar a influência do sexo do bezerro sobre produção de leite e sobre a duração da lactação em rebanhos das raças Holandesa, Gir Leiteiro e Guzerá. Foram avaliadas 10.780 lactações de 4.807 vacas Holandesas, paridas entre 2001 e 2013; 18.898 lactações de 13.172 vacas Gir Leiteiro paridas de 1985 a 2013 e 5.277 lactações ocorridas entre 1987 e 2013, de 3.972 vacas Guzerá. As características estudadas foram produção de leite acumulada em 305 dias e duração da lactação (até 305 dias). A análise de variância foi realizada pelo método de quadrados mínimos, através do procedimento GLM do programa estatístico SAS. A produção de leite acumulada aos 305 dias (P305) na raça Holandesa não foi influenciada pelo sexo do bezerro. Entretanto, para os animais de origem zebuína (Gir leiteiro e Guzerá), ambas as características foram significativamente influenciadas (P 0,01) pelo sexo do bezerro, sendo observadas maiores produções de leite e duração de lactação para vacas que pariram machos. Também foi observada diferença significativa do sexo do bezerro aninhado dentro de idade da vaca ao parto (P 0,05) para a raça Gir leiteiro. Estes resultados indicam que para as raças zebuínas, o sexo do bezerro influe
RESUMO
In dairy farming, the productive performance of lactating cows is directly related to the efficiency of the production system. In this respect, studies in different areas investigating animal production try to understand the determinant factors of milk production. Many studies have shown a high correlation between milk production of cows and performance of their calves; however, few studies have addressed the influence of calf sex on milk production. With the objective to evaluate the influence of fetal sex on the milk production of Holstein cows, the present study analyzed cumulative milk yield data provided by the Agrindus Farm in Descalvado, São Paulo. A total of 10,780 calvings of 4,807 cows that had calved between April 2001 and October 2013 and their cumulative yields during lactation according to offspring sex were evaluated. The PROC GLM procedure of the SAS software (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC) was used for analysis. The contemporary group was defined as year and month of calving, with a minimum of 5 observations per group. In addition to contemporary group, the effects of management group and calving order of the cow were included in the model. Mean cumulative yields were 9,800.79 and 9,802.95 kg for cows that had given birth to males and females, respectively. There was no significant difference (P=0.9519) in cumulative milk yield of cows during the study period as a
O artigo não apresenta resumo em português.
RESUMO
In dairy farming, the productive performance of lactating cows is directly related to the efficiency of the production system. In this respect, studies in different areas investigating animal production try to understand the determinant factors of milk production. Many studies have shown a high correlation between milk production of cows and performance of their calves; however, few studies have addressed the influence of calf sex on milk production. With the objective to evaluate the influence of fetal sex on the milk production of Holstein cows, the present study analyzed cumulative milk yield data provided by the Agrindus Farm in Descalvado, São Paulo. A total of 10,780 calvings of 4,807 cows that had calved between April 2001 and October 2013 and their cumulative yields during lactation according to offspring sex were evaluated. The PROC GLM procedure of the SAS software (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC) was used for analysis. The contemporary group was defined as year and month of calving, with a minimum of 5 observations per group. In addition to contemporary group, the effects of management group and calving order of the cow were included in the model. Mean cumulative yields were 9,800.79 and 9,802.95 kg for cows that had given birth to males and females, respectively. There was no significant difference (P=0.9519) in cumulative milk yield of cows during the study period as a
O artigo não apresenta resumo em português.