Comparative study of faecal humidity between Bos taurus L. 1758 and Bos indicus L. 1758, feed “ad libitum” with fresh napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum)

Abstract

Comparisons of faecal humidity between taurine and zebuine heifers were conducted in two periods: end of July and end of August, 1978. The observed daily variations - 0,74% to 2,12% -in the same individual were statistically negligible; the same may be said not only of observed differences between animals inside group in different days - 0,5% to 2,54% - but also between group average in July or August. In what concerns differences between groups the differences were highly significant: the average faecal humidities for July and August were respectively 81,75% and 82,29% for taurine heifers while the figures for zebuine heifers were 79,61% and 79,52%. Consequently it seems safe to conclude that when feed “ad libitum” with fresh grass B. indicus eliminate drier faeces than B. taurus.