Abstract
This experiment proved that a long-term automatic recording of grazing and rumination behavior in sheep was possible by application of an ambulatory data-logger which made for cattle and house. Sheep grazed on pasture at 770 m above sea level showed a seasonal variation of grazing and rumination behavior. Results were as follows :
1) In spring, most of grazing behavior was observed in the daytime.
2) In summer, there was a large decrement in grazing time as compared with spring and autumn. Most of grazing was observed between 14 : 00 and 21 : 00 h, and short term grazing periods were observed at night and in the morning.
3) In autumn, grazing time at night increased as compared with that in spring, and no grazing period was observed about sunrise.
4) There was no difference in rumination time among spring, summer and autumn. The ratio of rumination time to grazing time was 0.87 in spring, 1.52 in summer and 1.05 in autumn.
