In this work, itwas evaluated the ingestive behavior of indigenous goats from the northeasternsemiarid region, kept in feedlot. Forty castrated males, 20 from Moxotóand 20 from Caninde breeds, with average initial weight of 15.22 kg ±1.78 kg, were used. The goats were distributed in a completely randomized designin a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two breeds and two diets. Two experimentaldiets were evaluated: diet with lower energy level (2.2 Mcal ME/kg dry matter(DM)) formulated with 70:30 roughage:concentrate ratio;and another diet withhigher energy level, (2.7 Mcal ME/kg DM) and roughage:concentrate ratio of 35:65.For ingestive behavior, observations were carried out at every five minutesfor 24 hours to determine time spent on intake, rumination and idle. Dry matterintake, number of ruminated boli and ruminating chews per day, time ofruminating chews per boli, urinary frequency and frequency of searchfor water and water intake significantly differed among breeds. Moxoto breedanimals showed higher urinary frequency and lower frequency for search for waterduring the day. However, when Moxoto animals received the diet with 2.7 McalME/kg DM, they excreted less urine. Moxoto and Caninde goats are very selectivewith greater preference for small particles of the diets, regardless to itsenergy level. Supply of diets with high level of energy improves feed and ruminationefficiency of Moxoto and Caninde goats in feedlot.
