Sistema de produção de bubalinos na Ilha de Marajó.

Abstract

The productive behavior of buffaloes in pasture ecosystem of Marajó Island was studied, aiming to generate technologies of high efficiency, low cost and reduced ecological damage, in the Experimental Field of Marajó "Dr. Ermenson Salimos", Salvaterra, Pará, belonging to EMBRAPA/CPATU, in buffaloes of the Murrah breed (40 females and one sire), raised in an integrated system of native and cultivated quicuio-da-Amazonia (Brachiaria humidicola), on terra firme. Meat production, milk production, and reproduction data were collected. Mean birth weights were 33.5 and 32.0 kg in males and females, respectively. The average weights and daily weight gains for males and females are: 180 days - 127.3 and 0.521 kg and 122.0 and 0.500 kg; 300 days (weaning) - 168.0 and 0.448 kg and 165.0 and 0.443 kg; 365 days - 185.5 and 0.416 kg and 182.0 and 0.411 kg; 550 days - 232.6 and 0.362 kg and 226.0 and 0.353 kg; 730 days - 305.0 and 0.372 kg and 303.0 and 0.371 kg. The average milk production was 1,330 kg, per lactation of 242 days, the birth rate 87.5% the age at 1st calving 1,185 days and 88% of calving occurred from March to July. These results are superior to those observed in the traditional system of rearing, where the live weight is 300 kg, at two years of age, milk production is 800 kg, in 240 days of lactation, birth rate varies from 60 to 70% and age at first calving is 1320 days.