ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to study the behavior of swine females in the grower phase using different observation intervals (continuous, 5, and 10 min). A total of 42 swine were used, 14 of them for each treatment, which were identified with a marker stick. These animals were observed using the focal sampling method for 5 h. The treatments were the observation intervals: continuous, every 5 min, and every 10 min. Among the behaviors analyzed during the experiment, […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a synthetic progesterone ear implant on the behavior, physiological responses, and number of carcass injuries of Nellore females. Twenty-eight Nellore heifers with an average initial weight of 240.89 kg were used in the experiment. All animals received the same dietary management, in an intensive rearing system with mineral salt and water ad libitum. Heifers were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments (with and without progesterone ear […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of wheat bran as an additive in elephant-grass silage on intake and digestibility of the nutrients, ingestive behavior, and yield and chemical composition of milk. Eight goats with 45 days of lactation were distributed in a (4 × 4) Latin square design.The treatments consisted of corn silage (CS), elephant-grass silage without wheat bran (EGS), elephant-grass silage with 10% wheat bran (EGS+10%WB), and elephant-grass silage with 20% wheat bran (EGS+20% WB). […]

The objective this study was to evaluate the diurnal ingestive behavior of Nellore steers on Brachiaria grass pasture submitted to protein and energy supplementation. It was used 40 Nellore steers, at initial weight of 373.7 ± 14.9 kg, and at 26 months of age, distributed in four levels of supplementation:mineral mixture, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9% of body weight of energy and protein supplementation. The animals were visually observed by two 12-hour periods from 6:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. Grazing, ruminating […]

The objetive of this research was to study the eating behavior of lactating Holstein cows grazing mixed species of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and others spontaneous growth species. As differential of these pastures, was introduced white clover (Trifolium repens L.) or peanut forage (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & Greg.). Grazing eating behavior evaluations were taken on July, August and October of 2005. In each grazing eating behavior evaluation, six cows, between the second and fifth month […]

This study aimed to evaluate the sexual behavior of 88 bulls of the Angus and Zebu (Gyr, Guzerat and Nellore) breeds managed for collection and processing of semen at an artificial insemination center. On average, bulls were at 5 years of age, 906 kg of live weight and 41 cm for scrotal circumference. Reaction time in all breeds was positively influenced by the “moving” stimuli teaser. Reaction time in Angus bulls was smaller than in bulls of the zebu breeds […]

The objective of this trial was to study the behavior of lactating Holstein cows grazing pasture containing elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) and a mixture of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) plus ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Data from six early to mid lactating cows were collected every 10 minutes interval by two observers (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at three grazing cycles: 06/17, 08/04, and 09/16 of 2004. The following variables were measured: […]

In the present study the hypothesis that fear of humans is long-lasting and may influence milk production in Holstein cows was tested. One person (the aversive handler) carried out two daily sessions of an aversive treatment during 21 days, where each cow received two slaps on the rump and a strong yell. The control handler walked around the cows not menacing the cows. Flight distance from both handlers was measured before the treatments were imposed and 14 and 180 days […]