Advancing knowledge of feeding behaviour to enhance cow health and milk quality

增进饲养行为知识，以改善奶牛健康和牛奶质量

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-04819
• 负责人: DeVries, Trevor
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=588037
• 关键词: Advancing; knowledge; feeding; behaviour; enhance

Much research has been done to ensure that a sufficient supply of high-quality milk is produced in an efficient manner. Despite increases in milk production, due largely to improved genetics and nutrition of dairy cattle, these animals continually experience a high incidence of metabolic conditions. One of these conditions, sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA), is responsible for large economic losses to the dairy industry. Further, recent research has shown that cows with SARA produce elevated levels of the trans-10, cis-12 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk, a compound with potential negative effects on the glucose homeostasis of consumers of milk products. There is empirical evidence that SARA may be directly linked to the feeding behaviour of dairy cows. Feeding behavior patterns are believed to be influenced by experiences, including learning early in life. As such, our research during the past 5 years has focused on developing a fundamental understanding of the ontogeny of feeding behaviour in young dairy cattle, as affected by nutritional and housing management. While much advancement has been made in this understanding, our research has also shown that learned behaviour patterns are not consistently retained when the animal experiences physiological and environmental changes. Thus, the long-term objective of this proposed research program is to develop a fundamental understanding of the factors influencing the expression of feeding behaviour in mature dairy cattle and the consequences of that behaviour. To address this, my specific short-term objectives are to determine how feeding behaviour, including meal patterning and diet selection, are: 1) related to cow health and nutritional quality of milk; 2) altered in response to physiological needs; 3) adapted in response to environmental stimuli, and 4) adapted in response to social stimuli. For this program I propose a series of experiments that will address my short-term goals and collectively address my long-term objective. Across studies, I predict that the feeding behaviour patterns and strategies of dairy cattle can be modified through short-term experiences to improve cow health and nutritional quality of milk. In each study the feeding behaviour (including time course of eating, meal patterning, and diet selection) of individual cows will be monitored in response to various factors under investigation (including changing nutrient requirements associated with lactation and pregnancy, and social and management stimuli). Changes in behavioural patterns will also be related to health status of cows (measured through physiological and behavioural observations) and the yield and composition (fatty acid profile) of the milk produced. This research program will provide novel biological insights into factors affecting the expression of feeding behaviour in dairy cattle and the implications this has on cow health and nutritional quality of milk. This research not only has economic benefits to dairy producers, but also societal benefits. Nutritional quality of food products remains a primary factor influencing food choices by consumers. Further, the welfare of animals, especially those used in food production, is an area of increasing social concern. Thus, this research will not only contribute to production of a healthful food product for the consumer, but also satisfy the consumers’ interest in purchasing products obtained from animals that have been raised in a humane manner.

已经进行了大量研究，以确保以高效的方式生产足够的高质量牛奶。尽管牛奶产量增加，这主要是由于奶牛的遗传和营养改善，但这些动物继续经历新陈代谢疾病的高发。其中一种情况是亚急性瘤胃酸中毒(SARA)，它给奶牛业造成了巨大的经济损失。此外，最近的研究表明，患有SARA的奶牛会在牛奶中产生高水平的共轭亚油酸(CLA)的反式-10，顺式-12异构体，这是一种对奶制品消费者的葡萄糖动态平衡具有潜在负面影响的化合物。有经验证据表明，SARA可能与奶牛的喂养行为直接相关。喂食行为模式被认为受到经验的影响，包括在生命早期的学习。因此，在过去的5年里，我们的研究集中在发展对幼年奶牛摄食行为的个体发育的基本理解，这些个体发育受到营养和畜舍管理的影响。虽然在这方面的理解已经取得了很大进展，但我们的研究也表明，当动物经历生理和环境变化时，习得的行为模式并不是始终如一的。因此，这项拟议研究计划的长期目标是对影响成熟奶牛饲养行为表达的因素以及该行为的后果有一个基本的了解。为了解决这一问题，我的具体短期目标是确定喂养行为，包括饲喂模式和饮食选择：1)与奶牛健康和牛奶的营养质量有关；2)根据生理需求改变；3)适应环境刺激；4)适应社会刺激。对于这个项目，我提出了一系列实验，这些实验将解决我的短期目标，并共同解决我的长期目标。通过研究，我预测可以通过短期经验来改变奶牛的饲养行为模式和策略，以改善奶牛的健康和牛奶的营养质量。在每项研究中，将根据被调查的各种因素(包括与哺乳和怀孕相关的营养需求的变化，以及社会和管理刺激)，监测每头奶牛的喂养行为(包括进食时间、进食模式和饮食选择)。行为模式的变化还将与奶牛的健康状况(通过生理和行为观察来衡量)以及所生产牛奶的产量和成分(脂肪酸分布)有关。这项研究计划将为影响奶牛摄食行为表达的因素以及这对奶牛健康和牛奶营养质量的影响提供新的生物学见解。这项研究不仅对乳品生产者具有经济效益，而且具有社会效益。食品的营养质量仍然是影响消费者食品选择的主要因素。此外，动物的福利，特别是那些用于食品生产的动物的福利，是一个日益受到社会关注的领域。因此，这项研究不仅有助于为消费者生产健康的食品，而且还可以满足消费者购买以人道方式饲养的动物产品的兴趣。