Ingestive behavior of semi-confined lambs in integrated production systems

Integrated production systems can intensify sheep production, optimizing the use of supplements for grazing animals. Assessing animal behavior is important to evaluate the quality of the system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intercropping of a tropical grass with a legume, and different systems of oat seeding on ingestive behavior of lambs in semi-confinement in Botucatu, S?o Paulo. Forty-eight lambs were used in a 68-d trial (initial BW = 27.0 ? 3.2 kg and 24.4 ? 3.4 kg, 2014 and 2015 year, respectively), in a completely randomized design. Treatments were distributed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with two types of silage (S): corn silage with Marandu grass and Pigeonpea (P) and without Pigeonpea (WP), two types of over seeding black oat (BO): in line (Li) or broadcasted (Br). The experiment was conducted in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) and two grazing cycles (C1 and C2). Animals spent the day grazing in the black oat and at night they were herded to a barn, separated by treatments in collective pens, and it were offered concentrate and silage of their respective diets. The forage mass available for grazing was 1726 and 799 kg ha^-1 of dry matter first and second cycles, respectively. The behavioral activities (grazing time [GT], supplement intake [IT], rumination [RT] and leisure [LT]) were registered twice (C1 and C2), one in each year, which were recorded every 15 minutes, for 24 h. Animals spent seven and a half hours grazing, and the rest of time (from 15:30 h to 08:00 h of the next day), in a barn. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and the Tukey test (P <= 0.05) was applied, considering animal as the experimental unit. The C1 had greater GT than C2 (258 x 186 min d^-1, P < 0.0001) in contrast of IT, which was greater for C2 (102 x 124 min d^-1, P = 0.0004). The time spent on IT was greater for WP than P (121 x 105 min d^-1, P < 0.007). Regarding over seeding, IT was greater in Li than Br (123 x 103 min d^-1, P = 0.001). The RT was increased in P compared to WP (390 x 360 min d^-1, P < 0.02). Animals spent more time on LT during C2 (696 x 765 min d^-1, P < 0.0001). In integrated production systems, grazing time increases when there is a greater availability of forage, with lower intake of supplement.