Browsing by Subject "Feeding behaviour"

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Einfluss von automatischen Fütterungsverfahren in der Milchviehhaltung auf das Tierverhalten und die Futterqualität
(2015) Grothmann, Anne; Schick, Matthias
Automatic feeding of upgraded mixed rations and total mixed rations is becoming more and more important in dairy farming. This feeding method enables the fully automatic dispensing of the basic feed ration, or a mixed ration consisting of basic ration and concentrate. In this way, different mixed rations and more-frequent feed provision per day are possible without an increase in either working-time requirement or workload. According to manufacturers’ claims, more-frequent feed provision by automatic feeding methods is meant to enable better feed hygiene and less feed loss, besides a significant easing of workload. In addition, it is supposed to encourage the natural feeding behaviour of the animals, thereby maintaining their health. As part of this project, various feed-provision frequencies with the automatic feed method and their influence on the animals’ performance and behaviour parameters were investigated. In addition, automatic provision was compared with feed provision by feed mixer. Influence on feed consumption, feeding and ruminating behaviour, milk yield and constituents, and lying behaviour were recorded on the Agroscope Research Station experimental farm in Tänikon. The experiments on feed consumption and lying behaviour of the animals were supplemented by additional data surveys on six commercial farms. We also investigated how the feed quality and hygiene of maize silage is affected during 48 hours’ storage in the storage containers of the feeding system at different temperatures. The aim was to obtain essential, scientifically substantiated findings on the operation of automatic feeding processes and their effects on the animal and on feed quality. For this, maize silages from three different conservation processes (tower-silo, square-bale and bag-silo silage) were stored in the storage containers for a period of two days in both winter and summer and the temperature in the feed was measured via temperature sensors. In addition, samples were taken to determine the levels of yeasts, moulds and aerobic foreign bacteria, fermentation-acid content, and pH value at the time of filling and after two days’ storage. Aerobic stability was determined in order to characterise the raw material. The data obtained enable further optimisation of feed provision to the animals and of the farmer’s work schedule. In all experiments on feeding frequency, a higher number of feedings was observed to result in higher feed intake. Moreover, a high number of feedings had no significant influence on dairy-cow behaviour such as eating and ruminating behaviour and lying behaviour. In all the experiments conducted on both the experimental farm and on the commercial farms, duration of feeding and rumination were very similar, although feed intake per animal and day were different. The variation between farms was significantly smaller than within the individual farms between the animals. In one experiment, both milk yield and ECM rose along with increasing DM intake. The results of the feed-quality and hygiene experiments showed that temperature can be a first indicator of the onset of spoilage, but is not sufficient as the sole parameter. In the winter, the temperature in the feed remained constant for all three maize conservation methods. In the summer, even after a short while a sharp rise in feed temperature was found in several cases in the tower-silo and bag-silo silage, whilst the temperature remained constant in the square-bale silage. These results were reflected in both the pH value and the microbiological analyses. In summer, the number of colony-forming units of yeasts, moulds and aerobic foreign bacteria in the feed rose by leaps and bounds. The only exception was the square-bale silage. In the bag-silo silage, a sharp rise in yeasts was observed both in summer and winter. Compared to the square-bale silage, the non-compacted stored silages ran a greater risk of rapid spoilage. Storage of non-compacted maize silage in the storage containers for a period of two days during warm temperatures led to a reduction in silage quality and hygiene. In this instance, the microbiological baselines were higher than those of the other silages and those of the experiments in winter. The reason for this was the influence of oxygen and temperature on the silo face. Automatic feeding methods enable increased feed intake and a lower number of crowded feeding times, as well as higher milk yield. When feed is stored, both air access and ambient temperature exert a substantial influence on the state of the silage. Based on the results of the experiments described here, storage of maize silage over a period of two days, especially in the summer, can only be recommended to a limited extent. With square-bale silage, two days’ storage in winter is possible. In all cases, good silage quality is of decisive importance for ensuring storage stability as well as animal health.