Abstract
The research was conducted at the experimental farm of the Agricultural College of Bom Jesus, which is located at 135 km 3 BR, in the region of the valley Gurguéia southern state of Piauí. We used 10 crossbred cows of Holstein x Gir. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (the pastures of grasses Andropogon gayanus and Brachiaria decumbens), with five replicates (five animals per treatment). The trial lasted five days. Two evaluations were made with duration of 24 hours each, conducted during a day, and the average of the two ratings was used in the statistical analyzes. The evaluations were performed on 20 to 24 July 2013. The cows grazed more time in the morning around 7-10 hours and late afternoon extending into the night with peak until 19:00 hours. The idle time was greater at the end of the night that matches the period of reduced grazing activity. The cows grazed more time during the day in the pasture of Brachiaria decumbens (8.53 hours) compared to pasture Andropogon gayanus (8.03 hours). With respect to time grazing night, the situation was reversed, the animals grazed longer during the day and slowed down during the night (3.16 hours grazing) in the pasture of Brachiaria decumbens. The animals had a higher number of bits (14128.92) in grazing Brachiaria decumbens compared to Andropogon gayanus (10134.00).
Highlights
The feeding behavior of beef cattle or milk is influenced by the structure of the pasture and the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of vegetation, characterized by a number of factors that can affect grazing behavior
The animals had a higher number of bits (14128.92) in grazing Brachiaria decumbens compared to Andropogon gayanus (10134.00)
This study aimed to compare the behavior of cows in pastures Andropogon gayanus and Brachiaria decumbens for possible differences in the time spent on grazing, rest, at the rate and total bites of animals
Summary
The feeding behavior of beef cattle or milk is influenced by the structure of the pasture and the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of vegetation, characterized by a number of factors that can affect grazing behavior. The feeding behavior or the act of swallowing animals is influenced by the stage of maturity of grass, palatability, feeding behavior of cattle matrices and structure of grassland being the main factor that affects the behavioral variables of consumption of animals. A basic objective of the whole system for cattle grazing is to meet the nutritional needs of animals throughout the year, keeping the permanent provision of food in sufficient quantity and quality, in order to get a satisfactory answer for productive part of the animals (Pardo et al, 2003)
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