Reproductive behavior of Cuban Creole cattle

Abstract

Genetic Center Rescate de Sanguily records of 692 calvings from 1987 to 2000 comprising 127 female Cuban Creole bovines with an age ranging from 2,2 to 16,6 years old were used to determine the influence of certain non-genetic or environmental factors, such as number of calvings, calving time and year, as well as fresh cow age included as a co-variant. Traits discussed were: calving interval, calving-first service interval, calving-pregnancy interval, pregnancy time, and pregnancy services. Data were statistically analyzed through Systat version 7.0 (Wilkinson, 1997) program. Average values and their standard errors were estimated for each trait. Every trait studied was affected (P<0,001) by the number of calvings and fresh cow age. Calving year value was P<0,001 for all traits, except pregnancy service, however, calving time did not affect any trait. Average values and their standard errors measured in days were: calving interval (520,22±10,189); calving-first service interval (145,07±25,13); calving- pregnancy interval (167,17±23,35); pregnancy time (288,72±8,74), and pregnancy services (1,44±0,85 inseminations performed). Determinant coefficients proved to be satisfactory showing the following values: 96,6; 94,2; 94,6 and 72,8%, respectively for each trait according to the above mentioned order.