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Parameters associated with sexual precocity of Nellore heifers in integrated systems

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Abstract

This study evaluated how integrated crop–livestock–forestry systems affected the expression of sexual traits in Nellore heifers. The serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor type-I (IGF-I), follicular diameter, rump fat thickness (RFT), and weight gain were assessed in 48 prepubertal Nellore heifers (14–16 months old, initial average live weight of 270 ± 36 kg). Calf birth weight was assessed after parturition. Heifers were distributed into four production systems following a completely randomized block design, with 12 animals in each treatment: open pasture (OP); two silvopastoral systems (SPSs—single rows or SPSt—triple rows), and crop-livestock system (CL). Thermal comfort was evaluated using the black globe, as well as humidity index (BGHI) and radiant thermal load (RTL). Animals in all treatments were exposed for long periods to heat stress; however, thermal indexes got lesser values in the SPS treatments. Heifers from the SPSt achieved the greatest serum concentration of IGF-I, but the follicular diameter did not differ among systems, as initially expected. The greatest weight gain and RFT standards were found in heifers of the CL system. Calves born from females of exclusive livestock (OP) showed the smallest weight at birth. Therefore, we suggested the adoption of the SPS and CL systems for livestock beef ranches as Nellore heifers reached better zootechnical and physiologic parameters associated with sexual precocity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Mato Grosso, UFMT, Campus, Sinop, Brazil

    Kássila Fernanda Bertogna, Paulo Sérgio Andrade Moreira, Fernando Barbosa Kachiyama, Andressa Groth & Marcelo Oster Rezende

  2. Department of Animal Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Pádua Dias Av., 11, Piracicaba, SP, 13.418-900, Brazil

    Fagner Júnior Gomes

  3. Embrapa Agrosilvopastoral, Embaúbas Av, 567, PO Box 343, Sinop, Mato Grosso, 78.550-970, Brazil

    Ciro Augusto de Souza Magalhães & Luciano Bastos Lopes

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  1. Kássila Fernanda Bertogna
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  2. Paulo Sérgio Andrade Moreira
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Correspondence to Luciano Bastos Lopes.

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Bertogna, K.F., Moreira, P.S.A., Gomes, F.J. et al. Parameters associated with sexual precocity of Nellore heifers in integrated systems. Agroforest Syst 96, 669–679 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00702-x

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