No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2017
Declining longevity, poor fertility and increasing incidence of disease in Holstein cows has led to renewed interest in alternative dairy breeds. The Jersey is the second most popular breed in the UK, and its numbers have increased by 50% since 1999 (The Jersey Cattle Society). Limited research has indicated that there are physiological differences between the Jersey and larger dairy breeds, in addition to those of milk quality. Consequently, current dairy cow rationing systems may be inappropriate for Jerseys because they are based on data from Holsteins. The behaviour data presented here was part of a larger study which also compared the intake capacity, diet digestibility and rate of passage of Jersey and Holstein cows.