Abstract
The effect of the feeding schedule and the use of a dditives on the intake and its rate were studied on animals consuming a temperate pasture. Twenty four wethers (47.8 ± 6.4 kg BW), housed in metabolism cages, were fed a fresh pasture (80% Lotus corniculatus ) and assigned to four groups. Group AD had forage available all day; group 1D was fed for 6 h/day; gr oup 1D&B was fed 6 h/day plus 2% DM intake level of buffer (75% NaHCO 3-25% MgO) and group 1D&S was fed 6 h/day plus 6.2 x 10 9 CFU/animal/day of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Daily intake and its rate were measured weighing t he amount offered and refused every one hour for six hours. Orthogonal contrasts were performed on data to study the effect of feedi ng schedule, the use of additives and the type of addi tive used. There were no differences in g of DM ingested/kg BW 0.75 /day (mean value: 52.8). Groups fed 6 h/day showed a higher rate of intake for every hour studied (i.e. hour 2: AD: 5.9 vs. 6 h/day: 7.2). Within groups fed 6 h/day plus the buffer supplemented one presented the highest cumulative intake, at 20.9 g DMi/kg BW.
Highlights
In Uruguay high quality forages are extensively used for ruminants under grazing conditions
Subclinical ruminal acidosis causes a reduction of feed intake and nutrient absorption as well as a depression on animal performance (Owens et al, 1998)
Total daily intake was according to expectation for the type of animals (NRC, 1985), ranging from 48.8 to 59.4 g DM intake (DMi)/kg BW0.75
Summary
In Uruguay high quality forages are extensively used for ruminants under grazing conditions. In semiintensive production systems (i.e. dairy production) pasture grazed represents over 70% of the total diet, and often the daily time of access is restricted. This restriction is done for several reasons, such as to improve pasture management, to take care of the animals (i.e. protect from predators) or in order to control feed intake by the animal. A ruminal pH of below 6.2 was observed by Cajarville et al (2006a; b) for several hours in animals fed high quality pastures. These low pH values were related to high rates of intake due to a short period of access to the pasture
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