scholarly journals Effects of bale feeder design on hay waste, intake, and apparent diet digestibility in gestating beef cows

Author(s):  
A J Sexten ◽  
M F Moore ◽  
C P McMurphy ◽  
G L Mourer ◽  
S K Linneen ◽  
...  

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeder design on hay intake, apparent diet digestibility, and hay waste in gestating beef cows. Native tallgrass prairie hay and a protein supplement was fed throughout both experiments. In Exp. 1, 56 crossbred cows were used in a Latin square arrangement. Feeder design treatments included a conventional open bottom steel ring (OBSR), an open bottom polyethylene pipe ring (POLY); a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING), and a sheeted bottom steel ring with a basket (BASK). Cows were weighed and allotted based on BW to one of four previously grazed 2.0 ha paddocks equipped with a concrete feeding pad. Fourteen cows were assigned to each paddock and three round bales were fed consecutively within each treatment period. The cows acclimated to the feeders while the first bale was being consumed. Subsequently, hay waste data was collected while the 2 nd and 3 rd bale within each period were being consumed. Waste was measured for each bale at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after each bale was introduced into the pen. Hay waste was significantly affected by hay feeder design with 19.7, 21.1, 12.4, and 5.5% of original bale weight wasted for OBSR, POLY, RING and BASK, respectively (P < 0.01). There was a feeder design x day interaction (P < 0.01) with greater waste when the bale was first introduced into the pen in OBSR, POLY, and RING feeders and gradually declining thereafter, while waste from the BASK feeder was consistently low. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for cows eating from OBSR feeders to consume less hay than cows eating from RING feeders. Feeder design did not influence apparent diet digestibility (P = 0.46). In Exp. 2, sixty-four crossbred cows (BW = 590 ± 59 kg) were used to determine waste, forage intake and apparent diet digestibility when hay was fed from a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING) or a RING feeder with a cone insert (CONE). More hay was wasted when cows were fed from RING feeders compared to CONE feeders (11.9% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.01). Feeder design had no effect on DMI or apparent digestibility (P > 0.45). Hay savings from adopting a more conservative feeder design can have a dramatic influence on hay utilization by beef cows and thus on cost of production.

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1269-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M. Grev ◽  
Emily C. Glunk ◽  
Marcia R. Hathaway ◽  
William F. Lazarus ◽  
Krishona L. Martinson
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1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 77-77
Author(s):  
D L Romney ◽  
V Blunn ◽  
J D Leaver

Previous studies have shown that the timing of supplement distribution and supplement type can have implications on forage intake and/or production. For example, Robinson et al. (1997) showed that feeding a protein supplement at 00.30 h compared with 08.30 h increased fat yield through stimulation of rumen fermentation. The objective of the present trial was to test the hypothesis “that supplying a protein supplement either before or after silage was offered would affect feeding pattern and silage intake”.Twelve multiparous cows, with average starting milk yield of 25.4 (s.d. 5.95) kg/day were allocated to one of six treatments in an incomplete Latin square with four periods of 21 days. Grass silage (219 g/kg DM, 151 g CP/kg DM) was fed ad libitum mixed with barley in the ratio 3:1 on a DM basis.


Author(s):  
J P Jaderborg ◽  
S L Bird ◽  
G I Crawford ◽  
R S Walker ◽  
A DiCostanzo

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine effects of feeding method and hay processing (Experiment 1), energy supplement moisture content and feeding method (Experiment 2), and access time to hay (Experiment 3) on cow body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI) and hay or energy supplement intake and waste. Experiment 1 was designed as a 4 x 4 Latin Square using 48 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (626 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into four treatment groups (n = 12 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 1, round bales were processed and delivered on the pen surface or in a bunk, or left unprocessed and delivered in a hay ring or rolled out on the pen surface. Experiment 2 was designed as a 6 x 6 Latin Square utilizing 54 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (616 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into treatment groups (n = 9 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 2, corn screenings (CS) or wet beet pulp (BP) were fed in a structure (inverted tire or bunk) or BP only on the pen surface. Experiment 3 was designed as a replicated 3 x 3 Latin Square utilizing 24 multiparous, late-gestating, Angus cows (584 kg initial BW). Cows were stratified by age and BW into treatment groups (n = 8 cows/group); treatment groups were then initially assigned randomly to treatments in a sequence of preset Latin Square periods. In Experiment 3, cows were permitted access to round-bales in a hay ring for 6, 14, or 24 h. In Experiment 1, hay DMI was not affected (P ≥ 0.579). Hay waste was greater (P ≤ 0.007) when hay, processed or not, was fed on the pen surface. In Experiment 2, hay DMI was greatest (P ≤ 0.011) for cows fed no supplement and those fed CS in a bunk. Feeding BP in a bunk led to the greatest (P ≤ 0.003) hay waste. In Experiment 3, cows permitted 6-h access consumed and wasted less (P < 0.001) hay compared with those permitted longer access; BW was unaffected (P ≥ 0.870). In these experiments, cows fed hay on the pen surface, processed or not, achieved similar DMI as those fed in a ring or bunk, but wasted more hay. Delivering BP in a bunk or on the pen surface increased hay and supplement waste, respectively. Controlling access to hay reduced DMI and waste while maintaining cow BW.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 292-293
Author(s):  
K. Cleary ◽  
K. Martinson ◽  
J. Wilson ◽  
W. Lazarus ◽  
W. Thomas ◽  
...  
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2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 1047-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Martinson ◽  
J. Wilson ◽  
K. Cleary ◽  
W. Lazarus ◽  
W. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 133-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
B M L McLean ◽  
J J Hyslop ◽  
A C Longland ◽  
D Cuddeford ◽  
T Hollands

Processed cereals are used routinely in diets for equines but little information is available on how physical processing affects the digestibility of cereals in equines. This study examines the effects of three physical processing methods (rolling, micronisation and extrusion) on the in vivo apparent digestibility of barley fed to ponies.Three mature caecally-fistulated Welsh-cross pony geldings, (LW 284kg ± 3.8kg) were used in a 3 x 4 incomplete latin square changeover design experiment consisting of four 21 day periods. Each period comprised a sixteen day adaptation phase and a five day recording phase when apparent digestibility in vivo was determined. Ponies were offered 4kg dry matter (DM) per day of either 100% hay cubes (HC) or one of three diets consisting of a 50:50 barley:hay cubes mix. The barley in the mixed diets was either rolled barley (RB), micronised barley (MB) or extruded barley (EB). Diets were offered in 2 equal meals per day fed at 09:00 and 17:00 hours respectively.


1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Carro ◽  
A. R. Mantecón ◽  
I. A. Wright ◽  
I. J. Gordon

AbstractEffects of time of supplementation on forage intake, nutrient apparent digestibility and rumen fermentation were studied with 12 mature castrated male sheep (wethers) offered grass hay from 16.30 h to 09.30 h and supplemented with a cereal-based concentrate given at either 09.30 or 16.00 h. Voluntary intake of hay organic matter (OM) was decreased by feeding the concentrate (P< 0·01). Offering concentrate at 09.30 h after hay was available, increased intake of hay and total OM compared with offering it at 16.00 h before hay was available (P< 0·05). Daily pattern of hay intake was not changed when concentrate was offered at 09.30 h compared with feeding hay alone, but concentrate given at 16.00 h resulted in a lower hay intake between 16.30 and 18.00 h. Sheep offered concentrate at 09.30 h had higher rumen ammonia levels than those offered concentrate at 16.00 h, but there were no differences in the apparent digestibility of the nutrients, rumen pH and molar proportions of the main volatile fatty acids. There were also no differences between groups in the blood plasma concentrations of 3-hydroxybutyrate (30HB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose. It is concluded that feeding supplement after rather than before a period of intake of forage or a bout of grazing may offer a means of minimizing reduction of forage intake as a consequence of feeding concentrate.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Mustafa ◽  
D. A. Christensen ◽  
J. J. McKinnon

Two studies were undertaken to evaluate the nutritive value of high fiber canola meal (HFCM) relative to regular canola meal for ruminants. In the first study, 21 growing lambs were utilized in a randomized complete block design to determine the total tract digestion coefficients of dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CPD), gross energy (GED), neutral (NDFD) and acid (ADFD) detergent fiber and the digestible energy (DE) contents of seven dehydrated alfalfa-based diets containing 0, 250, 500 and 750 g kg−1 HFCM or canola meal. In the second study, the effect of feeding HFCM as a protein supplement to dairy cows relative to canola meal and soybean meal (SBM) was examined in a triple 3 × 3 Latin square design. Results of the first study showed that HFCM had lower (P < 0.05) DMD, CPD, GED and DE contents than canola meal. The estimated DMD, CPD and GED and DE contents for HFCM were 674 and 795 g kg−1, 695 kJ MJ−1 and 13.68 MJ kg−1, respectively. The corresponding values for canola meal were 707 and 841 g kg−1, 727 kJ MJ−1 and 14.10 MJ kg−1, respectively. Results of the second study showed that protein supplement source had no effect on DM intake, milk yield, milk fat g kg−1, lactose g kg−1 and total solid g kg−1. However, cows fed HFCM- and canola meal-based diets produced milk with lower (P < 0.05) protein content than those fed the SBM-based diet. It was concluded that HFCM had lower total tract nutrient digestion coefficients and DE content compared with canola meal. Incorporation of HFCM in dairy rations up to 100 g kg−1 of the ration had no adverse effect on milk yield or milk composition compared with canola meal. Key words: High fiber, canola meal, total tract digestibility, lactation


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