Review: Feeding behaviour of dairy cattle: Meaures and applications

Abstract

There is growing scientific interest in feeding behaviour of dairy cattle, in part because dairy nutritionists are now becoming interested in how changes in feed intake are mediated by changes in behaviour and, in part, because changes in feeding behaviour are increasingly recognized as useful indicator of cow health. In this review we describe key methodological approaches to the study of feeding behaviour in dairy cattle. We also review empirical work addressing how changes in management and housing can affect this behaviour. We show how cows divide their daily intake into several discrete feeding events made up of a number of visits or “meals” that are separated by longer periods with little feeding activity. Feeding behaviour can be described using several measures, including the number and duration of meals, as well as intake and feeding rate. Feeding behaviour within a group of intensively managed cows is often highly synchronized, similar to that seen in extensively housed cattle, with delivery of fresh feed appearing to be the primary factor stimulating feeding by housed dairy cows. Competition at the feed bunk can affect feeding behaviour, increasing the feeding rate and reducing intake, especially for subordinate animals. We also review empirical work showing that feed intake, feeding times, and feeding rate are altered when cows are ill. Feeding behaviour changes in the days before calving, and these changes are greatest among cows at greatest risk of succumbing to disease in the early post partum period. These results suggest that monitoring changes in feeding behaviour may be useful in early detection and prevention of disease in transition cows.Key words: Dairy cattle, feeding behaviour, management, health