GANHO DE PESO PRÉ E PÓS-DESMAME NO DESEMPENHO REPRODUTIVO DE NOVILHAS DE CORTE AOS QUATORZE MESES DE IDADE

The objective of this experiment was to study the development and reproductive performance of sixty-six Charolais crossbred beef heifers bred at fourteen months of age, classified in four groups according to pre and postweaning average daily weight gain (ADG): AA= heifers that showed ADG > .54 kg and .73 kg, respectively; AB= heifers that showed ADG > .54 kg and < .73 kg, respectively; BA= heifers that showed ADG < .54 kg and > .73 kg, respectively; BB= heifers that showed ADG < .54 kg and < .73 kg, respectively. Weight at the beginning and end of the breeding period, and the reproductive performance were influenced by ADG of the heifers during pre and postweaning phase. AA heifers showed better development in relation to the other groups, without difference between AB and BA. The AA group was superior to the others except for the reproductive performance of the group AB. Heifers that became cyclical showed higher development during the growing phase and mating period than acyclic heifers. Reproductive performance of heifers was positively correlated with weight and body condition at beginning and end of the mating period. Greater weight during pre and post-weaning improve the reproductive performance of beef heifers.