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Feeding behavior of crossbred steers fed diets containing babassu mesocarp meal and corn in kernels or ground

Authors :
Aline Evangelista Machado Santana
José Neuman Miranda Neiva
João Restle
Luciano Fernandes Sousa
Fabrícia Rocha Chaves Miotto
Wanderson Martins Alencar
Rafael de Oliveira da Silva
Vera Lúcia de Araújo
Source :
Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, Vol 43, Iss 5, Pp 266-272 (2014)
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia, 2014.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the use of babassu mesocarp meal (BMM) and corn in different physical forms on the feeding behavior of crossbred young bulls of a dairy breed. Twenty-four crossbred (Nellore vs. Holstein) steers (307.35 kg) were fed four experimental diets containing two levels of inclusion of the babassu mesocarp meal (0 and 412.4 g/kg) and corn in two physical forms (kernels or ground) for 98 days. Data was collected on three days during the finishing phase, with observations every five minutes, for 24 hours. When the activities performed by the animals were evaluated as a function of the period of the day, the physical form of the corn showed interaction with the BMM inclusion level on the time spent feeding and on other activities. When the activities were evaluated over the day, the defecation frequency was affected and decreased as BMM was included. The feeding time was longer at the moments that followed feed supply, whereas the time used for other activities increased during the morning period, regardless of the diet utilized. Rumination and idle times were affected by the period of the day and remained high during the night and morning periods. There was increase in feeding time and dry matter rumination efficiencies and neutral detergent fiber as BMM was added to the diet. The number of rumination chews per bolus, however, decreased as BMB was included. Inclusion of babassu mesocarp meal increases the animal feeding time but the physical form of corn does not change its feeding behavior.

Details

Language :
English, Spanish; Castilian, Portuguese
ISSN :
18069290 and 15163598
Volume :
43
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.57c600ba2d1740d88826cc7ef67e5726
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982014000500007