Abstract
The aim of the present study was to trace the feeding behavior of early weaned lambs deprived of roughage compared with lambs that were fed alfalfa hay ad libitum. The results showed that lambs deprived of roughage intake 10% more concentrated feed, compared to the animals of the second group, which received alfalfa hay. The lambs intake 12.5% more feed, compared to the animals deprived of roughage. The lambs deprived of roughage made fewer attempts to feed (P<0.05), which has reduced the total time for eating by 94.8 min, compared to the animals receiving alfalfa hay (P<0.01). The lambs in the group receiving alfalfa hay had 38.9% more ruminating periods, compared to the animals deprived of roughage, which has an insignificant influence on the total ruminating time. Deprived of roughage the lambs ruminate the intake dry matter (DM) faster, which affects the shorter chewing time (feeding and ruminating). The number of feedings in lambs deprived of roughage showed a high positive correlation (P<0.01) with the time of consuming 1 kg of DM and a high negative correlation with the DM intake speed (P<0.05). There was a linear effect between lying down ruminating in lambs receiving alfalfa hay, significant in lambs deprived of roughage, with the results being significant at (P<0.01). An increased locomotor activity (standing up and playing) was established in the hours around noon, when our observations were conducted. Light was the most intensive around noon and the temperature in the room was the highest.
Highlights
Feeding behavior of the lambs is characterized by multiple periods of action influenced by food intake, rumination, chewable, inaction (Penning et al, 1991)
Throughout the observation period, the lambs deprived of roughage intake 10% more concentrated feed, compared to the animals of the second group, which received alfalfa hay (Table 1)
Lambs deprived of roughage made fewer attempts to feed (P
Summary
Feeding behavior of the lambs is characterized by multiple periods of action influenced by food intake, rumination, chewable, inaction (Penning et al, 1991). These actions depend on the kind and physical from of feed and are described “major factors” which in turn may depend on other factors such as the number of the animals in a group (Leme et al, 2013). It is known that feeding area and aggression between animals in the group influences the feeding behavior (Huzzey et al, 2006) This is often referred to as the competition between animals, which reduces feed intake and growth (Norouzian and Vatandoost, 2011). Feeding behavior is characterized through the duration (the time) of eating, rumination and break – time not eating (Penning et al, 1991) and is used as an indicator of the physical and chemical characteristics of the feed (Lee et al, 2008)
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