Feeding behaviour of Awassi sheep and Shami (Damascus) goats

Abstract

Seven male Awassi sheep and 7 male Shami (Damascus) goats, one year old and fed with a diet having 2503 Kcal ME and 155 g crude protein kg-1, were housed individually for 49 days to determine the feeding behaviour. Each animal within each species was one replicate and kept individually within 100 x 120 x 120 cm wood pen in indoor conditions with natural daylight and 11-18 °C room temperature. Twice a week, starting right after daily feed refreshment at 12.00, behavioural observations were made at 12.00, 16.00, 20.00, 24.00, 04.00 and 08.00 with 5-minute intervals by monitoring the animals. The recorded activities were eating, ruminating, drinking, resting, standing, and playing. These activities of sheep and goats were 24.6 vs. 26.6 (P > 0.05), 17.6 vs. 16.6 (P > 0.05), 3.9 vs. 2.7 (P < 0.01), 20.3 vs. 23.9 (P < 0.01), 29.1 vs. 21.8 (P < 0.01) and 2.4 vs. 4.6 (P < 0.01) as a percentage, respectively. In conclusion, goats showed less drinking and standing but higher playing and resting behaviour than sheep without showing any significant difference between species with respect to eating and ruminating activity.