Feeding, Resting and Agonistic Behavior of Pregnant Boer Goats in Relation to Feeding Space Allowance

The aim of this study was to test the effect of the animal to feeding place ratio on behavior of meat goats during gestation. In one group (FP-1.0; n=10) every goat had a single feeding place while in the other group (FP-0.5; n=10) two goats had to share one feeding place. Behaviors were analyzed with the continuous sampling method for 24 h for each animal. Social dominance index was used by ranking individuals as low-, medium- and high-ranking according to withdrawal and displacement behaviors. Total daily feeding duration decreased (P=0.001) from 5.2 h to 4.2 h by reducing feeding place. Feeding duration was neither affected by social rank (P=0.362) nor its interaction with feeding place (P=0.159). Feeding frequency was higher in FP-0.5 than FP-1.0 (P=0.001). Low-ranking goats had a higher feeding frequency (P<0.001). Resting duration (lying and standing) decreased in medium- and low-ranking goats in FP-0.5 (P=0.001) while all rank categories were similar in FP-1.0. Competition behaviors increased (P=0.001) in medium- and low-ranked goats in FP-0.5 but were similar between rank categories in FP-1.0. Feeding place and social rank had an effect (P≤0.009) on some of the agonistic behaviors. Agonistic interactions such as displacement, butting and ignoring were affected by the interaction of feeding place and social rank (P≤0.005). In conclusion, the reduction of the number of feeding places from 1.0 to 0.5 per goat in pregnant hornless Boer goats negatively affected feeding, competition, resting and aggressive behaviors, whereas low-ranking animals suffered more from competition and aggression behaviors.