<b>Daily and reproductive behavior of female crossbred (<em>Bos indicus</em> x <em>Bos taurus</em>) cattle bearing digital dermatitis</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v31i2.499

Abstract

This present study aimed to evaluate aspects related to daily and reproductive behavior of female crossbred (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) cattle bearing digital dermatitis, raised semi-extensively, during 24 months. The animals were distributed in three groups (GI, GII, and GIII) with ten animals each. GI received cows bearing the erosive type of digital dermatitis, whilst GII received those of verroucous type and GIII received clinically healthy animals. Animals were observed during milking and grassing for daily and feeding behavior. Animal behavior was evaluated, whether standing or lying, as well as feeding period, frequency of water ingestion, rumination time and leisure. The reproductive behavior was studied as: service period, ovarian cyst presence, fetal envoltory retention, metritis, external signs of estrous, consistency of ovaries and uterus, number of services, pregnancy and birth. At the end of the study, it was possible to conclude that digital dermatitis, especially in verrucous presentations, do interfere negatively in daily behavior of female crossbred cattle. However, there was no evidence of differences in reproductive behavior among the evaluated groups