Productive potential of heifers breed “Pantaneira” fed low-quality hay

The cattle of breed “Pantaneira” are descended from a genetic group in the European naturalized on Pantanal Biome and although in the past dominating the landscape of the Pantanal, currently remains a small hundred of the animals, putting this species at risk of extinction. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the development of heifers breed “Pantaneira”, kept in confinement and fed with hay (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã, Panicum maximum cv. Massai and Stylosantes capitata/macrocephala cv. Campo Grande) of low quality nutritional and concentrate, in proportion of 60:40%, respectively. It was found that the forage did not affect ingestive and physiological behaviors, dry matter intake, weight gain, body growth, serum concentration of glucose and urea blood, and nitrogen urinary loss, however, the hay of Brachiaria brizantha presented better apparent digestibility. It is concluded that the heifers presented developed satisfactorily, with average gains of 0.462 kg/day and dry matter intake of 2.13% of corporal weight. Thus evidencing, the unique characteristics of this breed to be able to avail fibrous forage and succeed if develop in environments that present vary in nutritional quality of forages, commonly reported in the Pantanal.