Evaluation of two feeding strategies in the ingestive behavior of dairy calves

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the ingestive behavior of Holstein/Gir calves receiving two milk feeding strategies. Ten male and 8 female calves were used in a randomized block design. The different milk feeding strategies were the offer of 10% body weight (BW) in milk and 20% BW in milk during the first 30 days, which subsequently became offered in 10% of the BW, until weaning at 60 days of age for both treatments. Behavioral assessments were evaluated fortnightly totaling 12 hours of observations per day, with 10 minutes intervals, analyzed at the 5% level of significance. The ingestive behavior of dairy calves was unaffected (p0.05) by different milk feeding strategies. There were observed mean times of 47.0, 48.5, 28.5, 17.0, 7.3, and 582.9 minutes for grazing, rumination, concentrate, water and milk intake, and idle time, respectively. There were no significant differences in the beginning of rumination, which was started at 21 days of age in both treatments. Significant differences were verified for vocalization, regardless of the period evaluated (morning or afternoon period). It is concluded that the two milk feeding strategies tested do not interfere in the ingestive behavior of Holstein/Gir calves.

Keywords

• água
• dieta
• leite
• ruminação.