Ingestive behavior of grazing steers fed increasing levels of concentrate supplementation with different crude protein contents

This study aimed to evaluate the ingestive behavior of steers on Brachiaria brizantha pasture fed diets with increasing levels of concentrate supplementation. Thirty-two crossbred steers in the finishing phase with average weight of 420+/-8 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replicates per treatment. Their behavior was assessed every 5 min for 24 h, in the middle of the experimental period. Variance and regression analyses at 0.05 % probability were adopted. The times spent grazing and ruminating reduced linearly (P < 0.05), whereas the times spent at the trough (eating) and on other activities increased linearly (P < 0.05) as the supplementation levels were elevated. The total feeding and chewing times decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the concentrate levels in the diet were elevated. By increasing the supplementation levels, the number of bites per day decreased linearly (P < 0.05), and the feed efficiency of dry matter increased quadratically. Rumination efficiency of dry matter increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of concentrate supplementation. Grazing and rumination activities are reduced when the time devoted to other activities and at the trough are increased, as a result of the substitution effect.