Dung Deposition, Breakdown and Grazing Behavior of Beef Cattle at Two Seasons in a Tropical Grassland Ecosystem

Abstract

The effects of seasons on size, number and area of the dung deposited on a grazed paddock were examined. Rate of dung breakdown, herbage fouling and rejection were also investigated.Significant seasonal differences were found in number, size, area of dung and in proportion of paddock fouled per grazing such that these values were higher in the wet than in the dry season. A higher breakdown rate was obtained in the dry season when the termites were the main degradation agents than in the wet season when the dung was degraded mainly by the copriphilous fungi. The herd rejected the fouled herbage for a longer period during wet season than during the dry season. Two breakdown patterns for the dry season (depending on the presence of termites in the ecosystem) were suggested. Herbage rejection was discussed in relation to animal production and range improvement.