Quantitative analysis of nycterohemeral eating and ruminating patterns in beef cattle fed pelleted concentrates with or without supplemental roughage

摘要: The effects of five diets on nycterohemeral pattern chewing behaviour were evaluated in 10 Hereford steers according to a replicated 5 x Latin square design. Steers had ad libitum access diets, fed once daily at 09:00 h and was continuously measured for 4 d. Dietary treatments were: 1) traditional diet-80% pelleted concentrate (control) 20% long timothy hay; 2) 80% control alfalfa cubes; 3) 90% 10% 4) completely diet with corn cobs; 5) textured hay. Spectral analysis hourly time spent either eating or ruminating performed using the finite Fourier transform decompose 24-h total dispersion into 12 RC. Nycterohemeral patterns different mainly explained by RC 1, 2 3. 1 relatively more important than others explaining cobs while 3 presented similar relative importance both cube diets. Relative each related positively VI DM (r = 0.88, P 0.047) NDF 0.92, 0.027). individual mostly 11 (respectively, r 0.81, 0.004 0.63, 0.052) 0.69, 0.027 0.67, 0.034). Overall, these relationships suggest that feeding concentrate-based larger is achieved one main period associated regular two-hourly rumination periods, latter are probably enhancing continuity digesta flow nutrients uptake.