Feeding behavior of lactating cows fed palm kernel cake in the diet/Comportamento ingestivo de vacas lactantes alimentadas com niveis de torta de dende na dieta

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including of palm kernel cake on feeding behavior of lactating crossbred cows. Twelve crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows were distributed in three 4 x 4 latin squares, with the following treatments: control; inclusion of 5%; inclusion of 10%; inclusion of 15% palm kernel cake in the diet dry matter. The animals were observed during four periods as to feeding behavior, 24 hours in each period. There was no effect of inclusion of palm kernel cake (p > 0.05) on time spent on eating, ruminating and idling. The feeding efficiencies of dry matter and corrected neutral detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients, and the rumination efficiency of corrected neutral detergent fiber were not influenced (p > 0.05). There was a linear increase with the inclusion of palm kernel cake (p < 0.05) for the efficiencies of rumination of dry matter and total digestible nutrients. The number of periods and duration of behavioral activities was not affected (p > 0.05). The inclusion of palm kernel cake in diets for dairy cows causes no change in behavior activities and efficiencies of feeding and rumination, until the 15% level of inclusion. Keywords: behavioral activities, feeding, feed efficiency, dry matter, idle, rumination. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusao da torta de dende no comportamento ingestivo de vacas mesticas em lactacao. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas mesticas Holandes x Zebu, distribuidas em tres quadrados latinos 4 x 4, sendo os tratamentos: controle; inclusao de 5%; inclusao de 10%; inclusao de 15% de torta de dende na materia seca da dieta. Os animais foram submetidos a quatro periodos de observacao visual do comportamento ingestivo, durante 24 horas, em cada periodo. Nao houve efeito da inclusao da torta de dende (p > 0,05) nos tempos despendidos com alimentacao, ruminacao e ocio. As eficiencias de alimentacao, da materia seca e da fibra em detergente neutro corrigida, dos nutrientes digestiveis totais, e a eficiencia de ruminacao da fibra em detergente neutro corrigida, nao tiveram influencia (p >0,05). Houve efeito linear crescente com a inclusao de torta de dende (p < 0,05) para as eficiencias de ruminacao da materia seca e para os nutrientes digestiveis totais. O numero de periodos e tempo de duracao das atividades comportamentais nao foi influenciado (p > 0,05). A inclusao da torta de dende em dietas de vacas leiteiras nao altera as atividades comportamentais e as eficiencias de alimentacao e de ruminacao, ate o