Theme 08: Grazing Ecology
Description
Acceptability and palatability are two terms of large utilization that help to understand animal selection for feed. “Feeding intelligence” is a new theory recently introduced to replace those terms mentioned before. According to most recent research works, the feeding intelligence is acquired and remains for a long period of time in the memory of some animals. The present experiment had the purpose of showing its occurence in water buffaloes aiming, at the same time, to better understand their feeding behaviour. Three tropical grasses were tested: Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandu, Panicum maximum cv Tanzania and Setaria sphacelata var. sericeae cv Kazungula. Twelve animals were sepparated into three groups of four individuals in each group remaining all the time grazing only one species. From time to time and on every month they were allowed into the cafeteria areas where they could select which grass they ate according to their own wish . These data confirmed the expected known pattern of acceptibility and/or palatability. The present paper did not allow to enhance statisticaly the occurence of a “feeding intelligence” in water buffaloes.
Included in
Evaluation of “Feeding Intelligence” in Murrah Water Buffaloes Grazing Three Different Tropical Grasses
Acceptability and palatability are two terms of large utilization that help to understand animal selection for feed. “Feeding intelligence” is a new theory recently introduced to replace those terms mentioned before. According to most recent research works, the feeding intelligence is acquired and remains for a long period of time in the memory of some animals. The present experiment had the purpose of showing its occurence in water buffaloes aiming, at the same time, to better understand their feeding behaviour. Three tropical grasses were tested: Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandu, Panicum maximum cv Tanzania and Setaria sphacelata var. sericeae cv Kazungula. Twelve animals were sepparated into three groups of four individuals in each group remaining all the time grazing only one species. From time to time and on every month they were allowed into the cafeteria areas where they could select which grass they ate according to their own wish . These data confirmed the expected known pattern of acceptibility and/or palatability. The present paper did not allow to enhance statisticaly the occurence of a “feeding intelligence” in water buffaloes.
