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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Dry matter intake and feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows offered a mixed ration with or without canola meal

M. M. Wright A B D , M. J. Auldist A , E. Kennedy C , N. Galvin C , F. R. Dunshea B and W. J. Wales A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.

B Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.

D Corresponding author. Email: Marlie.Wright@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Animal Production Science 57(7) 1277-1282 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16496
Submitted: 26 July 2016  Accepted: 21 November 2016   Published: 30 January 2017

Abstract

Dry matter intake and feeding behaviour were measured in grazing dairy cows fed partial mixed rations with (PMR+C) and without (PMR–C) canola meal. In spring (early lactation), 32 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were offered two amounts of the two supplement treatments in a two × two factorial arrangement of treatments for 24 days. Amounts of supplement were low (8 kg DM/cow.day) versus high (14 kg DM/cow.day). The PMR–C ration comprised wheat grain (59.5%, DM basis), maize grain (18.9%) and lucerne hay (21.6%). The PMR+C ration was the same, except some wheat grain was substituted with canola meal (21.6%). Both rations were isoenergetic, with a grain to forage ratio of 78 : 22 (DM basis). All cows were offered a low pasture allowance of 10 kg DM/cow.day to ground level. Replacing some wheat in a ration with canola meal increased pasture and total eating time. Dry matter intake did not differ between PMR–C and PMR+C cows. The present experiment also demonstrated that altering the amount of supplement did not influence the increase in eating time that occurred as a result of the inclusion of canola meal. Increasing the amount of supplement reduced pasture intake as a result of a reduction in grazing time and grazing intensity.

Additional keywords: n-alkanes, partial mixed ration, pasture, supplements.


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