A NOTE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF DAIRY-COWS IN PROTEIN BANKS OF LEUCAENA-LEUCOCEPHALA DURING THE DRY PERIOD

Sixty three lactating Holstein cows in grass swards and legume protein banks were used during the dry period, for studying their grazing hab it in both components. The grazing time in the bank was of 2 hr daily. A hierarchical model which controlled the grazing behaviour and time as well as the animal/hr of grazing. Results indicated that grass cons umption time was reduced by 10% at the second hour of being in the pad dock. The consumption time of Leucaena was maintained. The lack of var iation of the rest of the activities during grazing was observed with the exception of rumination in the dry period. A 60:40 relationship wa s found for Leucaena-grass consumption without decreasing the total gr azing time for the second hour. It is concluded that allowing 2 hrs of grasing in the dry season for leucaena is an adequate time.