Ingestion behaviour of feedlot sheep fed on bean processing residue

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including bean processing residue as a substitute to cottonseed cake on ingestion behaviour parameters in feedlot sheep diets. Twenty entire male experimental sheep were used with a mean age of 12 months and mean weight of 30 kg. A completely randomised design was used with four treatments and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of cottonseed cake substituted with bean residue at levels of 0, 33, 66 and 100%. The feeding behaviour of the animals was determined in the final two days of the experimental period by over 24 h. Registering feeding, rumination and idling by visual observation of animals every ten min. Ingestion behaviour data was statistically analysed using models based on the significance (P < 0.05) of regression parameters. The variable DM and NDFcp consumption (g day-1) showed quadratic behaviour, increasing with levels of cottonseed cake substitution by bean residue (P < 0.05). Total feeding time also showed quadratic behaviour (P < 0.05), with the maximum time estimated as 5.71 h. The feeding efficiency of DM and NDFcp showed quadratic behaviour, increasing with levels of cottonseed cake substitution with bean residue (P < 0.05). The rumination efficiency of DM behaved quadratically (P < 0.05), with a maximum of 145.54 g h-1. The estimated time for total idling showed quadratic behaviour (P < 0.05), and a mean of 9.21 h. Bean processing residue was found to substitute cottonseed cake in sheep diets up until a level of 60% of the concentrate.