Consequences of reduction of number of individual feeders on feeding behaviour and stress level of feedlot steers

Abstract Thirty-six Hereford steers with an average weight of 230±23 kg, were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 12 animals to determine the consequence of decreasing feeder space on feed consumption, weight gain and stress. The animals were studied over a 28-day trial period. In Group A, each animal had access to an individual electronically controlled Calan Broadbent ® feeder. Groups B and C had access to three and four feeders, respectively. During the trial steers were fed grass legume silage ad libitum with fresh silage added four times daily. Twenty-four hour feed consumption patterns and feed quantity were recorded for each individual steer through time lapse video monitoring of feed disappearance. Blood samples drawn on Days 0, 14 and 28 were analysed for cortisol and differential leucocyte counts. The animals were weighed on these sampling days at 09:00 h. Group A had the longest mean eating time per meal and the lowest number of eating bouts ( P P P >0.05). Animals in Group B compensated for their shorter times spent at the feeder by increasing their rate of intake compared with those of Groups A and C ( P P P >0.05). There were no significant differences in weight gains and cortisol plasma concentrations among experimental groups or time of sampling ( P >0.05). Reduction in number of individual feeders by two-thirds and three-quarters did not influence weight gains and it had no significant effect on stress levels. The results suggest that some degree of competition is desirable in the group feeding situation.