Behavior responses of dairy heifers fed byproducts based diets

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of the replacement with integral germ corn or corn meal of ground corn and with babassu meal of soybean meal in the concentrate, on the behavior responses of feedlot dairy heifers. Distributed in completely randomized design in a factorial system 4 x 8 (four diets and eight periods) with five replicates (heifers), the animals were observed during 24 hours. The behaviors parameters studied were: alimentation, rumination, idle, sleeping, other activities and shade frequency. The diets affected the activities alimentation, rumination, idle, sleeping and other activities. However, the diets not affected the shade frequency. The highest alimentation frequencies were after the feedings. The rumination occurred more frequently during nocturnal period. The heifers slept more at night and the idle was more frequently at the periods of highest air temperature and solar radiation. The shade frequency was bigger in higher temperatures hours. Practical management like schedule feedings influences the animals feeding behavior. The kind of diet affected the animals behavior.