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

Abstract

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.

Feeding behavior parameters and temporal patterns in mid-lactation Holstein cows across a range of residual feed intake values

“…In beef cattle, standing time, standing duration, and feeder visit frequency and duration are significant predictors of RFI (Haskell et al, 2019), and these types of behaviors can be influenced by management factors such as stocking density, feed barrier design, and consistency of feed delivery to name a few (Huzzey et al, 2006;Proudfoot et al, 2009). Feeding rate increases with greater feed competition in lactating cows (Proudfoot et al, 2009), and feeding rate has an inverse relationship with feed conversion ratio (Krpálková et al, 2021). Additionally, interactions exist between nutrient intake and FB, which could be further manipulated.…”

Effects of production stage and fertility traits on milk production of pasture-grazed Holstein and Jersey cows in a Mediterranean-type climate region

“…Several authors have reported a positive relationship between dry matter intake and milk yield. In Ireland, Krpálková et al (2021) reported the highest milk yield with the highest feed intake in Holstein cows that were kept in individual stalls and received a TMR diet. In their meta-analysis from feeding trials involving Holstein cows conducted in the United States and Canada, Hristov et al (2004) found that stage of lactation improved the prediction of milk yield from nutrient intake.…”