Dairy cows fed a low energy diet before dry-off show signs of hunger despite ad libitum access.

ABSTRACT: Drying-off is one important management step in commercial dairy farms and consists of ceasing milk production artificially at a specific point in time, generally 2 months before the next calving. Drying-off typically comprises dietary changes as well as gradual or abrupt changes in daily milking frequency, which may challenge the welfare of high-yielding cows. This study investigated the isolated and combined effects of different feed energy densities (normal lactation diet versus energy-reduced diet, both offered ad libitum) and daily milking frequencies (twice versus once) on the feeding motivation of dairy cows on two separate days prior to dry-off (i.e. the day of last milking) using a push-gate feeder. During both days, cows on the energy-reduced diet pushed more than five times more

SUBMITTER: Franchi GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6834606 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature