MANIFESTATION OF HEAT IN A FIVE-MONTH-OLD JERSEY MESTIZA CALF – CASE REPORT

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.9733172320107

• Palavras-chave: Heifer, Jersey, manifestation of heat, precocity.

• Keywords: Heifer, Jersey, manifestation of heat, precocity.

• Abstract:

  The process of puberty is closely related to the release of gametes and the demonstration of sexual behavior, that is, receptivity to mounting, and is also closely related to the animal's first heat. For a heifer to begin reproductive activity early, several influencing factors must be taken into consideration, such as nutritional management, weight gain and the animal's genetics. In general, pure Jersey females enter puberty at an average of eight to twelve months of age, a situation contradicted by the animal in the present report, which began to show heat at five months. The animal was monitored, observing that every 21 days there was a repetition of estrous behavior. We sought to study the relationship between such behaviors and the onset of puberty in the calf, seeking to associate the main factors responsible, using the methods available in that context. It was concluded that the probable cause was nutritional availability, also associated with the genetics and breed of the animal, which allowed the physiological capacity to express heat, even though zootechnical puberty had not been reached. However, it is pertinent to carry out more studies in similar situations.