Effects of bovine somatotropin on productive performance and Minas Padrão cheese

We aimed to evaluate the effects of two brands of bST (bovine somatoropin) on productive performance and on Minas Padrão cheese yield. Fifteen Girolando cows with more than 60 days of lactation were used. The animals were distributed in a randomized block design, according to days in milk, with three treatments (somatotropin A, somatotropin B, and control). The animals received a balanced diet with commercial concentrate and corn silage as roughage. It was measured milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, body condition score (BCS), and feeding behavior; it was compared by Tukey at 5.0% of significance level. Physical-chemical composition of Minas Padrão cheese was obtained from the different treatments, was also measured, being evaluated in a completely randomized design, and compared by Tukey at 1.0% of significance level. The dry matter intake per body weight lower in control treatment (p < 0.05) was equal to 2.85, somatotropin A was equal to 3.17, and somatotropin B was equal to 3.17. Animals that received bST showed higher milk production (p < 0.05), with control being 17.56 kg/day, somatotropin A 21.12 kg/day, and somatotropin B 20.69 kg/day. The physical-chemical composition of milk showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for the fat, protein, and dry extract contents. The somatotropin applications also influenced the BCS (p < 0.05) and the feeding behavior in time for total intake, time spent with rumination, and idleness. The application of bST increased milk yield and technical and economic yields of Minas Padrão cheese did not show significant differences between treatments.