The effect of different sources of pectin by-products on feed intake, NDF intake and chewing behavior were evaluated using eight primiparous early lactating Holstein cows in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 3-wk periods. Cows were 60 ± 23 (mean ± SD) d in milk at the beginning of experiment. Cows were allocated into four diets whit 1)10% barely grain, 2)10% sugar beet pulp, 3)10% wheat bran and 4) 10% dried citrus pulp . Each experimental period was 21 days including 14 days adaptation period and 7 days collecting samples. Eating behavior observations were visually recorded every 5 min for 24 h. The time spent for each animal observation was not more than 5 s. Eating, ruminating, and total chewing times were determined and expressed as minutes per day. Time (expressed in minutes) expended in each activity was calculated by the number of observations recorded multiplied by 5. Total chewing time was considered as the sum of eating and ruminating times. Eating, ruminating, and total chewing times were also expressed as minutes per gram of DM and NDF intakes. There were no differences (p<0.05) on DMI, Eating (min/d & min/kg of DMI), among treatments. There were significantly differences between treatments on NDF intake (kg/d), Eating (min/kg of NDF intake), Ruminating (min/d, min/kg of DMI, min/kg of NDF intake), Chewing (min/d, min/kg of DMI, min/kg of NDF intake). These data suggest that, the addition of sources of pectin feedstuffs at 10% levels (dry matter basis) of the dairy cow ration instead of cereal grain; will decrease the cost of milk production without any negative effect on DMI and eating behavior.

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