The effect of supplementationon ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of beef heifers grazing on Italianryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was evaluated. The grazingmethod was continuous with variable stocking rate. The experimental design wascompletely randomized with repeated measures on time. The supplement utilizedwas a commercial ration (17% CP, 21.4% NDF), daily supplied at 2 pm, in theproportion of 1% of body weight. The evaluations were made through visual observations,in four continuous periods of 24 hours. There was no difference in the biterate between heifers with and without supplement and bite rate was higher atthe end of the period of pasture utilization. Supplemented animals increasedbite mass. The number of stations/minute, bites/station and the displacementpatterns was influenced by forage changes along the occupation period. The ingestivebehavior and displacement patterns of heifers are modified by supplementationand structural variation of the grass along its biological cycle. In the reproductivestage of Italian ryegrass, grazing time, daily number of bites and, feedingstations and time for station are similar between not supplemented and supplementedheifers.
