Grazing Behavior and Activity Patterns by Free-Grazing Cattle in the Pantanal Region

A study of habitat selection and habitat use by free-grazing cattle was conducted in the Pantanal, from October 1997 to September 1999. Observation periods lasted 13 hours per day during three days in each month. The location and activity duration of each group of animals was recorded by continuous sampling. Rumination, walking and resting times were affected (P \u3c 0,05) by interaction between month and year and grazing time differed (P \u3c 0,05) only between months. On average, cows spent 54.9, 29.6, 10.6 and 4.9% of their diurnal hours grazing, ruminating, walking and resting, respectively. The grazing time spent in each landscape unit was influenced (P \u3c 0,05) by interaction between month and year. The cows exploited more intensively the temporary ponds in 97/98 (26 min ha-1) and the edge of ponds in 98/99 (23.2 min ha-1). Therefore, the adequate grazing management practice may not follow fixed rules for the Pantanal