Indicadores produtivos de uma unidade de produção de leita bovino no brejo paraibano

Abstract

Zootechnical control is crucial for understanding the factors influencing dairy herd productivity, being the main approach to assess its productive and reproductive performance. Through this control, producers obtain essential information for effective management, facilitating decision-making. The study was conducted using data from the Productive Didactic Module of Cattle Farming at the Department of Animal Science of CCA/UFPB, Campus II, Areia/PB, located in the agreste mesoregion of Paraíba, in the microregion of the brejo paraibano. This study evaluated productive and reproductive variables through a database of a dairy cattle herd in the brejo paraibano. Using data from 136 cows and 448 lactations terminated between 2007 and 2023, total milk production, average production, lactation duration, lactation persistence, and calving interval were calculated, as well as milk production analysis in different seasons of the year, rainy season, corresponding from August to March, and drought period, corresponding from April to July, and lactation persistence of cows. For statistical analysis, SAS software was used, and the Tukey test was applied for multiple comparisons between the means of milk production variables of the herd in different periods (rainy and drought) between the years 2007 to 2023, with a significance level of 5%. Regression analyzes were also performed for repeated measures within the year and also for calving order. The results showed, through the analyzed data, an increase in the herd's milk production over the years. The calving interval is higher than what is recommended for an ideal herd, which needs improvement. In the drought periods of the evaluated years, milk production was lower, indicating the need for improvement in forage supply in pasture areas. Cows with two or more calvings showed better productive performance compared to first-time calving cows..