SHORT COMMUNICATION
Effect of double-muscling and of removing maize
silage, fed besides concentrates, on the chewing
behaviour of bulls
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Department Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, Agricultural Research Centre,
Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium
Publication date: 2004-08-30
Corresponding author
S. De Campeneere
Department Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, Agricultural Research Centre,
Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2004;13(Suppl. 1):631-634
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ABSTRACT
To determine if beef bulls adjust their chewing pattern to avoid ruminal acidosis, the chewing
behaviour of double-muscled (dm) and non-dm bulls was studied with a concentrate based diet, with
and without maize silage. Conformation (dm or not) did not influence the chewing behaviour. Daily
rumination time was more strongly affected by the roughage portion than the daily eating time.
Removing the maize silage induced a shift towards more rumination during the night. Conclusively,
bulls did not adjust their chewing pattern to the acidotic rumen load.