Feeding behavior of beef cattle fed different forages and housed in individual or collective pens

The understanding of feeding behavior may be useful to evaluate the performance of animals fed different diets. Twenty-four non-castrated Red Norte × Nelore males with an average initial body weight of 439.8 ± 59.6 kg and 21.7 ± 2.7 months of age were distributed in three experimental groups, and housed in individual (twelve animals) or collective pens (twelve animals in three collective pens) at the Dairy and Beef Research and Education Center of the Instituto Federal Goiano (Iporá Campus). The experiment lasted 84 days (14 of adaptation and 70 days for data collection). Animals were fed diets containing sugar cane in natura (CI), sugar cane silage (SCS) or corn silage (CS) as sources of forage. Feeding behavior was determined every 14 days for one-hour intervals beginning at 0, 1, 5, and 9 hours post-feeding. Eating, resting and rumination activities were monitored for three-minute intervals through visual observations from individual animals. Time spent with eating was greater (P<0.05) for CS (21.8 ± 1.2 minutes/hour) and time spent with resting was greater (P<0.05) for CI and SCS (38.8 and 36.5 ± 1.5 minutes/hour, respectively). Animals housed individually increased (P<0.05) time spent with both eating (19.7 ± 1.0 minutes/hour) and rumination (8.2 ± 0.6 minutes/hour), while time spent with resting was greater (P<0.05) for the collective pen-housing (38.9±1.2 minutes/hour). Corn silage can be recommended for beef cattle feeding in feedlot system due to an increased time spent with eating. (AU)

Feeding behavior of beef cattle fed different forages and housed in individual or collective pens

The understanding of feeding behavior may be useful to evaluate the performance of animals fed different diets. Twenty-four non-castrated Red Norte × Nelore males with an average initial body weight of 439.8 ± 59.6 kg and 21.7 ± 2.7 months of age were distributed in three experimental groups, and housed in individual (twelve animals) or collective pens (twelve animals in three collective pens) at the Dairy and Beef Research and Education Center of the Instituto Federal Goiano (Iporá Campus). The experiment lasted 84 days (14 of adaptation and 70 days for data collection). Animals were fed diets containing sugar cane in natura (CI), sugar cane silage (SCS) or corn silage (CS) as sources of forage. Feeding behavior was determined every 14 days for one-hour intervals beginning at 0, 1, 5, and 9 hours post-feeding. Eating, resting and rumination activities were monitored for three-minute intervals through visual observations from individual animals. Time spent with eating was greater (P<0.05) for CS (21.8 ± 1.2 minutes/hour) and time spent with resting was greater (P<0.05) for CI and SCS (38.8 and 36.5 ± 1.5 minutes/hour, respectively). Animals housed individually increased (P<0.05) time spent with both eating (19.7 ± 1.0 minutes/hour) and rumination (8.2 ± 0.6 minutes/hour), while time spent with resting was greater (P<0.05) for the collective pen-housing (38.9±1.2 minutes/hour). Corn silage can be recommended for beef cattle feeding in feedlot system due to an increased time spent with eating.

Feed sorting of beef cattle in a feedlot fed different forages and housed in individual or collective pens / Seleção de partículas da dieta de bovinos de corte em confinamento alimentados com diferentes forragens e alojados em baias individuais ou coletivas

Feed sorting is a natural behavior of cattle that can result in inconsistencies in the nutritive value of the diet. Twenty-four non-castrated F1 Red Norte × Nelore males with an average initial body weight of 439.8 ± 59.6 kg and 21.7± 2.7 months of age were distributed in three experimental groups, and housed either in individual (12 animals) or collective pens (12 animals in three collective pens) at the Cattle Research and Education Center of the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano (Campus Iporá). The experiment lasted 84 days (14 days of adaptation and 70 days for data collection). Animals were fed diets containing sugar cane in natura (CI), sugar cane silage (SC) or corn silage (CS) as sources of forage. Feed sorting was determined every 14 days at 4, 10, and 24 hours post-feeding using a three-screen and a bottom pan (Penn State Particle Separator) to yield long (>19 mm), medium ( 19, >8 mm), short ( 8, >1.18 mm) and fine ( 1.18 mm) particles. There was no effect (P>0.05) of source of forage on feed sorting for long, medium, and short particles. CS increased (P 0.05) sorting against fine particles compared with CI and SC. There was no response (P>0.05) of type of housing on feed sorting. The sources of forage evaluated in this study resulted in preferential consumption for long and medium particles, which may be beneficial for rumen health.(AU)

O consumo seletivo de partículas da ração é um hábito natural dos bovinos que pode resultar em inconsistências no valor nutricional da dieta. Vinte e quatro machos não castrados F1 Red Norte × Nelore com peso vivo médio inicial de 439,8 ± 59,6 kg e 21,7 ± 2,7 meses de idade foram distribuídos em três grupos experimentas e alojados em baias individuais (12 animais) ou coletivas (12 animais em três baias) no Setor de Bovinocultura do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano (Campus Iporá). O experimento teve duração de 84 dias (14 dias para adaptação e 70 para coleta de dados). Os animais receberam dietas contendo cana-de-açúcar in natura (CI), silagem de cana (SC) ou silagem de milho (SM) como fontes de forragem. Avaliou-se o consumo seletivo de partículas da ração a cada 14 dias às 4, 10 e 24 horas pós-alimentação, utilizando-se um conjunto com três peneiras e um fundo liso (“Penn State Particle Separator”) para determinar partículas longas (>19 mm), médias (<19, >8 mm), curtas (<8, >1,18 mm) e muito curtas (<1,18 mm). Não houve efeito (P>0,05) de fonte de forragem sobre o consumo seletivo de partículas longas, médias e curtas. A SM aumentou (P<0,05) a rejeição pelas partículas muito curtas, em comparação com a CI e a SC. Não houve resposta (P>0,05) de alojamento sobre a seleção de partículas. As fontes de forragem avaliadas nesse estudo determinaram consumo preferencial das partículas longas (>19 mm) e médias (<19, >8 mm), o que pode ser benéfico para a saúde do rúmen.(AU)

Feed sorting of beef cattle in a feedlot fed different forages and housed in individual or collective pens / Seleção de partículas da dieta de bovinos de corte em confinamento alimentados com diferentes forragens e alojados em baias individuais ou coletivas

Feed sorting is a natural behavior of cattle that can result in inconsistencies in the nutritive value of the diet. Twenty-four non-castrated F1 Red Norte × Nelore males with an average initial body weight of 439.8 ± 59.6 kg and 21.7± 2.7 months of age were distributed in three experimental groups, and housed either in individual (12 animals) or collective pens (12 animals in three collective pens) at the Cattle Research and Education Center of the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano (Campus Iporá). The experiment lasted 84 days (14 days of adaptation and 70 days for data collection). Animals were fed diets containing sugar cane in natura (CI), sugar cane silage (SC) or corn silage (CS) as sources of forage. Feed sorting was determined every 14 days at 4, 10, and 24 hours post-feeding using a three-screen and a bottom pan (Penn State Particle Separator) to yield long (>19 mm), medium ( 19, >8 mm), short ( 8, >1.18 mm) and fine ( 1.18 mm) particles. There was no effect (P>0.05) of source of forage on feed sorting for long, medium, and short particles. CS increased (P 0.05) sorting against fine particles compared with CI and SC. There was no response (P>0.05) of type of housing on feed sorting. The sources of forage evaluated in this study resulted in preferential consumption for long and medium particles, which may be beneficial for rumen health.

O consumo seletivo de partículas da ração é um hábito natural dos bovinos que pode resultar em inconsistências no valor nutricional da dieta. Vinte e quatro machos não castrados F1 Red Norte × Nelore com peso vivo médio inicial de 439,8 ± 59,6 kg e 21,7 ± 2,7 meses de idade foram distribuídos em três grupos experimentas e alojados em baias individuais (12 animais) ou coletivas (12 animais em três baias) no Setor de Bovinocultura do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano (Campus Iporá). O experimento teve duração de 84 dias (14 dias para adaptação e 70 para coleta de dados). Os animais receberam dietas contendo cana-de-açúcar in natura (CI), silagem de cana (SC) ou silagem de milho (SM) como fontes de forragem. Avaliou-se o consumo seletivo de partículas da ração a cada 14 dias às 4, 10 e 24 horas pós-alimentação, utilizando-se um conjunto com três peneiras e um fundo liso (“Penn State Particle Separator”) para determinar partículas longas (>19 mm), médias (8 mm), curtas (1,18 mm) e muito curtas (0,05) de fonte de forragem sobre o consumo seletivo de partículas longas, médias e curtas. A SM aumentou (P0,05) de alojamento sobre a seleção de partículas. As fontes de forragem avaliadas nesse estudo determinaram consumo preferencial das partículas longas (>19 mm) e médias (8 mm), o que pode ser benéfico para a saúde do rúmen.