Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T18:36:04.792Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The time taken by cows to eat concentrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Cathy G. Jones ,
Kathleen D. Maddever ,
Doris L. Court  and
Mary Phillips
Cathy G. Jones
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service
Kathleen D. Maddever
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service
Doris L. Court
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service
Mary Phillips
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service
Get access

Extract

The investigation was designed to measure the time taken to eat concentrate foods and to determine whether the type and quantity of food, the age of the cow, the length of time between feeds and the eating habits of the cow influence consumption rate.

The data indicate that the main factor affecting eating time is the quantity eaten. Within the range of 2 to 8 Ib., the larger the ration the faster the rate of eating. Further, the data show that up to 20 Ib. of concentrates can be consumed per cow per day in a parlour without any check in the faster rate of eating recorded when the higher levels of concentrates are offered.

The type of concentrate is also important: cubes are eaten faster than meal. There are considerable variations between cows in the time taken to eat.

The results of this investigation did not show any obvious effects on the time of eating of breed of cows, position of manger, nor of the length of interval between bulky and concentrate rations.

Graphs relating the eating times of cows with the times available for eating in parlours are shown, and these can be used for reference on farms in parlour planning.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , October 1966 , pp. 489 - 497
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1966

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Byers, G. B., 1952. Effect of work methods and building designs on building costs and labor efficiency for dairy chores. Bull. Kentucky agrie. Expt. Sta. no. 589.Google Scholar
Clough, P. A., & Dodd, F. H., 1959. Measurement of performance in machine milking. N.A.A.S. Quart. Rev., 43: 103–111.Google Scholar
Dalton, H. L., Huffman, C. F., & Ralston, N. P., 1953. The effect of feeding concentrates with different degrees of fineness and water contents on the eating and milking times in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 36: 1279–1284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harshbarger, K. E., 1949. Observations on time required for dairy cows to eat grain, silage and hay. J. Dairy Sci., 32: 716 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Stallcup, O. T., Bostain, D. V., & Bierworth, K. P., 1959. Time required for dairy cows to eat concentrates and silage. Bull. Arkansas agrie. Expt. Sta., no. 609.Google Scholar
Roberts, W. P., 1958. Selecting a milking parlour for the individual farm. Agrie. Rev., 3: 8–15.Google Scholar