The effects of the macauba meal (MM) inclusion (0, 100, 200 and 300g kg-1 of DM) upon daily milk production and ingestive behavior parameters were evaluated in eight Holstein cows. Animals were randomly allocated to treatments according to a replicated latin square design, with four treatments and four experimental periods. The ingestive behavior was determined by observation, during 24 hours with 5 minutes intervals to determine the time spent in feeding, rumination and idleness. There was a quadratic decrease in dry matter intake and daily milk production with MM inclusion. However, no effects were detected in MM inclusion on the feeding efficiency (gDM h-1 and gNDF h-1) and rumination efficiency (gDM h-1 and gNDF h-1). The total chewing time (min day-1), the number of ruminated (boli day-1), the ruminating chews (n. day-1 and n. boli-1) and the time of ruminating chews boli (sec boli-1) did not show any difference. The MM inclusion in the diet did not influence the ingestive behavior, but reduces the performance of animals.
coproducts; chewing; feeding time; rumination time
