Effect of physical form of feed and Hay Particle Size on Digestibility, Milk Yield and Nutritional Behavior of Holstein Lactating Cows

Authors

1 Graduated Ph.D., Animal Science Department, Agriculture Faculty, Razi, University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Animal Science Department, Agriculture Faculty, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

3 Animal science dept., agriculture faculty, Razi University

4 Animal Science Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Background and objectives: In spite of the advantages of total mixed ration compared to the traditional diet, the problem of bulking the diet has not yet been resolved. Moving, storing and transporting of low density crop residues is one of the major problems in using them in feeding animals, especially sending it to distant areas. One of the suggested ways to overcome these problems is to compress this material into a high-density complete feed block. Complete feed block with respect to its distinctive characteristics can affect the milk yield and nutritional behavior of lactating cows and alter the eating behavior of the animal.
Changing the particle size of the fodder in complete feed block may also cause different performance – digestive responses in the animal.

Materials and methods: Eight Holstein lactating dairy cows (106±25.5 days in milk, 23.18±3.30 kg milk production and 492.66±38.15 kg body weight) were housed in individual pen randomly, and assigned to a 4×4 Latin square change-over design. Four experimental rations were: complete feed blocks containing forage with a geometric mean of 4.15 mm (long block) and 2.68 mm (short block), mesh complete feeds containing forage with a geometric mean of 4.15 mm (long mesh) and 2.68 mm (short mesh). The effect of two physical forms of the feed, including mixed feed in the form of block and mesh as well as the particle size of short or long on nutritional behavior, digestibility of feed and milk yield of Holstein lactating cows were investigated.

Results: Dry and organic matter intake in cows fed short CFBs were greater than cows fed short mash (P <0.05), but the difference between in dry matter intake of this two groups with other groups were not significant. The reduction in particle size of forage increased the digestibility of the feed (p < 0.05), however, feed compression had no significant effect on this parameter. Daily yield of raw milk in cows fed short CFBs were about two percent higher than cows fed on short mash (p < 0.05), but were not significant difference between groups concerning corrected milk based on four percent fat or milk adjusted for energy. The use of CFBs resulted in a decrease of 2.21% in daily production of milk fat (P = 0.006). Complete feed block increased the duration of eating and the meal size by 18.42 and 21.21 percent respectively, reduced the number of meals by 16.14 percent and increased the eating rate by 10.79% (P <0.05). Increasing the particle size of forage increased the duration of eating and decreased eating rate by 25.55% and 20.2%, respectively (p < 0.05), but did not affect the number and size of meals. Compression of complete diet had no effect on the time spent for eating, rumination and total chewing time, but increasing the particle size of forage increased these parameters (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that using the complete feed block in feeding of Holstein lactating cows compared to the complete feed of mash, had no significant differences in digestibility of diet. However, milk production increased and the amount of milk fat dropped. The complete feed block reduced the number of meals, increased feed intake per meal, and increased feed intake rate.

Keywords


1.Alijo, Y.A., Valizadeh, R., Naserian, A., Eftekharshahroodi, F., Tahmorthpour, M., and Aghel, H. 2006. The Effect of reducing the particle size of dry alfalfa on the physicaly effective fiber and its effect on the performance of Holstein cows in early lactation. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. 20 (5): 239-249. (In Persian)
2.ASAE. 2001. Method of determining and expressing particle size of chopped forage materialsby screening. ANSI/ASAE S424.
3.Bailey, C.B., and Balch, C.C. 1961.Saliva secretion and its relation to feeding in cattle.2.The composition and rate of secretion of mixed saliva in the cow during rest. British Journal of Nutrition. 55: 383-402.
4.Beauchemin, K.A. 1991. Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing, rumen function, and milk production of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 74: 3140-3151
5.Beauchemin, K.A., Farr, B.I., Rode, L.M., and Schaalje, G.B. 1994. Effects of alfalfa silage chop length and supplementary long hay on chewing and milk production of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 77: 1326-1339.
6.Beauchemin, K.A., Rode, L.M., and Eliason, M.J. 1997. Chewing activities and milk production of dairy cows fed alfalfa as hay, silage, or dries cubes of hay or silage. Journal of Dairy Science, 80: 324-333.
7.Beauchemin, K.A., Yang, W.Z., and Rode, L.M. 2003. Effects of particle size of alfalfa-based dairy cow diets on chewing activity, rumen fermentation, and milk production. Journal of  Diary Science. 86: 630-643.
8.Belyea, R.L., Martz, F.A. and Mbagaya,G.A. 1989. Effect of particle size of alfalfa hay on intake, digestibility, milk yield, and ruminal cell wall of dairy cattle. J. of  Dairy Science. 72: 958-963.
9.Cassida, K.A., and Stokes, M.R. 1986. Eating and resting salivation in early lactation dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 69: 1282–1292.
10.DeVries, T.J. 2013. Impact of feeding management on cow behavior, health, and productivity. WCDS Advanced Dairy Technology. 25: 193 – 201.
11.Dwivedi, P.N., Goyal, P.K., and Singh, K.K. 2003. Preparation and evaluation of densified complete feed blocks in growing buffaloes. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition. 20: 202-205.
12.Esmaeili, M., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G.R., Nasrollahi, S.M. and Saebi, M. 2016. Variation of TMR particle size and physical characteristics in commercial Iranian Holstein dairies and effects on eating behavior, chewing activity, and milk production. Livestock Science. 191: 22–28.
13.Forbes, J.M. 2007. Voluntary food intake and diet selection in farm animals. CABI International Wallingford, UK.
14.Grant, R.J. and Cole brander, V.F. 1990. Milk fat depression in dairy cows: role of particle size of alfalfa hay. Journal of Dairy Science. 73: 1823-1833.
15.Hozhabri, F., and Singhal, K.K. 2006. Physical parameters of complete feed blocks based on wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition. 23(3): 150-154.
16.Kahyani, A., Ghorbani, G.R., Khorvash, M., Nasrollahi, S.M., and Beauchemin, K.A. 2013. Effects of alfalfa hay particle size in high-concentrate diets supplemented with unsaturated fat: chewing behavior, total-tract digestibility, and milk production of dairy cows. Journal of  Dairy Science. 96: 7110-7119.
17.Kennedy, P.M. 1985. Effect of rumination on reduction of particle size of rumen digesta by cattle. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. 36: 819-828.
18.Kononoff, P.J., Heinrichs, A.J., and Lehman, H.A. 2003. The effect of corn silage particle size on eating behavior, chewing activities, and rumen fermentation in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 86: 3343–3353.
19.Kononoff, P.J., Lehman, H.A., and Heinrichs, A.J. 2002. Technical note: a comparison of method used to measure eating and ruminating activity in confined dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 85: 1801-1803.
20.Krause, K.M., Combs, D.K., and Beauchemin, K.A. 2002. Effects of forage particle size and grain fermentability in midlactation dairy cows. II. Ruminal pH and chewing activity. Journal of Dairy Science. 85: 1947–1957.
21.Krause, K.M., and Oetzel, G.R. 2006. Understanding and preventing sub acute ruminal acidosis in dairy herds: a review. Journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology. 126: 215-236
22.Lammers, B.P., Buckmaster, D.R., and Heinrichs, A.J. 1996. A simple method for the analysis of particle sizes of forage and total mixed rations. Journal of  Dairy Science. 79: 922-928.
23.Mertens, D.R. 1997. Creating a system for meeting the fiber requirements of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 80: 1463–1481.
24.Nasrollahi, S.M., Ghorbani, G.R., Khorvash, M., and Yang, W.Z. 2014. Effects of grain source and marginal change in lucerne hay particle size on feed sorting, eating behaviour, chewing activity, and milk production in mid‐lactation Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 98: 1110-1116.
25.Nasrollahi, S.M., Imani, M., and Zebeli, Q. 2016. Ameta-analysis and meta-regression of the impact of particle size, level, source and preservation method of forages on chewing behavior and ruminal fermentation in dairy cows. Journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology. 219: 144–158.
26.Nasrollahi, S.M., Zali, A., Ghorbani, G.R. and Moradi Sharbabak, M. 2016b. The daily patterns of the change in chewing behavior, feed intake, rumen pH and milk composition in high producing Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Ruminant Research. 4 (3): 171-191. (In Persian)
27.National Research Council 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle.7th revised edition. National Academic Science, Washington, DC.
28.Nikkhah, A., Furedi, C.J., Kennedy, A.D., Crow, G.H., and Plaizier, J.C. 2008. Effects of feed delivery time on feed intake, milk production, and blood metabolites of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 91: 4249-4260.
29.Penner, G. 2009. Understanding variation in the susceptibility to ruminal acidosis. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Alberta. Alberta, Canada.
30.Russell, J.B., and Wilson, D.B. 1996. Why are ruminal cellulolytic bacteria unable to digest cellulose at low pH? Journal of Dairy Science. 79: 1503–1509.
31.Slater, A.L, Eastridge, M.L., Firkins, J.L., and Bidinger, L.J. 2000. Effect of starch source and level of forage neutral detergent fiber on performance by dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 83:313–321.
32.SPSS 2007. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Study. SPSS for Windows, Version 19. Chicago, SPSS Inc.
33.Tafaja, M., Zebeli, Q., Baesa, C., Steingassa, H., and Drochner, W. 2007. A meta-analysis examining effects of particle size of total mixed rations on intake, rumen digestion and milk production in high yielding dairy cows in early lactation. Journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology. 138(2): 137-161.
34.Teimouri Yansari, A. and Pirmohammadi, R. 2009. Effect of particle size of alfalfa hay and reconstitution with water on intake, digestion and milk production in Holstein dairy cows. Animal. 3: 218-227.
35.Teimouri Yansari, A., Valizadeh, R., Naserian, A., Christensen, D.A., Yu, P., and Eftekhari Shahroodi, F. 2004. Effect of alfalfa particle size and specific gravity on chewing activity, digestibility, and performance of Holstein dairy cows. Journal of  Diary Science. 87: 3912-3924.
36.Van Keulen, V., and Young, B.H. 1977. Evaluation of acid-insoluble ash as natural marker in ruminant digestibility studies. Journal of Animal Science. 26: 119–135.
37.Walsh, S.W., Williams, E.J., and Evans, A.C.O. 2011. A review of the causes of poor fertility in high milk producing dairy cows. Animal Reproduction Science. 123: 127-138.
38.Yang, W.Z., and Beauchemin, K.A. 2007. Altering physically effective fiber intake through forage proportion and particle length: chewing and ruminal pH. Journal of Diary Science. 90: 2826- 2838.
39.Yo, T., Vilarino, M., Faure, J.M., and Picard, M. 1997. Feed pecking in young chickens: new techniques of evaluation. Journal of Physiology and Behaviour. 61: 803-810.