The trial was conducted aiming to evaluate pasture botanical composition and diurnal ingestive behavior of beef heifers receiving different supplement levels. The animals were kept in black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture, receiving 0; 0.3; 0.6 and 0.9% of live weight (LW) of supplement. The supplement utilized was a commercial ration. In four dates were registrated diurnal activities of grazing, ruminating, idle, number of visits and trough permanence time and bite rate. Increasing supplement levels reduced grazing time and increased idle time (P<0.05). Bite rate and bite weight were affected by the supplement and pasture cycle (P<0.05). Ruminating time was not affected by supplement levels (P>0.05). Botanical and structural composition of pasture were influenced by supplement levels and related with herbage production cycle (P>0.05).
bite rate; grazing time; bite weight; botanic composition
