Author/Authors :
Haraki, H.M.C. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Gandra, J.R. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Oliveira, E.R. Department of Animal Science and Industry - Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA , Takiya, C.S. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Goes, R.H.T.B. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Gabriel, A.M.A. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Rodrigues, G.C.G. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Gandra, E.R.S. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Pereira, T.L. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Damiani, J. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil , Batista, J.D.O. Department of Animal Science - Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Dourados, MS, Brazil
Abstract :
This study aimed to determine the effects of chitosan, whole raw soybeans or their interaction on feeding behavior and heat losses through thermography assay of Jersey heifers fed high concentrate diets. Twelve Jersey heifers (age of 6±0.5 months and 139.50±25.56 kg of live weight, mean±SD) were randomly as-signed to a replicated latin square design with 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement. The experimental pe-riod consisted of 14 days of adaptation to the diets, 6 days of sampling and 5 days of wash out. The diets were: control (CO), chitosan (CHI, inclusion of 20 g/kg dry matter (DM) of chitosan), whole raw soybeans (WS, 163.0 g/kg of WS on diet DM basis), and chitosan + whole raw soybeans (CHI+WS). Chitosan de-creased DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake (0.79 and 0.31 kg/d, respectively), increased the eat-ing time (31.88 min) and decreased the NDF content of regurgitate rumen bolus (57 g). Whole raw soy-beans did not affect feeding behavior, except for a higher time in standing rest. The association of CHI and WS increased the time which animal ruminated stand. The diets did not influence superficial temperature of heifers. However, WS diet increased heat losses by radiation and convection. The highest values of heat losses were observed after 2 hours of feeding. The interaction of CHI and WS did not alter feeding behavior and heat losses. Feeding WS to heifers increased the total heat losses.
