Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including of palm kernel cake on feeding behavior of lactating crossbred cows. Twelve crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows were distributed in three 4 x 4 latin squares, with the following treatments: control; inclusion of 5%; inclusion of 10%; inclusion of 15% palm kernel cake in the diet dry matter. The animals were observed during four periods as to feeding behavior, 24 hours in each period. There was no effect of inclusion of palm kernel cake (p > 0.05) on time spent on eating, ruminating and idling. The feeding efficiencies of dry matter and corrected neutral detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients, and the rumination efficiency of corrected neutral detergent fiber were not influenced (p > 0.05). There was a linear increase with the inclusion of palm kernel cake (p 0.05). The inclusion of palm kernel cake in diets for dairy cows causes no change in behavior activities and efficiencies of feeding and rumination, until the 15% level of inclusion.
Highlights
The study of feeding behavior may provide new perspective to the conventional model of zootechnical science approach, opening new horizons and bringing innovations to situations not considered or misunderstood, especially regarding management practices
There was no effect of including palm kernel cake in the diets (p > 0.05) on the time spent on feeding, ruminating and idling, 5.22; 8.33 and 10.44 hours day-1, respectively (Table 4)
The expected effect would be the same trend of dry matter intake, which was not influenced by the inclusion of palm kernel cake
Summary
The study of feeding behavior may provide new perspective to the conventional model of zootechnical science approach, opening new horizons and bringing innovations to situations not considered or misunderstood, especially regarding management practices It can be used as a tool for assessing diets, allowing the adjustment of feed management to achieve the best performance (Mendonça et al, 2004). Activities are represented by three basic behaviors: feeding, ruminating and idling: its. Animal Sciences duration and distribution may be influenced by characteristics of the diet, management, weather and activity of the animals (Fisher, 1997). The feeding behavior of cattle kept in the field is characterized by long feeding periods, from 4 to 12 hours per day, but for feedlot animals, the periods range from one hour, for energy-rich foods, to six hour for more, for low energy sources (Bürger et al, 2000)
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