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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2020

Effect of Feeding Level and Breed on the Daily Activity Budget of Lactating Beef Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration

Álvarez-Rodríguez, Javier; Casasús, Isabel; Blanco Penedo, Isabel; Sanz, Albina

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of two feeding levels and two breeds on the daily activity budget of indoor‐housed lactating beef cows fed total mixed ration (TMR). We used a total of 20 cows from Parda de Montaña (PA, n = 14) and Pirenaica (PI, n = 6) breeds. To evaluate the feeding level, PA cows were fed the TMR at the maintenance level and in a restricted amount. To evaluate the breed effect, PA and PI cows were fed at maintenance. All cows were video recorded for 24 consecutive hours at weeks 3, 8 and 13 of lactation. Scan sampling at 10‐ minute intervals was used to obtain information on their daily activity budget. The restricted feeding level did not affect the time standing or lying, but it reduced the time eating the TMR and increased the time exploring and/or eating straw bedding. Both breeds showed a similar daily activity budget, except for the time that they spent foraging straw, which was lower in PA than in PI breed. In conclusion, feeding level and breed of lactating beef cows fed on TMR during the indoor housing period did not affect the main contributors to the daily activity budget.

Keywords

cattle; behaviour; indoor; restricted feeding; suckler cows

Published in

Agriculture
2020, volume: 10, number: 6, article number: 195

Authors' information

Álvarez-Rodríguez, Javier
University of Lleida
Casasús, Isabel
Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA-GDA)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences
Sanz, Albina
Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA-GDA)

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10060195

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105925