Abstract #160
Section: Animal Behavior and Well-Being (orals)
Session: Animal Behavior and Well-Being - Focus on Physiological Response
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 5:00 PM–5:15 PM
Location: Room 205
Session: Animal Behavior and Well-Being - Focus on Physiological Response
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 5:00 PM–5:15 PM
Location: Room 205
# 160
Nutrient intake, feeding patterns of growing bulls fed different concentrate levels and a single fiber source.
A. u. R. Muhammad*1,2, C. Q. Xia1, B. Cao1, H. Su1, 1State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing, China, 2Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Key Words: corn stover, bull, behavior
Nutrient intake, feeding patterns of growing bulls fed different concentrate levels and a single fiber source.
A. u. R. Muhammad*1,2, C. Q. Xia1, B. Cao1, H. Su1, 1State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing, China, 2Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of concentrate levels with corn stover silage (CSS) on the nutrient intake and feeding behaviors of growing Chinese Holstein bulls. Twenty-eight bulls (weighing 227 ± 6.8 kg) were selected and fed randomly 4 concentrate levels (1–1.5 kg (LC), 1.5–2 kg (MC), 2–2.5 kg (HC), and 2.5–3 kg (H+C)) and CSS ad libitum. The concentrate and CSS consumption were recorded daily. Video recordings were performed with an infrared anti-nozzle camera to record the feeding behavior. Three minutes scan sampling method was used to measure eating time for concentrate, CSS and chewing time over 24-h time period. Alterations in DMI and nutrient intake between the concentrate levels for 3 mo were analyzed using the MIXED process in SAS, with the month as a repeated measure. For feeding behavior, data were averaged over 5 d (focal animal sampling; 4 calves/treatment). Differences among the concentrate levels according to intake time of concentrate, silage and chewing time for 24 h were analyzed using the MIXED process in SAS, while hour was considered as a repeated measure. After 3 mo, increases in the concentrate level resulted in increased ADF in LC (2.26 kg/d, SE = 0.07, P < 0.001) and MC (2.81 kg/d, SE = 0.07, P < 0.001) treatments. Similarly, NDF intake were also increased in LC (3.97 kg/d, SE = 0.09, P < 0.001) and MC (4.43 kg/d, P < 0.001) treatments. Whereas the ADF intake was decreased in HC (2.61 kg/d, P < 0.001) and H+C (2.41 kg/d, P < 0.001) treatment. Similar with ADF, NDF intake was decreased in HC (4.35 kg/d, P < 0.001) and H+C (4.04 kg/d, P < 0.001) treatment. The longest time required to consume the concentrate was observed in the H+C (29 min, P < 0.001) treatment compare with LC treatment (23 min, P < 0.001). The highest silage consumption was observed for the LC treatment at 16:00 (25 min, P < 0.001). Chewing was highest at 04:00 (33 min, P = 0.03) and 18:00 (36 min, P = 0.03) for the H+C treatment. Overall, increasing the concentrate in the diet altered specific behaviors, which could compromise the calves’ welfare.
Key Words: corn stover, bull, behavior
