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Comparison of the feeding behaviour of primiparous and multiparous Jersey and Holstein cows kept under equal conditions throughout lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2022

Sandra Gündel ,
Lene Munksgaard ,
Christian Looft  and
Leslie Foldager
Sandra Gündel*
Affiliation:
Hochschule Neubrandenburg – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Brodaer Str. 2, 17033 Neubrandenburg, Germany
Lene Munksgaard
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Christian Looft
Affiliation:
Hochschule Neubrandenburg – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Brodaer Str. 2, 17033 Neubrandenburg, Germany
Leslie Foldager
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
*
Author for correspondence: Sandra Gündel, Email: guendel@hs-nb.de
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Abstract

The objective of the study was to describe the feeding behaviour of primiparous and multiparous Jersey cows compared to Holstein cows housed in separate groups in the same barn. Such information could help farmers to optimise management with respect to welfare and production. Yet, it remains limited for Jersey cows over the entire period of lactation. Feeding data of 116 Danish Jersey (mean parity 2.14 ± 1.32) and 218 Danish Holstein cows (mean parity 1.90 ± 1.16) were assessed using automatic feeders from day 15 to 252 of lactation. Total eating duration, duration of eating per visit, intervals between meals, number of visits per day and the eating rate were analysed using linear mixed effects models. The cows were kept in a loose-housing system, with cubicles and automatic milking robots, and the group composition was dynamic. Compared to Holstein cows, Jersey cows visited the feeder significantly more often with shorter between meal intervals. However, the visit duration and total daily eating time and eating rates were significantly shorter for Jersey cows. There was no difference between breeds in the daily eating time and eating rate of older cows. Younger Jersey cows had significantly lower eating rates than older Jersey cows. No other difference in parity was found within Jersey cows. Weeks in milk significantly affected the eating time per day, number of visits per day and eating rate. The trajectories of outcome variables during lactation did not differ between the two breeds. In conclusion, we found substantial differences in the feeding behaviour of Jersey and Holstein cows, however, these differences could also be related to a group effect.

Keywords

Breed differencedairy cattlefeeding behaviourJersey cows
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 89 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 37 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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