Efeito da castração sobre o desempenho de bovinos meio senepol/nelore

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the performance of Nellore cattle crossed with senepol, submitted or not to castration by Burdizzo. Sixteen Nelore Senpol half-blood animals were used, with an average age of 18 months, 8 castrated and 8 non-castrated using Burdizzo. The animals stayed for 102 days in an intensive finishing system on Mombaça grass pasture. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, divided according to the initial live weight (PVI) for each evaluated sexual condition, thus being two experimental treatments: castrated animals and non-castrated animals. Initial live weight (LW), final live weight (FW), warm carcass (PC), weight gain (GP), carcass yield (RC), average daily gain (ADG) and feed cost per kg were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the GLM program from the SAS package and Tukey's test (P< 5%). There were no significant differences for the variables PVI, PVF, PC, GP, RC, ADG and food cost. Therefore, it is concluded that the castration method with Burdizzo in Senepol Nellore half-blood cattle did not promote changes in performance compared to non-castrated cattle in an intensive finishing system on pasture.