Alternative milking time and feeding behavior of crossbred dairy cows in grazing production systems/Horario alternativo de ordenha e o comportamento ingestivo de vacas mesticas leiteiras em sistema de producao a pasto

This paper aims to evaluate the influence of milking time on the ingestive behavior of crossbred cows in the production system with suckling calves. The experiment lasted 48 days. Sixteen crossbred cows with different lineages were submitted to the treatments and divided into two groups that alternated these treatments. Treatments were: traditional (5:30 a.m.) and alternative schedule (8:00 a.m.). The cows were evaluated by visual observation and recording of time spent grazing, ruminating and other activities. This observation was conducted every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, to determine the time spent with feeding, rumination and other activities. That time was not affected (p > 0.05) by treatments. There were significant effects (p < 0.05) for the number of rumination periods, being lower for the 5:30 a.m. milking. The number of bites per minute differed (p < 0.05), being fewer for the alternative milking time. The implementation schedule of the alternative milking did not influence feeding behavior, rumination and other activities. However, it affected the number of rumination periods and bites per minute.