Differences in ingestive behavior between grazing goats and sheep at the bite scale

This study aimed to clarify the differences in ingestive behavior between goats and sheep at the bite scale. Animals were allowed to graze a feeding station of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fl ügge) with two sward heights (short and tall) to two levels of bite depletion (20 and 40 bites). Ingestive behavior variables, which represent the rate and mass of bites and chews, intake rate, bite dimensions, and bite placement characteristics, were quantified. The interspecies difference in inge stive behavior became obvious at the short sward. Goats reduced the inter-bite distance and maintained bite overlapping but took deeper bites than sheep at the short sward, resulting in slightly greater bite mass. These behavioral changes with efficient chewing may be helpful to maintain the intake rate at the short sward. Sheep maintained their inter-bite distance regardless of the sward height and decreased overlapping bites at the short sward. These behavioral characteristics in sheep in response to sward height may partly compensate for the decrease in the bite mass at the short sward, alt hough it may not always maintain the intake rate. Thus, the present study suggests that goats and sheep implement different bite scale ingestive behaviors, including bite placement, when they eat short swards.

Source: Animal Science Journal - January 31, 2023 Category: Zoology Authors: Masato Yayota, Mai Hotokebuchi, Rie Kawata, Yukinori Tani, Shigeru Ohtani Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research