Correlation between performance and ingestive behavior of heifers supplemented in grass

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the performance and ingestive behavior of crossbred heifers in grass. The experiment was conducted at Princesa do Mateiro farm, Ribeirao do Largo, Bahia. 20 heifers were used with blood level 5/8 Guzera milk lineage and 3/8 Holstein, with an average of 18 months of age and body weight of 187 +/- 13.1 kg. The experiment lasted 224 days and the animals raised in a stocking grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. There is a positive correlation between grazing time with weight gain (ADG) and average daily gain (WG). The rumination showed positive correlations with body weight (PC). Negative correlations were found between the time from other activities and feed conversion (CA). The time from other activities was positively correlated with the WG and ADG. There is a negative correlation between the total time spent eating and chewing total with the ADG and WG. The total chewing time was positively correlated with CA. Weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion did not correlate significantly with discrete periods of ingestive behavior. The performance is not associated with ingestive behavior of crossbred heifers on pasture. So, to demystify, through this study, the relationship between feeding behavior and productive performance. The correlations with aspects of rumination demonstrate that it does not interfere with productive results of the animals.