Ingestive Behavior of Cows in Pastures Andropogon gayanus and Brachiaria decumbens in Southern State of Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

The research was conducted at the experimental farm of the Agricultural College of Bom Jesus, which is located at 135 km 3 BR, in the region of the valley Gurguéia southern state of Piauí. We used 10 crossbred cows of Holstein x Gir. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (the pastures of grasses Andropogon gayanus and Brachiaria decumbens), with five replicates (five animals per treatment). The trial lasted five days. Two evaluations were made with duration of 24 hours each, conducted during a day, and the average of the two ratings was used in the statistical analyzes. The evaluations were performed on 20 to 24 July 2013. The cows grazed more time in the morning around 7-10 hours and late afternoon extending into the night with peak until 19:00 hours. The idle time was greater at the end of the night that matches the period of reduced grazing activity. The cows grazed more time during the day in the pasture of Brachiaria decumbens (8.53 hours) compared to pasture Andropogon gayanus (8.03 hours). With respect to time grazing night, the situation was reversed, the animals grazed longer during the day and slowed down during the night (3.16 hours grazing) in the pasture of Brachiaria decumbens. The animals had a higher number of bits (14128.92) in grazing Brachiaria decumbens compared to Andropogon gayanus (10134.00).

Multivariate analysis of the behavior and physiology of Girolando heifers in pasture

“…Similar results were found by Fonseca et al (2014), evaluating the ingestive behavior of cows (Holstein x Gir) in Brachiaria decumbens pastures in the Piauí state, where the animals reduced the grazing activity and intensified rumination and leisure activities from 18 h, as identified in the present study, showing values of about 8.72% (rumination) and 13.42% (leisure) of the time spent from 18 to 0 h, respectively (Table 2).…”

Differences in the Behavioral Parameters of Young Zebu and Composite Bulls Kept on Non-Forested or in Integrated Crop–Livestock–Forestry Systems

“…According to [55], between 65 and 100% of grazing activity takes place between 6:00 h and 19:00 h. In a more recent study, ref. [56] reported that the longest grazing time for cattle is from 7:00 to 14:00 h. These definitions are similar to the results obtained, which were even more specific and indicated a concentration of grazing from 12:00 to 16:00 h. In this study, grazing took between 35.4 and 79.7% of the animals' time, regardless of breed, in the FS system. In the ICLF system, the animals spent between 33.7 and 47.3% of their time grazing in the sun and between 10.0 and 14.3% grazing in the shade.…”