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Ration Selection and Feeding Patterns of Steers Fed in Drylot

U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland

Abstract

Relative ration preference and feeding behavior of steers fed a 25% or 89% hay ration as coarsely ground mixtures or as pellets were determined.

Arrangement of the rations in the feeders had no apparent effect upon ration selection. Selection did not vary by weeks within periods, but there was an interaction between type of ration and periods. The most highly preferred ration was the coarsely ground 25% hay ration. The 89% hay ration was intermediate, and the pelleted 25% hay ration was least preferred on the basis of time spent at the feeder and amount of feed consumed. Even though there were large differences in the amounts of each type of feed consumed, the general feeding pattern by 3-hr, intervals was the same.

The data suggest that multiple choice feeding is an appropriate method for testing ration preference.

¹ The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. W. Luber for the installation and maintenance of the electronic equipment, Mr. D. Thompson for care of the animals and Mrs. F. Toffon for clerical assistance.

² A.R.S., Animal Husbandry Research Division.

³ A.R.S., Biometrical Services.

⁴ Esterline Angus Model A620T Event recorder with Tempen. Esterline Angus Instrument Co., Inc., Box 596, Indianapolis 6, Indiana, U.S.A.