Brasil, 2003. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciências Veterinárias) Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza-Ceará, 46p

The aim of the experiment was evaluate the effect of cashew nut in the diet on the postpartum ovarian activity of dairy cows raised in the semi-arid region of the Brazilian Northeast. Fourteen cows (9 Brown Swiss and 5 Girolando) were allocated, through a completely randomized design, in one of the two treatments T0: concentrated without cashew nut (corn: 65.1%, soybean meal: 30.9%); T1: concentrate with cashew nut (corn: 40.4%, soybean meal: 19.7%, wheat meal: 15%; cashew nut: 20%). Diets had the same protein and energy content and the a proportion of 55 % forrage and (elephant grass) and 45 % concentrate. After calving, cows were housed in individual pens and dry matter intake and milk production, daily measured. Starting at the 8th day postpartum until 15 days after ovulation, both ovaries of each cow were examined by ultrassonography. Dry mater intake and milk yield were not affected by treatments. The period from calving to first ovulation was shorter for the cows fed diets with cashew (32.8 ± 2.3 days) than for those fed only corn and soybean meal (48 ± 5.2 days; p > 0.05), however did not show difference statistical. The diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (17,12 ± 0,29 mm versus 16,25 ± 0,25 mm) did not show differences related to the use of cashew.