Authors : D. Martin , G. Caja , A. Arguello , N. Castro , S. Alvarez and J. Capote
Abstract: The effect of the ruminal bolus on the intake behaviour and digestive parameters was studied in a group of 12 castrated adult Majorera goats. For the experiment they were housed in a metabolic box for 2 weeks to allow for adaptation and fed either an ad libitum Fibrous Diet (FD) (n = 6) or a Concentrated Diet (CD) (n = 6) offered at 130% of the previous day�s consumption. The animals were subsequently divided into two similar subgroups: bolus (identified with Rumitag Bolus®) and control (simulated application). After one week of feeding with the definitive diet, the measuring period started, which lasted for 12d divided into two sub-periods separated by the application moment (subperiod I: 6d, before bolus application; sub-period II: 6d, after bolus application). Samples of faeces and material refused by the animal were collected daily in order to determine DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF. For the FD group a significant difference was found due to the period on DMI being higher in sub- period II, but there were no significant statistical differences due to the bolus treatment. For the CD group, DMI increased during sub-period II due to the overall time spent in both sub-groups. Digestibility parameters results were probably conditioned by the stress which was caused by the accumulation of days in the pen. Taking the evolution of daily DM per kg-0.75 live weight intake into account, both groups presented a similar decrease in intake the day after bolus application, to a great extent due to the stress caused by the identification procedure, nevertheless they recovered their DMI level 48 h after application of the bolus. No statistically significant differences in diet intake and digestibility parameters were found due to the application of the ruminal bolus.
D. Martin , G. Caja , A. Arguello , N. Castro , S. Alvarez and J. Capote , 2006. Intake Behaviour and Digestive Effects of Electronic Identification with Ruminal Bolus in Adult Goats. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 1088-1092.