Comparação dos efeitos das estações do ano e sistema de amamentação sobre o período de puerpério de ovelhas Santa Inês no nordeste do Pará

Abstract

The objective of this work was to estimate the effect of the seasons of the year and the breastfeeding system on postpartum period (interval between the birth and fertile postpartum estrus) of Santa Inês ewes on a farm in State of Pará, Brasil. Were quantified the climatic factors as temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and calculated the index of temperature and humidity (ITU). During the rainy season were used 27 females separated in two groups, to continue breastfeeding (n = 14) and of controlled breastfeeding (n = 13), in the dry period were used 50 females divided in continue breastfeeding with 25 females and controlled breastfeeding with 25 females. Was examined the lambing interval the first estrus (LIFE), the lambing interval and first fertility estrus (LIFFE), weight of ewes on the breeding season (WBS), weight of ewes post-partum (WPP), the birth weight of lambs (BW),, weight of lambs at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days (P15, P30, P60, P90, respectively). Data were expressed as mean standard deviation and analyzed by ANOVA at 5% probability to the test “F”. In both seasons of the year, the system of controlled breastfeeding showed less time of postpartum period when compared with the continue breastfeeding, 51.78 and 65.10 days, on average, respectively. The weight gain of lambs showed difference (P <0.05) between the breastfeeding systems only in the rainy season with the controlled breastfeeding showing a better performance (continue breastfeeding: gain of 113g/day and controlled breastfeeding: gain of 156g/day). The effects of breastfeeding systems and season of the year showed significant influences on the time of postpartum period. Based on the results were concluded that the best time of year to plan the birth is the end of the rainy season and beginning of the dry period. Whatever time of year, the controlled breastfeeding system is most indicated for the north region, when it provides better ponderal development of lambs.