RELAÇÕES ENTRE CARACTERÍSTICAS DE DESEMPENHO E DE COMPOSIÇÃO CORPORAL EM BEZERROS DA RAÇA NELORE

The present work aimed to evaluate the correlation coefficients between performance and body composition measurements in Nellore calves from birth to weaning. Performance and ultrasound measurements were obtained from 54 calves, where birth weight, body weight at 120 days, body weight at 210 days, rib eye area, back fat thickness and rump fat thickness were determined. Pearson correlation data were analyzed by SAS CORR procedure. Correlations were positive and significant for most evaluated traits. Only for birth weight, no significant correlation coefficients were detected with rib eye area, back fat thickness and rump fat thickness. There is a strong association between body weight and body composition in Nelore calves.