Expected Results

There is a general lack of understanding about the interaction of grazing managements system and animal behavior and the impact this interaction might have on animal performance. For the most, part this lack of understanding has been due inadequate or inefficient research methods for monitoring grazing activity and behavior of beef cattle in pasture or range situations. The advent of electronic measuring devices and remote sensing technology, that allow near continuous monitoring of animal physiology and activity under normal grazing conditions, offers researchers new methods of studying these critical interactions. The present research proposal presents a comprehensive monitoring system, integrating five independent measurements which can relate to animal performance: 1) HR for estimation of EE, 2) activity determined by pedometers; 3) grazing time based on vibracorders; 4) body temperature to monitor environmental effects, and 5) animal position based on GPS. Although proposed research will be directly applicable to the study of beef cattle production systems, the understanding of the methodologies tested will have an impact on a broad range of studies involving the behavior of grazing animals. Particular areas of interest include mixed species grazing systems and the impact of domestic livestock on wild life populations. Due to the importance of livestock production on grazing lands in both Israel and the USA, the results of this study will be equally beneficial to researchers and cattle producers in both countries.