Feeding management and tannin inclusion in a partial mixed ration: effect on behavior patterns in dairy cows grazing a temperate pasture

CLAUDIO A. POZO; JOSE L. REPETTO; GILBERTO V. KOZLOSKI; CECILIA CAJARVILLE

Recife

Congreso; XXV Congreso de la Asociacion Latinoamericana de Produccion Animal e XI Congresso Nordestino de Produção Animal; 2016

Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal

Several studies have shown that including tannins in the diet or modifying the grazing schedule can alter the dry matter intake (DMI). However, little is known about its effects on behavioral patterns of dairy cows fed diets combining fresh forage with total mixed ration. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the effect of Acacia mearnsii tannin extract (TE) inclusion in a partial mixed ration (PMR), or the grazing schedule, on behavior patterns of dairy cows grazing a temperate pasture. Nine Holstein cows averaging 197±12 days in milk were arranged in a triplicate 3x3 Latin Square experiment conducted through three experimental periods of 21 days. The three treatments consisted of: morning grazing and afternoon PMR supply without TE (AM), morning grazing and afternoon PMR supply added with 15 g/kg of TE (AMt), or morning PMR supply without TE and afternoon grazing (PM). Cows were milked twice a day at 6:00h and 15:00h, after that they had access to pasture or PMR during 5 h. Individual DMI was measured during 5 days in each experimental period. The behaviors patterns (eating, ruminating, or other) were recorded during two days in each experimental period through visual observation at 5 minutes intervals, and during 16 h after morning meal (07:00 h). The relative proportion of each behavioral event, total time spent in each event and the rate of dry matter ingestion (DMIR) were calculated. Statistical analysis was carried out using the MIXED procedure of SAS, where treatments were compared through contrast analysis. The proportion of behavioral events through 16 h-observations were not affected by treatments, and were on average 0.29, 0.35 and 0.37 for eating, ruminating and other, respectively. Grass DMI was similar for AM and AMt, whereas it was higher (P