Impact of forage inclusion rate on the occurrence and persistence of feed sorting behaviour in growing dairy cattle

饲料添加率对生长奶牛饲料分选行为发生和持续性的影响

• 批准号: 451957-2013
• 负责人: DeVries, Trevor
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=540567
• 关键词: Impact; forage; inclusion; rate; occurrence

A new feeding program for growing dairy cattle, which incorporates chopped straw and a multi-textured calf concentrate in a dry total mixed ration (TMR), has been developed with the intent of providing consistent intakes of grain and forage, including a good source of abrasive fibre for rumen stimulation, and sufficient intake of concentrate to provide nutrients required. One of the key features of this feeding program is to maintain a consistent intake of both forage and grain in the formulated amounts. Dietary selection (sorting) of the ration has the potential to cause imbalances in nutrient intakes. Thus, the objective of this research is to determine the impact of forage inclusion level on the sorting behaviour and growth of young dairy cattle fed this dry TMR program. A secondary objective is to determine how developed feeding patterns carry over after the calves are switched to a conventional ration. We hypothesize that increasing the forage inclusion level will increase the amount of sorting for grain, thus increasing variability in nutrients consumed. We also hypothesize that this behaviour will carry over after calves are transitioned to a conventional ration. To test these hypotheses, 10 Holstein calves, raised similarly from birth to 12 weeks of age, will be assigned 1 of 2 treatments: 1) 85% concentrate and 15% chopped (2.5 cm) straw for 12 weeks; or 2) 85% concentrate and 15% chopped straw for 6 weeks, then 70% concentrate and 30% chopped straw for 6 weeks. At 24 weeks of age, all animals will be transitioned to a conventional ration, containing 50% corn silage and 50% haylage, for a 3-week period. Feed intake, behaviour (sorting, feeding, lying, and ruminating), growth, and health will be monitored throughout the study. This research will not only provide Nutreco Canada Agresearch empirical support for this feeding program, but also complement research at the University of Guelph in creating fundamental knowledge on the development of feeding behaviour in dairy cattle. The primary beneficiaries of this research are the Canadian dairy producers who implement this feeding program to reduce feed costs, and improve the health, efficiency, and welfare of their replacement dairy cattle.

一个新的饲养计划，为生长奶牛，其中包括切碎的秸秆和多质地小牛浓缩物在干全混合日粮（TMR），已开发的目的是提供一致的摄入量的谷物和饲料，包括一个良好的来源，用于瘤胃刺激研磨纤维，并提供所需的营养素的浓缩物的摄入量充足。该喂养计划的关键特征之一是保持饲料和谷物的稳定摄入量。日粮的饮食选择（排序）有可能导致营养摄入的不平衡。因此，本研究的目的是确定饲料包含水平对饲喂干TMR计划的年轻奶牛的分选行为和生长的影响。第二个目标是确定在犊牛改用传统日粮后，已开发的饲喂模式如何延续。我们假设，增加饲料包含水平将增加粮食的分选量，从而增加营养物质消耗的变异性。我们还假设，这种行为将进行后小牛过渡到一个传统的口粮。为了检验这些假设，将10头从出生到12周龄以相似方式饲养的荷斯坦犊牛分配至2种处理中的一种：1）85%精料和15%切碎（2.5 cm）秸秆，持续12周;或2）85%精料和15%切碎秸秆，持续6周，然后70%精料和30%切碎秸秆，持续6周。在24周龄时，所有动物将过渡到常规日粮，含50%玉米青贮饲料和50%干草，持续3周。在整个研究期间，将监测摄食量、行为（分选、喂养、躺卧和反刍）、生长和健康状况。这项研究不仅将为Nutreco Canada Agresearch提供这一喂养计划的实证支持，而且还将补充圭尔夫大学在创造奶牛喂养行为发展基础知识方面的研究。这项研究的主要受益者是加拿大乳制品生产商，他们实施这项喂养计划，以降低饲料成本，改善其替代奶牛的健康，效率和福利。