Reproductive rates and performance traits in beef cattle infected by Bovine Herpesvirus

Abstract

Reproductive rates and performance traits in beef cattle females infected by Herpesvirus Bovine-1 (BoHV-1) were evaluated in a farm at São Paulo state, Brazil. Gir, Guzerá, Nelore and Caracu purebred animals were examinated to BoHV-1 (ELISA) at the beginning of the breeding season and the occurrence of reactors was 54.2% (386/712). BoHV-1 did not interfere in the pregnancy rates of both reagent - 80.3% (310/386) and non-reagent - 74.5% (243/326) females. It did not reduce the parturition rate of both reagent - 97.7% (300/307) and non-reagent - 93.8% (225/240) females. Total rate of stillbirths in BoHV-1 reagent females - 1.3% (4/300) did not differ from non-reagent females - 2.2% (5/225). BoHV-1 did not affect performance traits for reagent and non-reagent females, respectivelly, to daily weight gain during the breeding season (459.90 ± 2.82 g and 466.63 ± 2.87 g), body condition score at the beginning of the breeding season (6.89 ± 0.08 and 6.99 ± 0.08), body condition score at the end of the breeding season (7.73 ± 0.06 and 7.71 ± 0.06), weight at parturition (419.17 ± 3.34 kg and 425.97 ± 3.22 kg). It was concluded that non-vaccinated beef cattle females infected by BoHV-1 and bred under adequate extensive management, with body condition score over 5 and gain of weight during the breeding season presented good pregnancy, parturition and birth rates, no matter the breed, genetic group, age and seroconvertion.