Behaviour of Beetal does and bucks at linear vs. hexagonal feeder with special reference to homologous regrouping

Abstract We investigated the response of Beetal goats (does and bucks separately) at two different feeder types i.e. linear and hexagonal with special reference to homologous regrouping. Twenty eight does and twelve bucks were uniformly distributed at linear or hexagonal feeder (14 does and 6 bucks per pen). All the goats had prior experience of group feeding at hexagonal feeder during early growing stage and of linear feeder during later stage. Two weeks before start of trial, goats were grouped as per experiment and fed in neutral (large metallic tubs) type of feeders to have stability and thereafter provision of hexagonal or linear feeder was made in respective pen. Goats were monitored at the time of concentrate feeding at linear vs. hexagonal feeder (Doe groups: DL vs. DH; Buck groups: BL vs. BH) for 4 weeks period followed by homologous regrouping (half animals of similar social status interchanged) between two feeder type groups. Regrouped goats at linear and hexagonal feeder (mixed Doe groups: DLM vs. DHM and mixed Buck groups: BLM vs. BHM) were monitored on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 & 14 after mixing. Beetal does tend to have more stable positioning at linear feeder before as well as after mixing. Homologous regrouping led to contrasting difference in behaviour of does and bucks at both type of feeders where does showed decrease in feeding activities (positive as well as negative) and increase in social (positive as well as negative) activities while bucks showed opposite response for both activities. Stable as well as regrouped Beetal bucks showed more negative social activities at hexagonal feeder than linear one. Fourteen days after regrouping bucks were more stable at linear feeder. In conclusion, Beetal bucks had less stability during feeding at hexagonal feeder than linear one while in does such difference was less evident. Regrouped does had increased social interactions while regrouped bucks had increased feeding activities at both types of feeder and such changes settled somewhat earlier in the goats of either sex at linear feeder.