Weight at First Calving and Its Relationship With Productive Indicators in Nelore Cows in a Grazing System of the Bolivian Tropics

Abstract

Considering only selection for increased weight gain until after one year could cause adult cow weight gain that would not be desirable depending on the production system.  To evaluate the relationship of weight at first calving and its relationship with productive indicators in Nelore cows in a grazing system of the Bolivian tropics. Retrospective data from the years 1992 to 2019 were used, which were part of two cooperatives: Agropecuaria Integral San Juan de Yapacaní and the Centro Tecnológico Agropecuario located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The data corresponding to 1052 Nelore primiparous cows were used for the research work. The lightest cows had the same calf weight at birth as the rest of the heaviest cows, weaned a lighter calf, arrived the first calving rapidly, showed no differences with the Accumulated Production and the Calf Index with the heaviest cows, but had the highest stock efficiency. Identifying the group of lightest cows as the most efficient was considered a positive tool to recommend producers to take into account at the time of selection. The study shows that the age at first calving is related to indicators of productive efficiency in Nelore cows in a grazing system of the Bolivian tropics and that their use would have a greater impact in identifying the most efficient cow for each production system.