Effect of Feeding Frequency of a Total Mixed Ration on the Performance of High-Yielding Dairy Cows

Abstract

Forty Finnish Ayrshire cows, 16 primiparous and 24 multiparous, were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments (FF1 or FF5). Total mixed ration (TMR) was fed once a day on the FF1 treatment and 5 times a day on the FF5 treatment. The experiment began at calving and continued to wk 28 of lactation. The TMR consisted of a grass silage and concentrate mix. The amount of concentrate in the TMR was 51% on a DM basis. The feeding frequency had no effect on milk or energy-corrected milk yields or on milk composition. The average energy-corrected milk yield was 32.8 kg/d on the FF1 treatment and 32.5 kg/d on the FF5 treatment. The less frequent feeding increased the dry matter intake (DMI) of cows. The average DMI during the experiment was 20.9 kg/d on the FF1 treatment and 19.9 kg/d on the FF5 treatment. The difference in DMI was due to the differences in DMI of the mature cows. Energy and protein conversion tended to be lower with feeding once a day compared with feeding 5 times a day. The cows' feeding behavior was also observed. Cows fed 5 times a day tended to eat quite evenly after each delivery, whereas on the FF1 treatment there were 2 clear feeding peaks in the evening after the feed delivery. The time spent eating during the observation period was longer on FF5 than on FF1. The cows fed once a day spent more time lying than the cows fed 5 times a day. Based on the observations of feeding behavior, feeding a TMR 5 times a day seemed to be too frequent based on the increased restlessness and decreased lying time of the cows.

Impact of increasing grain feeding frequency on production of dairy cows grazing pasture

“…Therefore, supplemental cereal grains are often fed during spring to increase total DMI and optimize ruminal fermentation by providing readily available energy for ruminant microbial growth and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production (Peyraud and Delaby, 2001;Stockdale, 2000). The effects of feeding frequency on dairy cow performance under indoor conditions has been extensively examined (Gibson, 1984;Phillips and Rind, 2001;Dhiman et al, 2002;Mantysaari et al, 2006), however effects of concentrate feeding frequency for cows rotationally grazing pasture have often yielded conflicting results and do not address the situation in southern Chile where temperate ryegrass pastures are fed. In Chile, grazing dairy cows are usually fed concentrates twice daily at milking and given new pasture after each milking.…”

Modeling of daily body weights and body weight changes of Nordic Red cows

“…During the years 2003 to 2004 cows were fed a TMR containing grass silage and commercial concentrate mix (45-57% of DM). Feeding of the cows during years 2003 to 2004 is described in detail in Khalili et al (2006) and Mäntysaari et al (2006). During the indoor period from 2009 to 2013 all cows were fed grass silage and home blend concentrate mix.…”

“…Milk composition were analyzed once in 2 wk during years 2003 to 2004 and once in 4 wk during years 2009 to 2013. The feed sampling and analysis procedures used during years 2003 to 2004 are explained by Khalili et al (2006) and Mäntysaari et al (2006). During years 2009 to 2013, a sample of grass silage for feed analysis was taken twice a week.…”

The effect of degree of competition for feeding space on the silage dry matter intake and feeding behaviour of dairy cows

“…For all treatments, a high proportion of the daily intake was consumed during the first 2 h after feeding. Studies have shown that the delivery of feed has great effect in terms of stimulating feeding activity in group-housed dairy cattle and is the primary influence in determining their daily feeding patterns (DeVries et al 2005, Mäntysaari et al 2006. This effect tended to be more pronounced at low levels of competition.…”