Ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of beef heifers on Italian ryegrass pasture

Abstract

-The effect of supplementation on ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of beef heifers grazing on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was evaluated. The grazing method was continuous with variable stocking rate. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measures on time. The supplement utilized was a commercial ration (17% CP, 21.4% NDF), daily supplied at 2 pm, in the proportion of 1% of body weight. The evaluations were made through visual observations, in four continuous periods of 24 hours. There was no difference in the bite rate between heifers with and without supplement and bite rate was higher at the end of the period of pasture utilization.Supplemented animals increased bite mass. The number of stations/minute, bites/station and the displacement patterns was influenced by forage changes along the occupation period. The ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of heifers are modified by supplementation and structural variation of the grass along its biological cycle. In the reproductive stage of Italian ryegrass, grazing time, daily number of bites and, feeding stations and time for station are similar between not supplemented and supplemented heifers.

Grazing Behavior and Locomotion of Young Bulls Receiving Different Nutritional Plans in a Tropical Pasture

“…Glienke et al (2010) found lower grazing time for supplemented animals, corresponding to 1% BW of supplement (7.5 h/d), in comparison with non-supplemented animals (9.0 h/d). Nonetheless, in this study, grazing time was not affected by supplementation, possibility because the supplement intake was low.…”

Metodologias para avaliação do comportamento ingestivo de novilhas suplementadas a pasto

“…Silva et al (2006) Na literatura sobre comportamento ingestivo em pastejo (BREMM et al, 2008;ÍTAVO et al, 2008;FREITAS et al, 2010;GLIENKE et al, 2010;JOCHIMS et al, 2010;MENDES et al, 2010;MISSIO et al, 2010), verificou-se que essas quatro variáveis (MMB, TBo, BOL e MMnd) são as únicas utilizadas nas avaliações dos aspectos do comportamento ingestivo de ruminantes, esse resultado demonstra que não há necessidade de avaliação em dois turnos (manhã e tarde), sendo que somente uma avaliação, tanto pela manhã quanto pela tarde, apresenta resultados semelhantes.…”

Comportamento ingestivo de novilhas suplementadas a pasto sob nutrição compensatória

“…Já Glienke et al (2010), avaliando o comportamento ingestivo de bezerras de corte, encontraram maiores massa de bocados para maiores níveis de suplementação. No entanto, no presente estudo, não houve diferenças significativas entre NC e o controle entre os animais que saíram do período de restrição (menor nível de concentrado) para a realimentação (maior nível de concentrado).…”