Effects of oleic acid enriched oil supplemented diets on feeding behaviors in cross-bred brahman cattle

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to compare feeding behavior in the free choice of 3 kinds of oil supplemented diets, and in 2 kinds of oil supplemented diets in beef cattle. Of the two groups, the first group received approximately 6kg/d of concentrate as a basal diet, whilst the other was a free choice group which was fed the same quantity of basal diet as the control, but 1kg basal diet was supplemented with 35g per meal of corn oil (CO), palm oil (PO), and rice bran oil (RO) respectively by top dressing. The 2nd experiment was conducted using the same animals as in the 1st experiment with the 1st group (control) receiving approximately 3kg of concentrate per meal as a basal diet together with 0.5kg of cassava pulp, while the 2nd (RO) and 3rd (PO) groups being fed the same basal diet supplemented with 100g per meal of RO or PO, respectively. Results of the free choice test showed that the DMI of CO significantly decreased during the final 3 weeks of feeding (p<0.05). The highest percentage of total frequency of the behaviors was eating, followed by switches and visits. In the 2nd experiment, the oil supplemented diets affected the percentage of visits (p<0.01) and drinking (p<0.05). Significant differences in the percentage of jaw activities of the cattle were for eating and ruminating in period 1 (p<0.05). The highest percentage of eating and ruminating were found in the control group and PO groups (p<0.05), respective and the control and RO groups (p<0.05). The highest percentage of idling was shown during observation. In conclusion, the cattle preferred rice bran oil diet. The effects of the oil supplemented diets were not obvious in the frequency of behaviors during the 13-week feeding period. The oil supplemented diets did not affect the dry matter intake, feeding rate, spatial distribution and postures, but it could affect the feeding behavior in the final finishing period and the jaw activities in the beginning and finishing period.