Forage Intake and Efficiency of Feed Utilization in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Summary The data from 12 forage experiments, involving 175 Holstein-Friesian cows, were analyzed to study the variation among cows in their forage appetite and the efficiency of feed utilization. Highly significant differences were found among cows in their forage dry matter intake, even after adjustment had been made for milk production, body weight, and daily changes in weight. On a within forage treatment period and year basis the repeatability of the weekly average of forage dry matter consumption was 0.70. Cows tended to maintain their rank in forage consumption when fed several different kinds of forage. The difference among cows in their efficiency of feed utilization was also highly significant. The average efficiency for 20 wk., starting 60 days after calving, was a requirement of 56.7lb. of TDN for each 100lb. of FCM produced. Consistent and highly significant differences in efficiency were found in favor of grass silage as compared with hay as a source of forage. Some possible explanations of this are discussed.