Comportamento ingestivo de ovinos em função do tempo de permanência no pasto

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of grazing start time on the ingestive behavior of ewes on cultivated pasture, considering the strategic importance of sheep farming in the Brazilian semiarid region and the nutritional challenges posed by prolonged drought periods. Eight crossbred Santa Inês ewes, aged between two and three years, were used in a completely randomized design with two treatments (pasture entry at 07:00 and 11:00), with four replicates per treatment. Behavioral observations were conducted between February and April 2025, with data collected on three separate days. Bite categories were recorded based on a validated protocol, and bite mass estimation was obtained through simulated manual harvesting. The results demonstrated that grazing start time significantly influenced ingestive behavior. Animals entering the pasture at 07:00 showed longer grazing time (375.0 ± 63.2 min) and rumination (P < 0.05), suggesting higher forage intake and better utilization. In contrast, the 11:00 group spent more time on other activities, indicating lower feeding efficiency. These findings highlight that managing pasture access time is a practical and effective strategy to improve feeding performance, ensure animal welfare, and contribute to the sustainability of sheep production systems in tropical climates.