This is a draft schedule. Presentation dates, times and locations may be subject to change.
16
Exit Velocity and Feeding Behavior of Water Buffalo: A Relationship to be Considered during the Feedlot Adaptation Phase.
Exit Velocity and Feeding Behavior of Water Buffalo: A Relationship to be Considered during the Feedlot Adaptation Phase.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Exhibit Hall (Baltimore Convention Center)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exit velocity (EV) and feeding behavior of 75 water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis; 13 ± 1 mo of age; 314 ± 117 kg BW) during a 28 day adaptation phase to the diet and feedlot facility. Animals were allocated to three pens (26.5 m²/animal) equipped with artificial shade (2.8 m²/animal), automatic feeders and water troughs (Intergado®, MG, Brazil). Body weight was measured at the beginning and end of the adaptation phase (28 days) to determine total gain (TG) and average daily gain (ADG). Exit velocity was recorded on day 0. The animals had ad libitum access to a TMR (30:70, roughage:concentrate) and water. Dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) were recorded daily. The feeding behaviors analyzed were: the time to visit the feeder for the first time without DMI; the time for the first 1 kg of DMI; number of total visits to the feeder with DMI; number of total visits to the feeder without DMI; the time to visit the water trough for the first time without WI; number of total visits to the water trough with WI; number of total visits to the water trough without WI. Data were analyzed with PROC CORR (SAS). Exit velocity was negatively correlated with TG (r = -0.25;P = 0.04), ADG (r = -0.24;P = 0.04), DMI (r = -0.27;P = 0.02), number of total visits at water trough with WI (r = -0.29;P = 0.01), number of total visits water trough without WI (r = -0.27;P = 0.02), with a tendency for the number of total visits at feeder with DMI (r = -0.19;P = 0.10), and total WI (r = -0.23;P = 0.06). Furthermore, a positive correlation was detected between EV and the time to visit the water trough for the first time without WI (r = 0.25;P = 0.04). No association was detected (P > 0.05) between EV and the other feeding behaviors in this phase. Additionally, total WI was positively correlated with TG (r = 0.50;P < 0.01) and ADG (r = 0.51;P < 0.01). In conclusion, exit velocity ir correlated with feeding behavior traits during the adaptation phase and can be used as tool to help in the selection of desirable water buffalo in feedlot production. Supported by FAPESP #2014/05473-7.