Effect of Supplementary Concentrate on Eating and Rumination Behavior in Goats Fed Rye (Secale cereale L.) Silage

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of supplementary concentrate on eating and rumination behavior in goats fed rye (Secale cereale L.) silage ad libitum, an experiment was carried out with twelve Shiba goats grouped into tetrads according to supplementary rate of concentrate at 0 (G I), 0.1 (G II), 0.5 (G III) and 1% (G IV) of body weight. Eating and rumination behavior over a 24 hour period was observed through video cameras. Eating and rumination time were reduced greatly in accordance with increased amounts of supplementary concentrate in the ration, so eating and rumination time in G III and G IV were significantly lower (p<0.05) than in G I. Eating time correlated positively with the ingested amount of silage DM and negatively with ingested amounts of CP, NFE and TDN (p<0.05). Rumination time correlated negatively with ingested amounts of total DM (p<0.05), CP, NFE and TDN (p<0.01).