Food intake and rumination behaviour of lactating and non-lactating buffaloes reared under a loose housing system
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
Food intake and rumination behaviour of 15 lactating and 15 non-lactating Murrah buffaloes were observed for 24 consecutive hours on 7 occasions. Time spent on eating and rumination were 271.6 and 444.5 min, respectively, for the lactating group and 221.6 and 440.5 min, respectively, for the non-lactating group. Daily intake of dry matter by the milch and dry group were 2.16 and 1.90 kg per 100 kg body weight, respectively, for Ration I (green berseem with concentrate mixture) and 2.38 and 1.97 kg per 100 kg body weight, respectively, for Ration II (green maize with concentrate mixture). Eating time and dry matter intake were significantly higher in the lactating group. Buffaloes spent significantly more time eating during the day tme (06.01-18.00 h) and on rumination during the night time (18.01-06.00 h). Diurnal patterns of eating activity were displayed with 4 peaks occurring at 09.00-10.00 h, 12.00-16.00 h, 18.00-20.00 and 04.00-05.00 h, respectively. Rumination activity started increasing from evening and reached the peak period during the night. Daily frequency of eating, drinking and rumination were 14.9, 5.6 and 21.0, respectively, in the milch group and 13.8, 5.7 and 19.5, respectively, in the dry group. Information is also given on meal size, meal time and eating speed, for the two groups. |
| Date | 1991 |
| Publication Title | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Pages | 35-41 |
| ISBN/ISSN | 0168-1591 |
| Language | English |
| Author Address | Livestock Production Research (Cattle and Buffalo), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. |
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