The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of two stocking rates (CA280= 280 kg and CA360= 360 kg of live weight/ha) on natural pasture and of two breed compositions (½ Nelore ½ Hereford and ¼ Nelore ¾ Hereford) on milk production of primiparous beef cows and on growth of their calves. The stocking rate did not affect milk production (CA280 = 6.16 and CA360 = 5.88 kg/cow/day). Breed composition of cows significantly affected milk production, with ½ Nelore ½ Hereford cows showing higher daily yield production than ¼ Nelore ¾ Hereford cows (6.21 vs. 5.84 kg, respectively). The stocking rate did not affect daily live weight gain (ADG) and live weight of the calves at weaning. Calves born from ½ Nelore ½ Hereford cows had significantly higher ADG and live weight at weaning than calves born from ¼ Nelore ¾ Hereford (0.799 vs. 0.727 kg/day and 211.51 vs. 193.12 kg, respectively). Calves sex did not affect cow milk production and ADG and live weight of calves at weaning. Therefore, the calves performance did not significantly differ between stocking rates and was better for calves born from ½ Nelore ½ Hereford cows than from ¼ Nelore ¾ Hereford cows.
calves growth; maternal ability; natural pasture; primiparous cows
