Ingestive Behaviour from the Feeding Station to Patch Level in Heterogeneous Environments

Journal Title: Journal of Animal Science Advances - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 12

Abstract

Ruminants may change their effectiveness in the search for and capture of forage by identifying the quality of the grazing environment and changing their ingestive behaviour. To test this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted in managed natural grassland under distinct forage allowances (FA). The objective of this study was to advance in the understanding of how the animals react to the heterogeneity of vegetation in natural grasslands. The experimental units received their respective forage allowances since 1986. We conducted two experiments that evaluated the ingestive behaviour of animals at the end of winter and at the end of spring; the animals remained in the experimental area between April 2007 and March 2008. The tested treatments were FA of 4, 8, 12 and 16% of LW. Four tester animals were used per experimental unit (3 to 5 ha each). When FA was low, the animals increased their total number of bites and decreased the foraging path through the pasture. In such a situation, the number of steps between feeding stations was also decreased along with selectivity at the feeding station level. The FA of 4% constrains the grazing process because it offers a sward structure with a height of approximately 3 cm. The FA of 16% also constrains grazing because it produces a percentage of tussocks between 30-40%, thereby acting as a complicating determinant parameter in the displacement of grazing animals. The 8 and 12% FAs exhibit favourable sward structures for the grazing process. These results suggest that the monitoring of ingestive behaviour allows for the qualification of forage resource attributes.

Authors and Affiliations

J. C. Mezzalira , C. Bremm , J. K. D. Trindade , H. L. Gonda , P. C. Vieira , P. C. D. F. Carvalho

Keywords

Related Articles

Ocorrence of Antibodies Against Bovine Herpesvirus 1 and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus in Crioula Lageana Cattle

Crioula Lageana cattle have been included in the list of species at risk of extinction by FAO due to the small number of breeding animals remaining in the country. This work evaluated the ocorrence of antibodies against...

Producing low-fat pork patties with solar-dried plantain (Musa acuminate) flour

Low-fat pork patties were produced using 0% (control), 3%, 6% and 9% solar dried plantain flour (SDPF) in substituting for extra-lean pork. The eating quality and physico-chemical properties of the patties were studied....

Seminal Characteristics of Boer and Native Ugandan Bucks and Doe Fertility Following Synchronization and Intra-Cervical Insemination

Seminal characteristics of Boer and Indigenous Ugandan bucks were compared. Ugandan female goats were synchronized using progesterone impregnated sponges and then divided into two groups. After synchronization period, th...

Effects of Sheep and Goats on Diet Selection and Grazing Intensity in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria

Reduction in grazing intensity and use the use of traditional instead of commercial breeds has frequently been recommended to meet the required goals in sustainable grazing systems for ruminant’s production in Nigeria. T...

Prevalence of Trypanosoma Evansi in Domestic Animals in Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh in India

A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of T. evansi in domestic animals in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh during the year 2009-10. A total of 1166 blood and sera samples from cattle, buffaloes and sheep...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP162812
  • DOI -
  • Views 135
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

J. C. Mezzalira, C. Bremm, J. K. D. Trindade, H. L. Gonda, P. C. Vieira, P. C. D. F. Carvalho (2013). Ingestive Behaviour from the Feeding Station to Patch Level in Heterogeneous Environments. Journal of Animal Science Advances, 3(12), 613-623. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-162812