Correlation between production performance and feeding behavior of steers on pasture during the rainy-dry transition period.

Autor: Brandão RKC; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., de Carvalho GGP; Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil. gleidsongiordano@yahoo.com.br., Silva RR; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Dias DLS; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Mendes FBL; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Lins TOJD; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Pereira MMS; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Guimarães JO; Southwest State University of Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil., Tosto MSL; Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil., Rufino LMA; Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil., de Araujo MLGML; Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Tropical animal health and production [Trop Anim Health Prod] 2018 Jan; Vol. 50 (1), pp. 105-111. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Sep 24.
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1408-3
Abstrakt: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between production performance and feeding behavior of steers reared on pasture during the rainy-dry transition period. Twenty-two ½ Holstein-Zebu crossbred steers at an average age of 10 months and with an average initial body weight of 234.5 ± 16.0 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with two types of supplementation and eleven replications. Pearson's linear correlation analysis was performed between behavioral variables and weight gain and feed conversion. Correlation coefficients were tested by the t test. The time expended feeding at the trough was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with average daily gain (ADG) and with the number of periods of permanence at the trough. Bite rate and the number of bites per day were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG and negatively (P < 0.05) with feed conversion, unlike the number of bites per swallow, which was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between feed efficiency in dry matter and neutral detergent fiber and ADG. Feeding behavior characteristics have little association with the production performance of cattle on pasture receiving mineral or energy-protein supplementation.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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