A simplified feeding system did not affect milk production compared with a total mixed ration system in dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of our study was to compare animal performance of a simplified feeding system, named easy feeding (EF), with animal performance of a total mixed ration (TMR) feeding system, using high yielding dairy cows in early lactation. Two treatments, TMR (n = 16) and EF (n = 16), were evaluated in a completely randomised design. Holstein cows (617 ± 85.1 kg of body weight and 52 ± 16 days in milk) were used. The TMR treatment consisted of a mix of concentrates, corn silage and alfalfa hay, mixed and offered twice a day, while EF treatment involved the same diet components offered separately, with concentrate offered individually in the milking parlour, alfalfa hay offered as bales and corn silage offered straight from the silo bag, with no intervention of machinery in the feeding process. The feeding system had no effect on milk production, fat and protein yield, total net energy intake, total dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score plasma metabolites and eating and ruminating time. Cows in EF system had higher non-fibrous carbohydrates intake, lower intakes of crude protein and neutral detergent fibre and longer drinking time than cows in TMR system. Cows in EF selected a diet according to their preferences, which may have allowed them to achieved similar milk yield to TMR cows, despite the advantages of mixed diets in TMR treatment. Thus, the EF system is an attractive alternative to traditional TMR system, provided that costs of feeding operations are effectively reduced. Highlights A new simplified feeding system was compared to TMR system Milk production was similar in both feeding systems Simplified feeding system is an attractive alternative to traditional TMR systems, provided that costs of feeding operations are effectively reduced in EF