Correlation between body biometric measurements and productive and reproductive performance characteristics of zebu males
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2025v46n6p1785Keywords:
Carcass traits, Nellore, Nellore Mocho, Scrotal circumference, Tabapuã.Abstract
Brazil is the largest beef exporter and has the largest commercial herd in the world, making it necessary to evaluate zebu breeds to promote their genetic improvement, as they make up a large part of the Brazilian beef herd. The sire plays a major role in the formation of elite and commercial herds. The aim of this study was to evaluate males of the Nellore, Nellore Mocho and Tabapuã breeds, allocated to categories 1 (8–9 months) to 17 (33–36 months), which were present in Expozebu between 2000 and 2019 in the city of Uberaba. Based on the animals’ body biometry data, the following traits were measured in Nellore, Nellore Mocho and Tabapuã males: weight (WE), forelimb height (FH), hindlimb height (HH), length (LE), thoracic perimeter (TP), scrotal circumference (SC), loin eye area (LEA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), and subcutaneous fat thickness of the croup (SFC). Data were statistically analysed between breeds, and their correlations were determined. The Nellore males were superior to the Nellore Mocho and Tabapuã in terms of WE, FH, HH, and LE. As for TP and SC, the Nellore males were similar to the Tabapuã in most categories. In terms of carcass traits, Nellore males also had a higher LEA, STF, and STC in certain categories. There was a high correlation between WE and biometric traits, such as FH, HH, LE and TP, with TP having the highest correlation. The carcass traits showed the highest correlations with WE and TP, moderate to high correlations with biometric traits, and moderate values between them, except for LEA, which obtained high values with STF (0.80 for Nellore, 0.79 for Nellore Mocho and 0.76 for Tabapuã). The data presented on the performance of Nellore, Nellore Mocho and Tabapuã males at different ages can be used as a reference for assessing cattle development in preparation for shows and/or intensive meat production systems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marcelo Falci Mota, Luiz Antonio Josahkian, Matheus Jorge Eckstein, Carolina Fregonesi de Souza, Jonatas Cattelam, Julio Cesar de Souza
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