Feeding behavior of dairy cows fed different levels of xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei)

Comportamento ingestivo de vacas em lactação alimentadas com diferentes níveis de xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei)

ABSTRACT.

This study evaluated the replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique (0, 12, 24 and 36%) on feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows. To this end, eight cows with average milk production of 15 kg milk day^-1 and average body weight of 465.2 ± 39.4 kg were distributed in a double 4x4 Latin square. Each experimental period lasted 16 days, ten for adaptation and six for data collection. The record of behavioral variables was made every five min. for 24 hours. The times spent in feeding, ruminating and total chewing, expressed in hours day^-1, as well as feeding (FE) and rumination (RE) efficiencies, expressed in g NDF h^-1, the number of cuds and cud chews per day showed a linear decrease according to the levels of xiquexique in the diet. There was a linear increase in time in idleness. Xiquexique levels in the diet for dairy cows did not influence FE and RE, expressed in g DM h^-1, number and time spent in chewing per cud. The replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique in the diet alters the feeding behavior of dairy cows due to the reduction in fiber content.

Keywords:
cactaceous; fiber; chewing; resting; Pilosocereus gounellei; rumination