Review: Feeding behaviour of dairy cattle: Meaures and applications

There is growing scientific interest in feeding behaviour of dairy cattle, in part because dairy nutritionists are now becoming interested in how changes in feed intake are mediated by changes in behaviour and, in part, because changes in feeding behaviour are increasingly recognized as useful indicator of cow health. In this review we describe key methodological approaches to the study of feeding behaviour in dairy cattle. We also review empirical work addressing how changes in management and housing can affect this behaviour. We show how cows divide their daily intake into several discrete feeding events made up of a number of visits or “meals” that are separated by longer periods with little feeding activity. Feeding behaviour can be described using several measures, including the number and duration of meals, as well as intake and feeding rate. Feeding behaviour within a group of intensively managed cows is often highly synchronized, similar to that seen in extensively housed cattle, with delivery of fresh feed appearing to be the primary factor stimulating feeding by housed dairy cows. Competition at the feed bunk can affect feeding behaviour, increasing the feeding rate and reducing intake, especially for subordinate animals. We also review empirical work showing that feed intake, feeding times, and feeding rate are altered when cows are ill. Feeding behaviour changes in the days before calving, and these changes are greatest among cows at greatest risk of succumbing to disease in the early post partum period. These results suggest that monitoring changes in feeding behaviour may be useful in early detection and prevention of disease in transition cows.Key words: Dairy cattle, feeding behaviour, management, health

Download Full-text

Association of Feed Efficiency, Feeding Rate, and Behaviour with the Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

Dairy ◽

10.3390/dairy2040053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 684-694

Author(s):

Lenka Krpálková ◽

Niall O’Mahony ◽

Anderson Carvalho ◽

Sean Campbell ◽

Gerard Corkery ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Feeding Rate ◽

Feeding Time ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Milk Performance

Identification of the associations of cow feed efficiency with feeding behaviour and milk production is important for supporting recommendations of strategies that optimise milk yield. The objective of this study was to identify associations between measures of feed efficiency, feed intake, feeding rate, rumination time, feeding time, and milk production using data collected from 26 dairy cows during a 3 month period in 2018. Cows averaged (mean ± standard deviation) 2.2 ± 1.7 lactations, 128 ± 40 days in milk, 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/day milk, 1.95 ± 0.69 kg feed/1 kg milk—the measure used to express feed conversion ratio (FCR), 575 ± 72 min/day rumination time, and 264 ± 67 min/day feeding time during the observation period. The coefficient of variation for rumination time (min/d) was 12.5%. A mixed linear model was selected for analyses. The most feed inefficient cows with the highest FCR (≥2.6 kg feed/1 kg milk) showed the lowest milk yield (24.8 kg/day), highest feed intake (78.8 kg), highest feeding rate (0.26 kg/min) and BCS (3.35 point). However, the relative milk yield (milk yield per 100 kg of body weight) was the highest (4.01 kg/day) in the most efficient group with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). Our study showed that the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk) had the highest rumination time (597 min/day; p < 0.05), feeding time (298 min/day; p < 0.05), rumination/activity ratio (4.39; p < 0.05) and rumination/feeding ratio (2.04; p < 0.05). Less active cows (activity time 164 min/day; p < 0.05) were the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). The behavioural differences observed in this study provide new insight into the association of feed behaviour and feed efficiency with milk performance. Incorporating feeding behaviour into the dry matter intake model can improve its accuracy in the future and benefit breeding programmes.

Download Full-text

Spectral analysis of feeding patterns of steers divergent in residual feed intake

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea08021 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 843 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Robin Dobos ◽

Robert Herd

Keyword(s):

Spectral Analysis ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Feeding Rate ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Selection Line ◽

Feeding Patterns ◽

Time Spent Feeding ◽

Efficient Selection

Spectral analysis was used to quantify differences in feeding patterns of Angus steers genetically divergent in residual feed intake (RFI). Forty-two low RFI (more efficient) and 28 high RFI (less efficient) selection line steers were fed a feedlot diet through electronic feeders for 72 days. Mean (±s.e.) daily feed intake was 11.9 ± 0.076 and 12.7 ± 0.095 kg dry matter/day over the 72-day feeding period for low and high RFI steers, respectively. The high RFI steers exhibited different temporal cycles to the low RFI steers in daily feed intake and time spent feeding. However, patterns of number of eating sessions, feeding rate, the time spent eating and the number of eating sessions were similar. Further analysis of daily (24 h) feeding behaviour is required to help improve our understanding of the association between feeding behaviour and feed efficiency.

Download Full-text

Feeding behaviour in dairy cows with and without the influence of clinical diseases or subclinical disorders

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.7482/0003-9438-56-014 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 149-159

Author(s):

J. Dollinger ◽

O. Kaufmann

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Reference Group ◽

Post Partum ◽

Behaviour Pattern ◽

Time Range ◽

Feeding Time ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Fresh Matter

Abstract. The objective of this study was to describe and compare circadian pattern of feed intake and feeding behaviour in healthy and diseased dairy cows. Test animals (n=138) were separated into two groups according to their health status. Health and management data were used to exclude cows with clinical or subclinical diseases. Fifteen cows of the test herd complied with the defined criteria and formed the reference group »healthy«. The behaviour of the remaining 123 cows was compared with the reference group. Both groups were used to analyse the feed intake and feeding behaviour on a daily base and in the course of 24 h. During a defined time range from day 28 post-partum to day 56 post-partum behavioural differences within these groups were analysed. There were no significant differences in daily feed intake (40.7 vs. 41.9 kg fresh matter per day, P=0.42). However, feeding behaviour pattern differed between the two groups (daily feeder visits, daily feeding time, number of daily feeder visit, number of daily meals, meal duration, feeding time within a meal, feeder visits per meal). For example, average feeder visit was shorter in the group with subclinical/ clinical health disorders than in the reference group (7.2 vs. 8.1 min, P=0.024). Differences in circadian feeding behaviour could be detected by analysing the feed intake and feeding time over the course of the day. Linear regression analyses showed strong correlations between feeding time and feed intake on hourly base (R² = 0.8) and on daily base (R² = 0.7).

Download Full-text

Instant Insights: Metabolic disorders in dairy cattle

10.19103/9781786769329 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Metabolic Disorders ◽

Transition Period ◽

Post Partum ◽

Cereal Grains ◽

Ruminal Ph ◽

Cereal Grain ◽

Rumen Acidosis

This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on metabolic disorders in dairy cattle. The first chapter reviews the prevalence, etiology and effects of ruminal acidosis, as well as ways to counteract it through regulation of ruminal pH. The chapter includes a case study on subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) in the post-partum phase of the transition period. The second chapter assesses the main pathways for rumen fermentation which is a major factor in efficient transformation of nutrients. It discusses factors influencing the efficiency of microbial growth as well as the interactions between rumen energy and nitrogen metabolism in ensuring efficient digestion and avoiding metabolic disorders. The third chapter investigates the genetics of improving feed intake efficiency which has significant potential in reducing metabolic disorders. The chapter reviews key challenges in developing genomic selection indices for feed intake, including recording feed intake, pooling genetic data and establishing genomic breeding values for feed efficiency. The fourth chapter discusses how cereal grains impact feed efficiency in cattle. It reviews how cereal grains can be used to improve feed efficiency and the microbiology of cereal grain fermentation. The chapter also discusses ways of avoiding acidosis and other negative feed effects.

Download Full-text

Carob pulp inclusion in lamb diets: effect on intake, performance, feeding behaviour and blood metabolites

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an14733 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 850 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. N. Noor-Ehsan Gobindram ◽

M. Bognanno ◽

G. Luciano ◽

M. Lanza ◽

L. Biondi

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Protein Profile ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Secondary Compounds ◽

Blood Cholesterol ◽

Blood Metabolites ◽

High Level ◽

Serum Protein Profile

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is commonly found in the Mediterranean region and may be used as an alternative feed resource in livestock production. However, carob contains plant secondary compounds, such as polyphenols, which limit its use due to potential toxicity problems. This study aimed to investigate whether the substitution of barley by carob pulp at a relatively high level of up to 35% causes production-level reduction and has detrimental effects on animal welfare. Lamb performance parameters such as feed intake, liveweight and carcass weight were recorded and feeding behaviour was monitored. Blood metabolites and protein profiles were determined to detect signs of metabolic distress. The inclusion of carob pulp resulted in similar level of performance by animals in all the experimental diets. However, the feeding pattern was different with feed intake being significantly lower during the first 90 min post feed supply in the carob-fed lambs compared with the Control animals, although total daily intake was similar. In terms of welfare indicators, the inclusion of carob pulp in the lambs’ diet reduced blood cholesterol while increasing both non-esterified fatty acid and urea levels. These indicate that the animals were probably under some form of metabolic stress but not at a level to cause concerns, as confirmed by the similar serum protein profile especially in terms of albumin to globulins ratio.

Download Full-text

Influence of feeding operation and social factors on cattle locomotion in free stall barns

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a96-095 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 421-424

Author(s):

K. Uetake ◽

K. Yayou ◽

T. Okamoto

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Key Words ◽

Social Factors ◽

Social Behaviour ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Voluntary Movement ◽

Locomotion Control ◽

Cattle Feeding ◽

Holstein Calves

The influence of feeding operation and social factors on voluntary movement of cattle was studied with a group of nine Holstein calves in free stall barns. The results of this study suggest that cattle can move more voluntarily when rations are put beyond the place that farmers want them to walk through. The results also suggest that conflicts between motivations for approaching rations and avoiding competitive feeding behaviour should be considered when efficient systems of locomotion control of cattle groups are designed, such as in AMSs. Key words: Dairy cattle, feeding, social behaviour, motivation

Download Full-text

Variations in feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relation to parity during early to peak lactation

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-53-130-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 130-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

O. Azizi ◽

L. Hasselmann ◽

O. Kaufmann

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Feeding Rate ◽

Meal Size ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Technical Requirements ◽

Period 2 ◽

Number Of Visits ◽

Peak Lactation

Abstract. The objective of this study was to compare the feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relation to parity during early to peak lactation and to determine whether or not there was any relationship between variables describing their feeding behaviour and total feed intake. Information concerning feed intake of each individual dairy cow is especially valuable for the herd management, particularly in early lactation. However, technical requirements for implementation are rarely given. Therefore, relationships between feed intake and time-related feeding behaviour parameters are of special interest. Time-related parameters could be recorded on farm conditions adapted sensor technology. Seventy high-yielding lactating dairy cows in different parities (23 in the 1st lactation, 17 in the 2nd lactation, and 30 in the 3rd-and-more-lactation) with an average of 11 000 kg milk yield per year were fed using automatic feeders from the 2nd to the 15th week of lactation. 222 231 recorded visits were analysed in three equal periods (period 1 = 7–39, period 2 = 40–72, and period 3 = 73–105 days in milk [DIM]) during early to peak lactation. Visits were clustered in meals based on the estimated meal criterion (28.5 min). The present study yielded the following values for meal frequency, number of visits per meal, meal duration, meal size, daily mealtime, daily dry matter intake (DMI), and feeding rate over the course of the study were 7.61 ± 1.7 (mean ± SD) meals/d, 4.02 ± 1.68 visits/meal, 37.07 ± 13.77 min/meal, 2.96 ± 0.92 kg DM/meal, 272.18 ± 82.14 min/d, 21.46 ± 4.29 kg DM/d, and 85.56 ± 28.77 g DM/min, respectively. Younger cows had more meals per day, more number of visits per meal, longer daily mealtime but a smaller meal size, lower daily DMI, and lower feeding rate compared to older cows (P<0.001). Meal duration and meal size were highly related to the number of visits at feeder per meal (R2=0.55–0.63; P<0.001, R2=0.25–0.39; P<0.001 respectively). In addition, meal size was highly related to meal duration (R2=0.59–0.72; P<0.001). Results from this study, which analysed data based on meal criterion, showed a higher correlation between the selected parameters of feeding behaviour and feed intake. The high correlation between meal duration and meal size could be used to estimate feed intake.

Download Full-text

PSVI-6 Effect of season on the feeding behaviour and kinetics of daily feed intake of high-prolific sows during lactation

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.726 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 399-399

Author(s):

Bruno Alexander N Silva ◽

Simon Eskinazi ◽

David V Jacob ◽

Wagner Araújo ◽

Iara Ataíde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Feeding Pattern ◽

Cool Season ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Lactating Sows ◽

Ingestion Time ◽

Hot Season ◽

Kinetics Of

Abstract Heat stress can cause changes in the feeding behaviour of lactating sows. The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of season on the feeding behavior and kinetics of daily feed intake of modern high prolific sows under tropical conditions. A total of 80 high-prolific mixed parity sows divided into 10 batches of 8 sows each were used. Individual feeding behaviour was recorded during the ad libitum period (between d 1 and 23 of lactation), using an Automated Intelligent Feeder (AIF; Gestal Solo, Jyga Technology, Canada). Daily feed intake during lactation was affected by season (P < 0.001), and the feed intake was less during the hot season (5.66 vs. 7.23 g/d; Figure 1a). The daily ingestion time was less in the hot season (36.8 vs. 72.3 min/ d; P< 0.01) and the ingestion time per meal was also lower in the hot compared to the cool season (5.7 vs. 7.5 min/ meal; P < 0.05). The hot season showed a lower (P < 0.01) rate of daily intake when compared to the cool season (36.8 vs. 72.3 g/ min). Sows showed a higher diurnal feed intake (3,546 vs. 2,901 g/ d), whereas meal frequency was not affected (4.2 meals/ d, on average). Irrespective of the season, the nycthemeral pattern of feed intake peaked twice daily: between 0200 and 0900 h and between 1600 and 2000 h (Figure 1b).The present study confirms that lactating sows do not change much their feeding pattern according to season, meaning that they tend to keep the same feeding behaviour during both seasons, with a more pronounced intake between 0200 and 0900 am, approximately 80% of their total daily intake. Sows may not change feeding pattern according to season, but reduce significantly voluntary feed intake under hot climate conditions in order to reduce the thermal effect of feed.

Download Full-text