Review: Behaviour and its role in the nutritional management of the growing dairy heifer

Abstract

De Vries, T. J. 2010. Review: Behaviour and its role in the nutritional management of the growing dairy heifer. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 295Á302. There has recently been a significant increase in the amount of scientific research relating dairy cattle behaviour to nutritional management, particularly with respect to the interaction with health. Much of this research has been focused on using information on the natural behavioural patterns of dairy cattle to improve management practices. As with calves and mature dairy cattle, the behaviour of growing replacement dairy heifers interacts with various nutritional management practices. For replacement dairy heifers, much of the research in this area has been focused on how these interactions relate to different feed delivery methods, the amount of feed provided, and stocking density at the feed bunk. This review describes empirical work focused on understanding how nutritional management practices affect heifer behaviour, and how these practices may affect the health, productivity, and welfare of these animals. In particular, evidence will be provided for those practices (such as total mixed ration feeding, feeding for ad libitum intake, and reducing feed bunk competition) that promote feeding behaviour patterns related to more consistent nutrient intake and improved rumen health. Even though the behavioural effects of these nutritional practices are known, additional research is still needed to further demonstrate the possible physiological consequences (e.g., rumen pH, growth rate) of these changes in behaviour. This information is needed so that further recommendations can be made on these practices so these animals may be raised for maximum production potential, while maintaining their behavioural needs, health and overall welfare.Key words: Behaviour, nutritional management, replacement dairy heifer De Vries, T. J. 2010. Le comportement et son roˆle dans la gestion de la nutrition des ge´nisses laitie`res en croissance. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 295Á302. On a assiste depuis peu a`une intensification importante des recherches scientifiques sur les liens entre le comportement des bovins laitiers et la prise en charge de leur nutrition, surtout sur le plan de la sante´. Une bonne partie de ces travaux font appel a`l'information sur le comportement naturel des animaux pour ame´liorer les pratiques d'e´levage. Comme c'est le cas avec les veaux et les bovins laitiers adultes, le comportement des ge´nisses de remplacement en croissance influe sur diverses pratiques en matie`re de nutrition. La recherche correspondante sur les ge´nisses laitie`res de remplacement se concentre dans une large mesure sur les interactions du comportement avec les me´thodes de distribution des aliments, la quantite´d'aliments fournie et la densite´de peuplement aux mangeoires. Cet article de´crit les travaux empiriques visant a`e´lucider la manie`re dont les techniques de prise en charge de l'alimentation influent sur le comportement des ge´nisses, et sur la fac¸on dont pareilles pratiques influ...

Social dominance in prepubertal dairy heifers allocated in continuous competitive dyads: Effects on body growth, metabolic status, and reproductive development

“…Moreover, greater glucose concentrations in dominant compared with subordinate heifers can be associated with a lower age at first breeding (Brickell et al, 2009). Previous studies reported that when competition for food increases, changes in feeding behavior, but not total DMI, affect heifers' body growth (Longenbach et al, 1999;González et al, 2008;DeVries, 2010). In this sense, we might speculate that the greater opportunity for sorting by dominant heifers could determine that they were more efficient than subordinate heifers in selecting small particles such ground corn grain in the TMR (DeVries et al, 2005;Greter et al, 2008;Ceacero et al, 2012).…”

“…In this context, intensive feeding systems, in which heifers are fed a TMR, are an important management tool to improve dairy heifer-rearing programs. Under these systems, social dominance and competition for feed may influence access to food and thus, heifer growth (DeVries, 2010). Management practices that involve high competition levels for feeding are major stressors that may have a negative effect on access to food and growth, raising welfare concerns, and thus, the need to develop alternative management.…”

Among farm variation in heifer BW gains

“…For example, the traditional practice of restricted feeding for pre-weaned calves is losing favour as the advantages of providing calves more milk become better known (Khan et al, 2011). Unfortunately, there is little work investigating the effects of feeding and management practices on growth rates of older heifers (see review by DeVries, 2010).…”