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Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.

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Other Authors: Garces, Alice P.J.T.
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Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Garces, Alice P.J.T.
author_browse Garces, Alice P.J.T.
author_facet Garces, Alice P.J.T.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2012 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/27814
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:35.225Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/27814 Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique Garces, Alice P.J.T. Webb, E.C. (Edward Cottington) rafael.escrivao@uem.mz Escrivao, Rafael Jose Airone Body condition Beef cattle in mozambique Bos indicus Body weight and calf removal UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. The objectives of the present research were to study the factors that influence postpartum reproductive characteristics of suckling beef cows in extensive production systems in Mozambique and to develop new management strategies to improve their reproductive efficiency. The effects and interactions between post-partum BW, BCS, age and parity number on plasma concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, creatinine, urea and cortisol around oestrus and the related conception rates of Bos indicus cows in extensive production system were analysed as well as the minimum BCS at the beginning of breeding to maximise the subsequent conception rates. Thirty-five days prior to the breeding season cows were synchronised using Crestar. During the second oestrus after synchronisation, 18 blood samples were collected per animal for hormonal analysis, from 24 hr before oestrus to 24 hr after oestrus. The hormonal pattern of estradiol and progesterone around oestrus were similar to that observed in Bos taurus cows under intensive conditions. Conception rates of cows in the experimental group were 90.5%. Better results on estradiol pattern and conception rates were related to a BCS of ≥ 2.5 and it was thus concluded that the post-partum management of extensive Bos inducus cows should aim to achieve at least a BCS of 2.5 at the beginning of the breeding season. Twelve-hour and 48-hr calf removal were conducted separately to evaluate their effects on conception rates of Bos indicus beef cows in extensive production systems and to quantify the related effects on calf-weaning weights. The 12-hr calf removal was performed from 45 days post-partum to the beginning of the breeding season, and the 48-hr calf removal was performed preceding the onset of the breeding season. It was concluded that 12-hr calf separation at night enhance the energy balance (3%), increases the conception rates (80%) and improves the calf-weaning weights, whereas 48-hr calf removal increases conception rates (76%) and does not affect calf weaning weights. Both calf removal management strategies concentrate conceptions in the early part of the breeding season and stress the importance of the effect of BCS and estradiol on conception rates in Bos indicus beef cows in extensive production systems. Animal and Wildlife Sciences unrestricted 2013-09-07T12:25:44Z 2012-09-14 2013-09-07T12:25:44Z 2012-09-07 2012-09-14 2012-09-07 Thesis Escrivao, RJA 2012, Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27814 > D12/9/74/ag http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27814 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09072012-094918/ © 2012 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Body condition
Beef cattle in mozambique
Bos indicus
Body weight and calf removal
UCTD
Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title_full Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title_fullStr Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title_full_unstemmed Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title_short Effects of body condition, body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in Mozambique
title_sort effects of body condition body weight and calf removal on productive and reproductive characteristics of extensive beef cattle in mozambique
topic Body condition
Beef cattle in mozambique
Bos indicus
Body weight and calf removal
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27814
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09072012-094918/