Ingestive behavior and physiological responses of crossbred Boer kids fed diets with levels of licury oil

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the best level of licury oil in diets for young crossbred Boer goats by ingestive behavior and physiological responses the experiment lasted 70 days. Twenty ¾ Boer goats, ageing 90 days and initial live body weight of 10.8kg were randomly distributed into one of the following levels of licury oil: 0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% on dry matter basis. Diets were offered twice daily, at 9am and 4pm, as total mixed ration. Ingestive behavior was evaluated for 24h, every five minutes, for time expended on feeding, rumination and idle. Physiological responses were observed by respiratory frequency, heart frequency, rectal temperature and skin temperature measurements. Ingestion and rumination times were not affected by the oil, while the total chewing time increased and idle time decreased with licury oil addiction in the diet. Dry mater intake, neutral detergent fiber intake, Dry mater ingestion efficiency, neutral detergent fiber ingestion efficiency, Dry mater rumination efficiency, and neutral detergent fiber rumination efficiency decreased as levels of licury oil increased. Physiological parameters were not affected by the oil, except the heart frequency in the afternoon, which decreased linearly with oil addiction. Based on the parameters studied, licury oil could be added to crossbreed Boer kids’ diet, up to 4.5%