Ingestive behavior of Morada Nova sheep feed based for juazeiro hay

Abstract

The ingestive behavior of sheep fed rations containing increasing levels of juazeiro hay was evaluated. Sixteen Morada Nova male sheep, not castrated, with average body weight of 26.75kg were used in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were inclusions of juazeiro hay (0; 33; 66, and 100%) based on dry matter. In the first day, the animals were evaluated during three periods (8 to 10h, 14 to 16h 18 to 20h), estimating the average number of chewing per ruminal bolus and the average time spent chewing ruminal boluses. In the second day, the ingestive behavior of each sheep was determined visually at intervals of five minutes for 24 hours to determine the time spent in leisure, food and rumination. There was no effect of inclusion of juazeiro hay of time spent feeding, ruminating, efficiency of feeding and rumination. Also, there were no differences for meals/day among treatments. The substitution of juazeiro hay by Tifton 85 hay did not change the parameters of ingestive behavior and may be an alternative food for animals in the semi-arid regions.