Effects of Feeding and Drinking Behavior on Performance and Carcass Traits in Beef Cattle.

Feed and water efficiency are important traits to improve beef cattle production's economic and environmental sustainability. This study evaluated residual feed intake (RFI) and residual water intake (RWI) and their relationship with performance, ingestive behavior, and carcass traits in Caracu beef cattle. The data were analyzed using a generalized linear model with least squares means. The ingestive behavior, performance, and carcass traits were influenced by sex (p < 0.05). Males showed higher dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), mid-test metabolic weight (BW0.75), rib eye area, and rump fat thickness than females, besides spending more time drinking and eating. Low RFI animals exhibited higher DMI than high RFI animals. Low RWI animals ingested 3.89 L/d of water further than high RWI animals. The interaction between sex and RWI influenced the DMI, BW0.75, and backfat thickness. The ingestive behavior of low and high RFI animals was similar, although high RWI animals visited a smaller number of drinkers than low RWI animals. Water intake positively affects productive efficiency, and the combined use of RWI and RFI may help improve the selection of more efficient animals contributing to reducing the costs of beef cattle production and improving environmental sustainability.

Relationship between over-crowding within egg capsules of the marine gastropod Acanthina monodon and prospects for juvenile success.

Encapsulated development with extraembryonic yolk may lead to competition for nutrients within egg capsules. In this research, different degrees of competition among embryos in subtidal egg capsules of Acanthina monodon resulted in considerable differences in hatching size. For newly hatched juveniles, individuals hatching from less crowded egg capsules showed better survival, larger SL, higher rates of oxygen consumption, and higher rates of food consumption. However, by 28 days after hatching, the largest surviving juveniles were the best-performing individuals, regardless of the initial embryo density within the capsules. In summary, more crowded egg capsules resulted in poorer survival. These findings may help to explain the variability seen in juvenile success in some field populations; much of that variation may reflect stressful experiences that the new recruits have had during the early stages of their encapsulated development.

Feeding behavior of goat kids fed diets containing peach palm meal

The aim in this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of goat kids fed diets containing peach palm meal replacing corn (0, 10, 40, 60, and 85 % on a dry matter basis). Thirty crossbred Boer kids, with 90 days old and initial body weight of 16.7 ± 3.5 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with six replicates. Diets were daily supplied ad libitum to allow 10-20 % leftovers. Three collections were performed every 28 days. Diets were isoenergetics and isonitrogenous, composed of corn, soybean meal, peach palm meal, mineral supplement and Tifton 85 hay, with roughage: concentrate ratio of 30:70. There was a linear reduction in the intakes of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with a respective decrease of 35.7 % and 58.8 % comparing the diet with 85 % replacement and the control diet. The rumination and chewing times increased in diets with peach palm meal. The feeding and rumination rates decreased with reducing intakes of DM and NDF. The peach palm meal affects the feeding behavior and decreases the feed intake in response to palatability, fat and fiber composition, and it is recommended until 10 % replacing corn.(AU)

Feeding behavior of goat kids fed diets containing peach palm meal

The aim in this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of goat kids fed diets containing peach palm meal replacing corn (0, 10, 40, 60, and 85 % on a dry matter basis). Thirty crossbred Boer kids, with 90 days old and initial body weight of 16.7 ± 3.5 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with six replicates. Diets were daily supplied ad libitum to allow 10-20 % leftovers. Three collections were performed every 28 days. Diets were isoenergetics and isonitrogenous, composed of corn, soybean meal, peach palm meal, mineral supplement and Tifton 85 hay, with roughage: concentrate ratio of 30:70. There was a linear reduction in the intakes of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with a respective decrease of 35.7 % and 58.8 % comparing the diet with 85 % replacement and the control diet. The rumination and chewing times increased in diets with peach palm meal. The feeding and rumination rates decreased with reducing intakes of DM and NDF. The peach palm meal affects the feeding behavior and decreases the feed intake in response to palatability, fat and fiber composition, and it is recommended until 10 % replacing corn.

Comportamento ingestivo de vacas em lactação alimentadas com rações a base de torta de girassol / Chewing activity of dairy cows fed diets based in sunflower cake

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de torta de girassol (TG) sobre o consumo de nutrientes e comportamento ingestivo em vacas em lactação. Oito vacas da raça Girolando, entre 50 e 74 dias em lactação e com produção média de 20 ± 2 kg de leite/dia foram distribuídas em quadrado latino 4x4 duplo, onde os fatores foram os níveis de inclusão de TG (0; 7; 14 e 21%). Como volumoso foi utilizado o feno de Tifton 85 em uma relação 60:40 de volumoso:concentrado. Não foi detectado efeito da inclusão da TG (P > 0,05) sobre consumo de matéria seca, proteína bruta e matéria orgânica. No entanto, os consumos de extrato etéreo e de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) apresentaram comportamento linear e quadrático (P < 0,05), respectivamente. O tempo gasto com ruminação, ócio e em pé não foi alterado pela adição de TG às rações, contudo o tempo despendido com alimentação e ingestão de água foi influenciado linearmente (P < 0,05). A eficiência de ruminação, expressa em gMS/h e gFDN/h, o tempo de mastigação total, número de bolos ruminais e número de mastigações merícicas por dia não diferiram significativamente, com exceção da eficiência de alimentação que variou de forma quadrática (P < 0,05). Em um manejo alimentar de bovinos, caso haja disponibilidade, recomenda-se a inclusão da torta de girassol até 21% na ração concentrada de vacas em lactação.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of sunflower cake (SC) on nutrient intake and ingestive behavior in lactating cows. Eight multiparous Holstein x Zebu cows, between 50 and 74 lactation days and 20 ± 2 kg of milk per day, were allocated in a 4 x 4 double latin square design, where the factors were four inclusion levels of SC (0; 7; 14 and 21%). Tifton 85 hay was used as forage in a 60:40 ratio of forage: concentrate. There was no detectable effect of the inclusion of SC (P > 0.05) on dry matter, crude protein and organic matter intake. However, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake, showed linear and quadratic effect (P < 0.05), respectively. The time spent ruminating, idling and standing was not altered by addition of SC to the rations, but the time spent in food and water intake was linearly influenced (P < 0.05). Rumination efficiency, expressed in gDM/h and gNDF/h, the total chewing time, number of ruminal bolus and number of chews per day did not differ significantly, except for feeding efficiency that varied of quadratic way (P < 0.05). In a feeding management, if there is availability, it is recommended the use of sunflower cake up to 21% inclusion in the concentrate ration of dairy cows.

Chewing activity of dairy cows fed diets based in sunflower cake / Comportamento ingestivo de vacas em lactação alimentadas com rações a base de torta de girassol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of sunflower cake (SC) on nutrient intake and ingestive behavior in lactating cows. Eight multiparous Holstein x Zebu cows, between 50 and 74 lactation days and 20 ± 2 kg of milk per day, were allocated in a 4 x 4 double latin square design, where the factors were four inclusion levels of SC (0; 7; 14 and 21%). Tifton 85 hay was used as forage in a 60:40 ratio of forage: concentrate. There was no detectable effect of the inclusion of SC (P > 0.05) on dry matter, crude protein and organic matter intake. However, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake, showed linear and quadratic effect (P 0.05), respectively. The time spent ruminating, idling and standing was not altered by addition of SC to the rations, but the time spent in food and water intake was linearly influenced (P 0.05). Rumination efficiency, expressed in gDM/h and gNDF/h, the total chewing time, number of ruminal bolus and number of chews per day did not differ significantly, except for feeding efficiency that varied of quadratic way (P 0.05). In a feeding management, if there is availability, it is recommended the use of sunflower cake up to 21% inclusion in the concentrate ration of dairy cows.

 O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de torta de girassol (TG) sobre o consumo de nutrientes e comportamento ingestivo em vacas em lactação. Oito vacas da raça Girolando, entre 50 e 74 dias em lactação e com produção média de 20 ± 2 kg de leite/dia foram distribuídas em quadrado latino 4x4 duplo, onde os fatores foram os níveis de inclusão de TG (0; 7; 14 e 21%). Como volumoso foi utilizado o feno de Tifton 85 em uma relação 60:40 de volumoso:concentrado. Não foi detectado efeito da inclusão da TG (P > 0,05) sobre consumo de matéria seca, proteína bruta e matéria orgânica. No entanto, os consumos de extrato etéreo e de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) apresentaram comportamento linear e quadrático (P 0,05), respectivamente. O tempo gasto com ruminação, ócio e em pé não foi alterado pela adição de TG às rações, contudo o tempo despendido com alimentação e ingestão de água foi influenciado linearmente (P 0,05). A eficiência de ruminação, expressa em gMS/h e gFDN/h, o tempo de mastigação total, número de bolos ruminais e número de mastigações merícicas por dia não diferiram significativamente, com exceção da eficiência de alimentação que variou de forma quadrática (P 0,05). Em um manejo alimentar de bovinos, caso haja disponibilidade, recomenda-se a utilização da torta de girassol até 21% de inclusão na ração concentrada de vacas em

Behavior of tamarins, tanagers and manakins foraging in a strangler fig (Ficus sp.) in Suriname, South America: implications for seed dispersal / Comportamiento de los tamarins, de los tanagers y de los manakins forrajeando en un higo del estrangulador (Ficus sp.) en Suriname, Suramérica: implicaciones para la dispersión de semilla

The behavior of foragers can directly affect the dispersal of seeds. Strangler figs are keystone resources throughout the tropics and are important resources for both primates and birds. We examined the foraging behavior of golden-handed tamarins and four bird species in a strangler fig to see how these behaviors might affect the dispersal of fig seeds. Tamarins removed fruit at a faster rate than did any of the bird species examined. Additionally, tamarins tended to swallow figs whole whereas birds tended to drop figs once they were processed. Tamarins visiting fig trees ingest large quantities of fig seeds that may be deposited throughout the forest. Birds on the other hand tended to slowly process fruits near the fig tree and drop processed fruit containing large quantities of seeds. Future studies need to be conducted to ascertain differences in post dispersal seed fate.

El comportamiento de foragers puede afectar directamente la dispersión de semillas. Los higos del estrangulador son recursos trapezoidales a través de las zonas tropicales y son recursos importantes para los primates y los pájaros. Examinamos el comportamiento del forraje de tamarins de oro-dados y cuatro especies del pájaro en un higo del estrangulador para ver cómo estos comportamientos pudieron afectar la dispersión de las semillas del higo. Fruta quitada Tamarins en una tarifa más rápida que la especie ua de los del pájaro examinada. Además, los tamarins tendieron para tragar los higos enteros mientras que los pájaros tendieron para caer los higos que fueron procesados una vez. Los árboles de higo de Tamarins que visitan injieren cantidades grandes de semillas del higo que se puedan depositar a través del bosque. Los pájaros por otra parte tendieron para procesar lentamente las frutas cerca del árbol de higo y la gota procesó la fruta que contenía cantidades grandes de semillas. Los estudios futuros necesitan ser conducidos para comprobar diferencias en sino de la semilla de la dispersión del poste.