DIURNAL EATING PATTERN AND PERFORMANCE OF CATTLE STRIP GRAZED WITH AFTERNOON HERBAGE ALLOCATION OR CONTINUOUSLY STOCKED

摘要

The objective of this work were to analyze grazing behavior and performance of beef heifers strip grazing with herbage allocation at 1500 each afternoon (AHA) or continuously variable stocked (CS). Measurements were eating, rumination and idling timesduring daylight hours, and their patterns, as well as bite rate, ADG and change in BCS. The AHA decreased daylight eating time (P < 0.05). Both AHA and CS concentrated eating time in the evening (P < 0.05); however, it was proportionally longer (P<0.05) for AHA. Bite rate was always higher (P < 0.05) for AHA. The ADG and changes in BCS did not differ (P <0.05) between treatments. Alteration of natural grazing pattern was not enough to significantly impact on animal performance.