Abstract
Milking often coincides with the main grazing periods of dairy cows, at dawn and evening, and thus, it might impair grazing behavior and pasture intake. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of changing the morning and evening milking time on the ingestive behavior of lactating dairy cows. Eighteen multiparous Holstein and Jersey cows were evaluated at conventional (7 am and 5 pm) and at alternative milking time (8 am and 4 pm) in a switch-over design. Milk yield and composition, and ingestive behavior were recorded during before (BC; days 1–7 of the trial) and after the change (AC; days 21–35 of the trial) in the milking schedule. Behavior activities consisted of diurnal ingestive behavior (time spent grazing, ruminating, idling and eating the supplement), position (standing up or lying down) and time in shade or in the outdoor areas and were registered from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, considering effect of milking time change and days as repeated measurements. Diurnal and per shift (morning, afternoon) means of behavioral activities were compared between before and after milking time changed. Changes in milking time did not affect (P > 0.05) body weight (BC = 647 vs. AC = 653 kg) and milk yield (BC = 24.6 vs. AC = 25.0 kg), but increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of milk fat (BC = 4.19 vs. AC = 4.77 g/100 g), total solids (BC = 12.97 vs. AC = 13.63 g/100 g) and milk ureic nitrogen contents (BC = 11.93 vs. AC = 15.35 mg/dL), as well increased diurnal time spent grazing (BC = 125.3 vs. AC = 183.9 min; P < 0.05). After milking time changed, time eating the supplement decreased (BC = 181.9 vs. AC = 152.8 min; P < 0.05), while rumination time decreased (P < 0.05) at day 1 and increased at day 2, with idling time showing the inverse pattern. Cows spent more time (P < 0.05) lying down (BC = 45.6 vs. AC = 162.8 min) and at outdoors (BC = 331.7 vs. AC = 421.1 min) after change in milking time. Changes in milking time, avoiding coincidence of milking with main grazing periods, favored late afternoon grazing and reduced time spent feeding supplement without changes in milk yield.
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