Effects of milk production of cows on postwaning growth of canchim calves

Abstract

The effects of milk production of Canchim (5/8 Charolais - 3/8 Zebu) cows on 12-(P12) and 18-month (P18) weights and on daily gain from weaning to 12 months (GD12) and from 12 to 18 months (G1218) of age of their calves were studied. Milk produc-tion (consumption) at 30 and 120 days after parturition was estimated by the weigh-suckle-weigh method, and the sum of the two estimates was considered as the total production of each cow. The statistical model to analyze the growth traits included the effects of sex of calf, parity number, month of parturition and the linear effects of milk production. Milk pro-duction showed significant effects (P < 0.01) only on P12 and P18. Although milk production had no effects on postweaning growth, calves suckling higher producing darns maintained 80% of their superiority at weaning, up to 18 months of age, as a result of the higher growth rate prior to weaning.