Comportamento ingestivo de caprinos em caatinga raleada e enriquecida com capim corrente (Urochloa trichopus Stapf) e submetidos à suplementação

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ingestive behavior of grazer goats and goats in feedlot, receiving supplementation in thinned caatinga enriched with Urochloa trichopus Stapf grass. The animals were kept under pasture from 8am to 4 pm, period in which it was assessed the grazing, rumination and idleness of 24 crossbred F1 goats (Boer x SPRD). They were evaluated at 10-minute intervals, under four levels of supplementation (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%). Evaluation of feedlot behavior took place between 4 pm and 8am. The animals activities were analyzed at 5-minute intervals during concentrate consumption and every 10 minutes after consumption, with three levels of supplementation (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%). We used a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 6 replications for grazing behavior and 3 treatments and 6 replications for confinement behavior and the data were analyzed by regression at 5% probability. Supplementation decreased ingestion time on grassland and increased rumination time. As for feedlot behavior, supplementation increased ingestion time and decreased time spent in rumination.

Keywords

• caatinga. goat farming. grazing. animal production. supplementation.