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Published on: June 11, 2009
Chewing patterns and digestion in sheep submitted to feed restriction.
D B Galvani1, C C Pires, T P Wommer
1Departamento de Zootecnia (Department of Animal Science), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. dbg@mail.ufsm.br
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition
|July 29, 2010
Summary
Feed restriction in sheep increases diet digestibility and chewing efficiency. Animals adapt by chewing more per gram of feed, enhancing digestion during rumination.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Nutritional Physiology
- Ruminant Metabolism
Background:
- Diet digestibility and chewing patterns are crucial for ruminant nutrition.
- Understanding how feed intake levels affect these parameters is essential for optimizing animal health and productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between feed intake levels, chewing behavior, and diet digestibility in sheep.
- To determine the impact of feed restriction on nutrient utilization and chewing efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involving male lambs were conducted using Latin square and completely randomized designs.
- Diet digestibility was assessed at different feed intake levels (ad libitum, 70%, 55%).
- Chewing patterns (eating and ruminating) were monitored over 24-hour periods.
Main Results:
- Restricted feed intake improved apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber.
- Total eating and ruminating times decreased with feed restriction.
- Sheep exhibited a higher eating rate and spent more time ruminating per gram of dry matter when feed was restricted.
Conclusions:
- Feed restriction enhances diet digestibility in sheep.
- Increased chewing efficiency during rumination plays a significant role in compensating for reduced feed intake and improving feed digestion.
