Effect of feeding space allowance for cows on meal length in free-stall barn
2002
Morita, S. (Rakuno Gakuen Univ., Ebetsu, Hokkaido (Japan)) | Sugita, S. | Kobari, T. | Hoshiba, S.
The objective of this experiment is to examine the effect of the feeding space allowance for cows on meal length at a commercial farm using a 3 stall-row type free-stall barn. The observation of eating behavior was conducted at three commercial dairy farms in that the feeding space allowance was differed as follow (Farm A: 0.34 meter per cow, B: 0.56 m/cow and C: 0.89 m/cow). There was no difference in the daily eating time between Farm A and B. The average meal length was shortened by the reduction of the feeding space. The frequency distribution of the individual eating time was shifted to a shorter period of time by the reduction of the feeding space allowance from the amount at Farm C to the amount at the Farm B. The percentage of quite short meals increased by the reduction of the space from Farm B to A level. The probability of meal continuation under 20 minutes at Farm B was about same as that at Farm C, and that over 20 minutes at Farm B was similar to that at Farm A. It was recommended that the feeding space should be more than 0.34 m per each rearing milking cow. This is necessary for normal eating behavior. The number of cows kept in a barn was less than 120% of the number of stalls in a three-row type housing.
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