@article{MAKHILLJAVA20065121608, title = {Intake Behaviour and Digestive Effects of Electronic Identification with Ruminal Bolus in Adult Goats}, journal = {Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {1088-1092}, year = {2006}, issn = {1680-5593}, doi = {javaa.2006.1088.1092}, url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1680-5593&doi=javaa.2006.1088.1092}, author = {D. Martin,G. Caja,A. Arguello,N. Castro,S. Alvarez and}, keywords = {Digestibility,goats,ruminal bolus,traceability}, 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.} }