19 research outputs found
The Effect of Sward Height and Bulk Density on Herbage Intake and Grazing Behaviour of Dairy Cows
The effects of sward height and bulk density on herbage intake and grazing behaviour of dairy cows during 1 hour grazing periods was investigated. Sward factors had a marked effect on dry matter (DM) intake/bite, which ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 g, and this was reflected in hourly intake rates. Intake/bite was largely influenced by sward height, reflecting increased bite depth in taller swards, with inherent differences between swards at low sward heights largely attributable to differences in bulk density (BD). The results indicate that DM intake rates up to 4.0 kg DM/hour can be achieved in short term grazing studies with dairy cows grazing tall (180 mm+), dense (3.0 kg DM/m3), leafy perennial ryegrass swards
Behavioural and physiological responses of individually housed dairy calves to change in milk feeding frequency at different ages
peer reviewedThis study aimed to use a range of non-invasive monitoring technologies to investigate the behavioural and
physiological responses of individually housed dairy calves to age at change in milk replacer (MR) feeding frequency.
Forty-eight Holstein Friesian calves were individually penned and fed MR (625 g/d) as solids in one of three feeding
regimes: (i) once-a-day feeding commencing at age 14 d (OAD14), (ii) once-a-day feeding commencing at age
28 d (OAD28) and (iii) twice-a-day feeding (TAD). Several behavioural (automatic activity sensors), physiological
(infrared [IR] thermography and heart rate variability [HRV]) and haematological indicators were used to examine
calf responses. Reduction in milk feeding frequency at 14 or 28 d of age increased daily concentrate intakes and
drinking water consumption throughout the pre-wean period. Calf lying behaviour was unaffected by reduction
in milk feeding frequency; however, TAD calves recorded a significant decrease in total daily lying time during
the post-wean period compared with OAD28s. There was no effect of treatment on IR eye or rectal temperature
throughout the experiment; however, there was an effect of age, with IR temperature decreasing as calf age
increased. OAD14 calves tended to have decreased HRV at days 14 and 16, which is suggestive of an increased
stress load. The findings suggest that under high levels of animal husbandry and whilst maintaining the same
amount of milk powder/d (625 g/d), reduction in milk feeding frequency from twice to once daily at 28 d can occur
without significant impact to behavioural, performance and physiological parameters assessed here
An examination of some factors which may influence the production potential of grazed and conserved forages by ruminants
SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DXN001911 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo
Rearing dairy heifer replacements
SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:8674.010(11) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo