Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Article Title

Differences in Rumination and Animal Activity Can Be Quantified by Utilizing New Technologies

Authors

M. A. Scilacci, Kansas State UniversityFollow
A. J. Tarpoff, Kansas State UniversityFollow
E. C. Titgemeyer, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
T. G. O'Quinn, Kansas State UniversityFollow
T. Jennings, Allflex Livestock, Madison, WI
C. I. Vahl, Kansas State UniversityFollow
D. U. Thomson, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
W. R. Hollenbeck, Kansas State UniversityFollow
D. A. Blasi, Kansas State UniversityFollow

Keywords

limit feeding, rumination, activity

Abstract

Objective: Utilizing new technologies such as Allflex eSense Ear Tags to (Allflex Livestock Intelligence, Madison, WI) evaluate the impacts of limit feeding a high-energy diet in the backgrounding phase on daily rumination and activity in growing cattle.

Study Description: This project was conducted in conjunction with the performance backgrounding study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit in 2019. Crossbred heifers (n = 418) were outfitted with an ear tag that measured rumination and activity throughout the day and the 84-day backgrounding study. This data was continuously collected via an onsite antenna, downloaded to a computer, and analyzed in a software program.

The Bottom Line: High-energy, limit-fed cattle ruminate less than high roughage, ad libitum cattle by 45 minutes in this study. There were no detected differences in animal activity.

Recommended Citation

Scilacci, M. A.; Tarpoff, A. J.; Titgemeyer, E. C.; O'Quinn, T. G.; Jennings, T.; Vahl, C. I.; Thomson, D. U.; Hollenbeck, W. R.; and Blasi, D. A. (2021) "Differences in Rumination and Animal Activity Can Be Quantified by Utilizing New Technologies," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8030