Abstract

SILVEIRA, Isabella Dias Barbosa et al. Relations among genotypes and temperament of Charolais x Nellore steers in confinement. R. Bras. Zootec. [online]. 2008, vol.37, n.10, pp. 1808-1814. ISSN 1806-9290.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982008001000014.

The influence of the relation among genotype and temperament of cattle on the direct and indirect gains for meat production. Seventy-nine steers with 19-20 mo old from eight genotype groups of Charolais x Nellore crossbred were evaluated: CH (100CH), ¾ CH1/4N (0.75CH), 11/16CH5/16N (0.69CH), 5/8CH3/8N (0.63CH), 3/8CH5/8N (0.38CH), 5/16CH11/16N (0.31CH), 1/4CH3/4N (0.25CH) e N (0CH) animals were kept in feedlot and were fed with diet containing 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (%DM). The temperament was evaluated using are four methods adopted during the cattle weights: composite behavior score (BC), flight time (FT); flight distance (FD), and facial whorl (W) position score. Higher percentages of blood Charolais were positively related to daily weight gain. Regardless of the genetic group, the animals more reactive gained less daily weight gain. The temperament is influenced by genetic group, since animals with higher proportions of blood Nellore are more agitated and excited.

Keywords : behavior; cattle; genetic group; weight gain.