AN25192Grazing behaviour and nutrient intake of dairy cows is affected by milking order and daily time at pasture


Milking order on pasture-based dairy farms is consistent within herds and can negatively affect the quantity and nutritive characteristics of the pasture available to cows that return to the paddock later. This, in turn, influences grazing behaviour and milk production. This research highlights that cows that arrive back to the paddock later spent less time ruminating and had lower milk yields than early-milked cows, resulting in lower farm profit. Quantifying these data allows for future research investigating potential mitigation strategies.