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S. N. LeShure, T. A. Gipson, A. L. Goetsch, R. Puchala, T. Sahlu, 1682 Effects of forage quality and breed on rumination time in goats, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 94, Issue suppl_5, October 2016, Page 820, https://doi.org/10.2527/jam2016-1682
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Abstract
Rumination time is one of the many key factors in determining animal wellbeing. The objective was to investigate effects of forage quality and breed on rumination time in goats. The experiment was 2 simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares having a 2 × 4 factorial treatment arrangement with 2 breeds (Alpine and Spanish) and 4 treatments [24 h fasting (FAST), low-quality hay (LOW; mixed grass), LOW plus concentrate (CONC; 80% corn and 20% soybean meal at 1% BW(DM)), and high-quality hay (HIGH; alfalfa)]. Twelve mature does of each breed were placed in individual metabolic crates and given free access to hay unless fasting. There were 4 periods of 72 h with 3 rotations of 8 does/day (24 h × 3 d). Does were digitally recorded for 24 h, then observations were encoded for ruminating bouts and bout duration. Data were analyzed using a mixed model consisting of DMI as a covariate, treatment, breed, and treatment × breed as fixed effects and animal within square as a random effect. Feed intake relative to BW0.75 was 0, 17, 28, and 21 g/kg BW0.75 for FAST, LOW, CONC, and HIGH, respectively (SEM = 1.6) and 17 and 16 g/kg BW0.75for Alpine and Spanish, respectively (SEM = 1.4). Total rumination duration was affected by breed (P < 0.01) and treatment (P < 0.01). Alpine goats ruminated longer (P < 0.01) than Spanish (310 vs. 249 min, respectively; SEM = 12.8) and rumination duration while fasting was lower (P < 0.01) than for other treatments (229, 313, 282, and 295 min for FAST, LOW, CONC, and HIGH, respectively; SEM = 17.6). Treatment did not affect (P > 0.10) the number of rumination bouts; however, Alpines had a greater (P < 0.01) number of bouts than Spanish (29 vs. 20 bouts, respectively; SEM = 1.9). Average bout duration was affected by both treatment (P < 0.01) and breed (P < 0.01). Average bout while fasting was shorter (P < 0.01) than for other treatments (10, 13, 13, and 15 min for FAST, LOW, CONC, and HIGH, respectively; SEM = 0.9). Spanish had longer (P = 0.03) rumination bouts than Alpine (14 vs. 11 min, respectively; SEM = 0.8). In conclusion, similar dry matter intake among non-fasting treatments may have prevented effects on rumination, although greater differences between breeds and fasting state had marked influences.
