Effect of Feeding Frequency Employing Total Mixed Ration (TMR) on Dry Matter Intake and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows During the Winter

Abstract

Kudrna V .: Effect of Different Feeding Frequency Employing Total Mixed Ration (TMR) on Dry Matter Intake and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows during the Winter . Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 533-539. The aim of the study was to study the effects of changes in feeding frequency of TMR (2 ‐ 1 ‐ 2 times a day) on milk yield and milk composition, feed and nutrient consumption, selected parameters of rumen liquid and rumination intensity (length and number of rumination periods). No significant differences in performance, rumen fluid indices and rate of rumination were detected. Similarly, differences in dry matter intake (819.2 g/head/day) were non-significant ( P > 0.05). Results of the periodical experiment with 13 dairy cows fed once a day ad libitum during the winter season have shown that in stables with adequate conditions (capacity of feeding troughs, availability of feeds etc.) TMR to dairy cows may be fed once a day during the winter season without any unfavourable impact either on performance or health state of dairy cows, and the same milk yield as with feeding twice-a-day can be obtained. Dairy cows, feeding frequency, DMI, milk yield, physiological indices Optimum nutrition of dairy cows is the basic prerequisite for maintenance of their good health and full use of their milk yield capacity. The function of the digestive tract and utilization of feeds is also influenced by the feeding technique, among others by the feeding frequency during the day. It is a common practise to feed dairy cows twice a day. This fact contradicts the opinion that the more frequent feeding the higher the dry matter intake. However, there is also a conflict with the theory, that it is economically more advantageous to feed at minimal frequency and, in this way, to enhance labour productivity. The question of the feeding frequency of concentrates but also of TMR is still being solved. Especially the frequency of feeding concentrates, namely the dry matter intake (DMI), milk performance and indices of digestion in rumen have been studied. G ill and Castle (1983) compared the effect of feeding a protein concentrate twice, four times and 22 times during the 24-hr period. Feeding frequencies were not influenced by offering the feed at abovementioned intervals. Feed consumption, milk yield or live weight of dairy cows were not subject to changes. More frequent feeding increased milk fat concentration but the time of feeding and rumination was not affected. Kaufmann et al. (1980) followed the effect of feeding concentrates on pH values, concentration of volatile fatty acids and milk performance. McLeod et al. (1994) studied two different frequencies of feeding hay before and after feeding concentrates. Coherence among feeding frequencies, width of the feeding space at the manger and the number of animals per group was reported by DoleIal (1998). Physiological problems as consequences of low concentrate feeding frequencies have been solved partly by using automatic feeding systems that dose the concentrates in feeding boxes and partly by using mixed feeding rations (TMR). A result of several portions of TMR is, according to McCullogh (1994), a uniform process of ruminal fermentation when DMI consumption increases. Better energy and nitrogen utilization, increase in milk fat content