Nutrição e fertilidade em bovinos de leite

Neste relatório são descritas as atividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio curricular em nutrição e fertilidade de bovinos de leite. Engloba também, uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a influência da nutrição na fertilidade e na produção de leite, e um estudo em que se procurou avaliar a influência do controlo da ingestão de água numa vacaria de leite. Para isso, foram utilizados 2 sistemas de produção (sistemas semi-extensivo e intensivo) e maneio alimentar. Independentemente do sistema, observou-se uma estreita relação da ingestão de água com ingestão de matéria seca, e produção de leite (ingerindo 5kg de água por cada kg de matéria seca ingerida por dia e apresentando uma produção de leite cerca de 29% da quantidade de água ingerida). Em ambos os sistemas, o controlo da ingestão de água é um potencial indicador de estro, pois existe uma diminuição significativa da ingestão de água nesse período; Abstract: This report describes the activities carried out during the internship in nutrition and fertility in dairy cattle. It also includes a literature review about the influence of nutrition on the fertility and milk production. It provides a case study that sought to assess the influence of the water intake control in a dairy farm. For this, we used 2 different production systems (semi-extensive and intensive systems) and ration. Regardless of the production or feeding system, there was a close relationship of water intake, dry matter intake and milk production (ingesting 5 kg of water per kg of dry matter, and producing nearly 29% of the total water intake). Both groups showed a decrease in water intake related to oestrus, so it means that it could be a potential indicator of oestrus behaviour and be helpful for the detection of the metabolic disorders.

First reproductive and productive results on “Ribatejano pig”

The present trail aimed to study the effect of crossbreeding between Alentejano (AL) and Bísaro (BI) swine breeds (“Ribatejano pig”) on some reproductive and productive traits. Nine AL gilts and sows and six BI gilts were crossed with BI and AL boars, respectively. Mating and farrowing dates, prolificacy and litter size at 28d were registered for all sows. The pregnancy length of AL sows was shorter (111±0.4d vs 113.7±0.5d; p=0.002) than the observed on BI females. The BI gilts presented higher prolificacy rate than AL on both total born (11.0±1.0 vs 6.7±0.8; P=0.004) and born alive piglets (10.0±1.0 vs 6.7±0.8; p=0.026). The mortality rate was similar in both genotypes (p=0.255) being on average 12%, therefore at 28d after farrowing the litter size remained higher in BI sows (8.5±0.8 vs 6.1±0.6; p= 0.032). A subset of each genotype (4 gilts) was supervised during farrowing and lactation (until 28d) and piglets were weighed at birth, 24h and 28d of live. Farrowing length was not significantly different (p=0.253) between genotypes, averaging 97±22 min. When compared to ALBI (AL x BI) piglets, the BIAL (BI x AL) piglets were heavier at birth (1402±46g vs 1209±36g; p=0.002). Colostrum intake of piglets per kg of birth weight on the first 24h of life was similar between genotypes (p=0.735) being 289±15g for ALBI and 281±19g for BIAL piglets. The growth rate of piglets from birth to 28d and piglet weight at 28d was not different between genotypes (p=0.161 and p=0.091) averaging 195±6g and 6761±181g, respectively. Litter weight at 28d tended (P=0.06) to be higher on ALBI litters (56.6±4.0kg) than BIAL litters (43.2±4.0kg). This results obtained within the frame of Treasure project* are, at our knowledge, the first data of these crossbred piglets and could be used in future as reference for further studies and also for farmers that may try these cross on a commercial basis.