Diet and genotype affect feeding behaviour of Holstein-Friesian
dairy cows during late lactation
P.L. THORNE, J.G. JAGO, E.S. KOLVER AND J.R. ROCHE
Dexcel, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand
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NZSAP 2003 Abstract No. 30
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production
63: 124-127
Ingestive behaviour of New Zealand (NZ) and overseas (OS)
Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cows grazing pasture only or fed a total
mixed ration (TMR) was observed in late lactation. Data from visual
observations every 10 minutes over a 48-h period were used to evaluate
differences in time spent feeding, ruminating, standing and lying. OS HF
and cows fed TMR had greater dry matter intakes (DMI) than their
respective comparisons. Cows grazing pasture spent more time feeding,
less time ruminating, less time standing and the same time lying,
compared to cows fed TMR. OS HF spent less time feeding, the same time
ruminating, the same time standing, and more time lying compared to NZ
HF. When expressed in terms of DMI, OS HF took less time to consume a kg
of DM, and spent less time ruminating each kg of DM compared to NZ HF,
irrespective of diet. A genotype x diet interaction was observed for
time spent standing, with NZ HF spending more time standing when fed
TMR, but standing for a similar time as OS HF whengrazing. These results
suggest feeding and grazing behaviour differences between HF cows of
differing genotype, but similar breeding worth.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
grazing behaviour, Holstein Friesian, genotype, diet
Last Updated 8/07/2004
