Abstract

ARCE RECINOS, Carlos et al. Productive and reproductive parameters in dual-purpose Zebu x Holstein cattle in Tabasco, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.1, pp.83-91. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v8i1.4347.

An evaluation was done of productive and reproductive performance in Bos taurus (BT) x Bos indicus (BI) cattle in a dual-purpose system under tropical conditions in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Records were from the UACH-URUSSE production unit, Teapa, Tabasco, and covered the years 1994 to 2011. Data included 492 births and 240 complete lactations of 130 Zebu or BT x BI cross cows. Seven Zebu (Z) x Holstein (H) cross genotypes were studied: 7/8Z1/8H, 3/4Z1/4H, 5/8Z3/8H, 1/2Z1/2H, 5/8H3/8Z, 11/16H5/16Z and 3/4H1/4Z. Based on BT gene proportion, these genotypes were grouped into three categories: 0-25%, 37.5-50% and 62.5-75%. Four variables were analyzed: birth weight (BW); interval between births (IBB); milk production per lactation (MPL); and length of lactation period (LLP). A higher proportion of BT genes was found to positively influence MPL (P<0.05) and LLP (P<0.01), but did not affect BW or IBB (P>0.05). The 62.5-75% category had the highest MPL (1,262.80 ± 34.80 kg), which was 8.09 % higher than the 0-25% category and 6.56 % higher than the 37.5-50% category. The 62.5-75% category also had the longest LLP (260.34 ± 11.20 d), which was 41.72 % longer than the 0-25% category and 33.68 % longer the 37.5-50% category. Of the three categories, the 62.5-75% category exhibited the best production performance, although reproductive performance did not differ between the studied genotype categories.

Keywords : Dual-purpose cattle; Genotypes; Milk production; Lactation period.

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