Interindividual variability in feeding station behavior in cattle: A preliminary study
2010
Hirata, Masahiko | Nakayama, Yukihiro | Tobisa, Manabu
Interindividual variability in feeding station behavior was investigated for cattle grazing a bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pasture as a herd of 27-28 cows and four to nine calves. During 5 day grazing periods in spring (May-June), summer (August) and autumn (October), feeding station behavior of six focal cows was quantified in terms of the number of feeding stations selected per unit grazing time, sward height of feeding stations, number of bites per feeding station and bite rate across feeding stations. The hypotheses tested were that larger-sized animals would select taller vegetation as feeding stations, take more bites from each feeding station and consequently visit less feeding stations per unit grazing time. Based on the ratio of interindividual/intra-individual variability, the feeding station behavior of the animals varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the individuals in most cases; e.g. some animals tended to select fewer feeding stations per unit grazing time and take more bites within a feeding station than the other animals. However, associations of the feeding station behavior variables with animal liveweight or age were mostly nonsignificant, proving none of the hypotheses. The results warrant further studies to clear the mechanisms by which individual differences in feeding station behavior are generated and to evaluate the role of interindividual feeding variability in the coexistence of herd members and exploitation of grassland resource by the whole herd.
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