The influence was assessed of protein and mineral supplementation on the ingestive behavior of pregnant heifers on a native grassland dominated by capim-annoni-2 (Eragrostis plana Ness) supplementation with common salt, mineral salt, protein salt and protein salt and reproduction salt (1:1). The hypothesis was tested that different mineral and protein salt supplements could promote alterations in the animal grazing ingestive behavior. The study was carried out in a 37 ha area of native pasture invaded by capim-annoni-2, divided into 8 paddocks (experimental units). The animals were evaluated during the daylight period on two consecutive days, in each one of the climatic seasons, from April 2006 to March 2007. A randomized complete design was used with two replications. The grazing time, ruminating, idling and other activities did not differ among supplements, and the average daily values for these activities were 505, 108, 70 and 11 min., respectively. The grazing time, ruminating, idling and bite rate differed significantly among the climatic seasons. Protein salt and mineral salt supplementation does not promote significant changes in the animals ingestive behavior. The ingestive behavior is, however, influenced by the climatic seasons.
bite rate; Eragrostis plana Ness; grazing; rumination
