The effect of the number of feed pushing-ups on animal behavior, dry matter intake and milk yield of dairy cows

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different feed pushing-up frequencies on the behavior, dry matter intake and milk production of dairy cows in the first lactation. In each monitoring, 32 - 37 dairy cows of Czech spotted cattle at the peak of lactation were represented. After the feed was delivered to cows, the feed was pushed-up 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 times in 5 different frequencies within 12 hours. Each frequency was monitored for 1 month in four repetitions. The behavior of dairy cows during feeding was monitored for 15 minutes after the feed delivery and after each food pushing-up. We evaluated how often the dairy cows came to the feeding table, how they used mixed ration and milk production. The frequency of feed pushing-ups has shown an effect on the dairy cow's milk yield. As a result of the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 feed pushing-up frequencies, the average milk production per cow per day was 24.52; 25.84; 25.48; 25.78; 26.03 kg. Also feed conversion increased with the frequency of feed pushing-ups to 1.22; 1.29; 1.25; 1.30 aand nd 1.30 kg of milk from 1 kg of received dry matter. TMR dry matter utilization increased by 1% on average.

Keywords

• cow
• push-up
• dairy cow
• tmr
• milk yield