SUMMARY The experiment evaluated the performance of beef cows weaned 101 days after calving, kept before weaning on cultivated winter pasture or native pasture. After weaning, all cows were kept on native pasture. One control group of cows was kept on native pasture and weaned 213 days after calving. Cows weaned at 101 days after calving and previously kept on curtivated pasture had the highest weight gain (P < 0.01) and a better body condition (P < 0.05) than cows kept on native pasture and weaned at 101 or 213 days after calving. The percentage of cows showing heat after calving was 100 and 41.7% for cows weaned 101 days after calving and previouly kept on cultivated or native pasture, respectively. Only 14.3% of the cows of the control group showed heat.
early weaning; beef cows; reproduction; cultivated winter pasture; native pasture
