Influência do sistema de manejo sobre a produção de leite, comportamento e características de ordenha de búfalas Murrah

Abstract

Objective was to study, in a buffalo herd, factors that affect milk production, as the calf influence at the milking time and buffaloes reactivity. The study group consisted of crossbred Murrah buffaloes, that were divided into two systems: System 1, without calf, and System 2, with calf. The milk of buffaloes was collected in two milkings, weighed every five days, for six periods. It was collected 216 samples during six periods to quantify the following variables: milk weight, latency to milk ejection, residual milk, and cortisol. At the same time, it was established a Reactivity Scale, classified by bands (low reactivity, medium and high) and 1 to 9 intensity, within each scale. Variables indicative of reactivity, related expressions, movements and activities were collected during the milking time. The sum and the average of these values, in the six collection periods, were included in the scale. After data analysis, it was veryfied that the total milk production was equal between systems. The signals analyzed by Reactivity Scale showed no difference between milking buffaloes, in the morning and afternoon. The buffaloes of the two systems were included in the low reactivity, which indicates docility in cattle. The management Milking without Calf, applied to property, brought economic advantages by reducing manpower. The Reactivity Scale is a practical tool to measure the reactivity of dairy buffaloes.