IATF'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF CATTLE CATTLE AND WELL-BEING IN THE FLOCK

Abstract

In this work, Artificial Insemination in Fixed Time (IATF) is presented as an important alternative for the genetic improvement of beef cattle. It appears that this method offers many advantages for breeders, although they still have a slightly high cost. In this sense, it can be said that with the IATF it is possible to concentrate the entire protocol in a short period of time: pregnancy detection, resynchronization or transfer with bulls, in addition to concentrating the highest pregnancy rate for the beginning of the breeding season. It also offers a standardization of batches, making it possible to separate weaning following a pattern. Through this technique, the breeder greatly reduces the chances of contamination of females with reproductive diseases that are more common in natural breeding. Another point is the choice of the best time for births and weaning, since everything can be planned, for example weaning in the period when the pastures are more suitable. The Baby Beef Project, if introduced on the property, through IATF, would introduce genetics into the herd and would result in standardized calves with high quality control. For this reason, in 2017 it inseminated 700 heifers aged 24 months, with transfer made by natural breeding, obtaining a pregnancy rate of 91%. In the following year, 1,020 heifers and 620 cows were introduced in the same transfer system and the rates were 88.5%. In 2019, 170 precocious 15-month-old heifers, 270 24-month-old heifers and 1,250 cows were added, obtaining the overall rate of 91%.