Relação entre o escore de condição corporal e a taxa de concepção em bovinos submetidos à inseminação artificial em tempo fixo

Abstract

Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) is one of the main biotechnologies applied to beef cattle production, contributing to improved reproductive and productive efficiency in herds. However, several factors may interfere with the success of reproductive protocols, especially body condition score (BCS), which is considered an important indicator of the nutritional and metabolic status of bovine females. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BCS and conception rate in cattle subjected to FTAI using retrospective data from the 2024–2025 breeding season. The study was conducted on four beef cattle farms located in the state of Goiás, Brazil, involving 1,110 Nellore females classified as nulliparous, primiparous, and multiparous. All animals were subjected to hormonal synchronization protocols for FTAI and were subsequently evaluated for BCS using a scale from 1 to 5, followed by pregnancy diagnosis through transrectal ultrasonography. The results demonstrated an overall conception rate of 53.8%, with higher conception rates observed in females that exhibited estrus at the time of insemination. There was a tendency for increased conception rates in animals with intermediate BCS, especially between 2.75 and 3.25, whereas low scores were associated with reduced reproductive performance. Different animal categories also showed distinct responses regarding BCS. It was concluded that body condition score significantly influences the reproductive efficiency of bovine females subjected to FTAI, reinforcing the importance of adequate nutritional management to optimize pregnancy rates in beef cattle production systems.