期刊
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
卷 240, 期 -, 页码 -出版社
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105360
关键词
Animal welfare; Beef cattle; Thermal comfort; Grazing; Livestock production; Shade utilization
资金
- Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)
- Fundacao de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (Fundect) [23/200.654/2012]
This study investigates how different tree densities and grazing management influence the daytime behavior of Nellore heifers over a 12-month period in silvopastoral systems in Central Brazil. Results show that varying tree densities lead to beneficial changes in the behavior of the heifers, affecting aspects such as shade preference, grazing time, and rumination behavior.
One of the challenges for cattle management under extensive grazing systems is understanding how time spent in different individual activities is affected by factors like microclimate and forage quality and availability. The goal of this study is to understand how different tree densities and grazing management can influence the daytime behaviour of Nellore heifers (Bos indicus) kept in silvopastoral systems over a period of 12 months, covering one dry and one rainy season in Central Brazil. Eighty heifers were distributed between three silvopastoral systems with 357, 227 and 5 trees/ha, respectively, each divided into four 1.5 ha paddocks, grazing Piata similar to grass with low (27 +/- 4.6 cm) or high (39 +/- 5.8 cm) sward heights, and with constant microclimate monitoring. Temperatures recorded were similar between seasons, characterizing an atypical dry period. The use of shade for grazing occurs preferably in the afternoon (72.0 min) and rumination in the morning (47.5 min). The effect of period of the day (P <0.05) shows a preference for rest in full sun, predominantly in the morning (37.8 min). Longer grazing time was observed in the system with less shade offer (156, 8 min in full sun and 36.2 min in shadow), while in the grater shade offer systems, longer time for rest and rumination was used under shaded areas. The animals showed reduced grazing time and increased rumination time at standing body position in the morning. Shorter grazing time (78.2 min) was also observed in high sward pastures in the morning. We conclude that different tree densities promote beneficial changes in daytime behaviour of Nellore heifers.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据