Shade effects on feeding behavior, feed intake, and daily gain of weight in female goat kids
Por:
Alvarez, L, Guevara, N, Reyes, M, Sanchez, A, Galindo, F
Publicada:
1 nov 2013
Categoría:
Veterinary (miscellaneous)
Resumen:
Solar radiation and high ambient temperatures negatively affect feeding time, performance, and animal welfare in several species. The provision of shade is a simple method that helps to minimize the negative effects. To determine whether shade influences feeding behavior, feed intake, and daily weight gain (DWG) in female goat kids, 40 dairy goat kids were used in 2 similar pens whose feeders were shaded (n= 20) or unshaded (n= 20) during 60days. From May to July, behavioral data were collected through 10-minute scan samples during a 24-hour period for a total of 300hours. Both pens were shaded on the opposite side to the feeder with 15m2 each in a resting area. All goat kids were observed for their position inside the pen, and the number of times they were seen eating was recorded. When the concentrate was provided (between 13:00 and 13:30hours, as usually in the farm), the time was recorded until >50% of the animals stopped feeding and went back to the resting area (concentrate test). Food wastes were collected and weighed daily to calculate the food consumption. Ambient and black globe temperatures were daily recorded. Body weight was recorded every week to calculate DWG. A higher percentage of animals feeding was recorded in the shaded feeders than that in the unshaded feeders (P < 0.05). Food refusal was higher in the unshaded feeders (30 ± 1.8%) than that in the shaded feeders (25 ± 1.9%; P= 0.05). The concentrate test duration was 26.6minutes (±1.3) in the shaded feeders and 16.1minutes (±1) in the unshaded feeders (P < 0.05). The concentrate test duration wasnegatively correlated to the ambient temperature in the unshaded animals (r=-0.50 and r2= 0.25; P= 0.02), and it was not significant in the shaded ones (r=-0.23, r2= 0.05; P > 0.05). DWG was not different between groups (0.08 ± 0.03kg per group; P > 0.05). Results suggest that shade on feeders helps to ameliorate some negative effects of solar radiation increasing feeding time and feed intake in female goat kids. This could be of great interest to prevent performance and welfare negative affectations. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.
Filiaciones:
Alvarez, L:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Guevara, N:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Reyes, M:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Sanchez, A:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Galindo, F:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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