Feeding behavior of dairy cows fed different levels of xiquexique ( Pilosocereus gounellei)

ABSTRACT. This study evaluated the replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique (0, 12, 24 and 36%) on feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows. To this end, eight cows with average milk production of 15 kg milk day-1 and average body weight of 465.2 ± 39.4 kg were distributed in a double 4x4 Latin square. Each experimental period lasted 16 days, ten for adaptation and six for data collection. The record of behavioral variables was made every five min. for 24 hours. The times spent in feeding, ruminating and total chewing, expressed in hours day-1, as well as feeding (FE) and rumination (RE) efficiencies, expressed in g NDF h-1, the number of cuds and cud chews per day showed a linear decrease according to the levels of xiquexique in the diet. There was a linear increase in time in idleness. Xiquexique levels in the diet for dairy cows did not influence FE and RE, expressed in g DM h-1, number and time spent in chewing per cud. The replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique in the diet alters the feeding behavior of dairy cows due to the reduction in fiber content.摘要。本研究评估了以希克塞克仙人掌（xiquexique）替代提夫顿干草（Tifton hay）的不同添加比例（0、12%、24%、36%）对泌乳奶牛采食行为的影响。为此，选取8头日均产奶量15 kg、平均体重465.2±39.4 kg的泌乳奶牛，采用双4×4拉丁方试验设计进行分组。每个试验周期为16天，其中10天为适应期，剩余6天用于数据采集。行为变量的记录频率为每5分钟1次，持续24小时。采食、反刍及总咀嚼时长（单位：小时/天），以及采食效率（FE）、反刍效率（RE）（单位：g中性洗涤纤维（Neutral Detergent Fiber，简称NDF）每小时，g NDF h⁻¹）、日均食团数与单食团咀嚼次数，均随日粮中xiquexique添加比例的升高呈线性下降趋势。动物的闲置时长则呈线性上升趋势。日粮中xiquexique的添加比例对以g干物质（Dry Matter，简称DM）每小时（g DM h⁻¹）为单位的采食效率与反刍效率、单食团咀嚼次数及单食团咀嚼时长均无显著影响。日粮中以xiquexique替代提夫顿干草，可通过降低日粮纤维含量改变泌乳奶牛的采食行为。