COMPORTAMENTO INGESTIVO DIURNO DE NOVILHOS SUPLEMENTADOS NO PERÍODO DAS ÁGUAS

Abstract

There was evaluated the effect of protein supplementation on the diurnal behavior activities of non-castrated Nellore steers at rainy season, from January to April of 2007. The grazing method was continuous with variable stocking rate. The treatments consisted of mineral supplement with 0% of crude protein (CP) and multiple supplements with 20 and 40% of CP. The behavior activities evaluated were grazing time, idling time, rumination time, bite rate and permanence time of the animals in the trough. The experimental design used was the completely random design, with seven replications. To evaluate the effect of the time of day there was use a split-plot design. With the supplementation the animals reduced at 1.1 hours razing time, offsetting part of the time for the activities of idling and permanence in the trough. The animals did not alter the rumination time, according to supplementation, and maintained the same bite rate, because of the homogeneity of the structural and chemical characteristics of pasture.