TY - GEN
T1 - Number of calves per feed trough affects calves' feeding behavior and production
AU - Halachmi, I.
AU - Asher, A.
AU - Agmon, R.
AU - Mazarib, M.
AU - Zoabi, A.
AU - Antler, A.
AU - Orlov, A.
AU - Shabtay, A.
AU - Brosh, A.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The needed 'feeding-space-for-animal' plays a role in (1) the farm design process, (2) managing decisions concerning seasonal animal inventory, (3) public perception - since space for animal is an animal welfare issue, (4) in a research station where individual feeding troughs are located on weighing scales - how many animals should be allocated to one feeding station without interfering production or behaviour?. A common practice is the number of troughs is at-least number of animals. In some cases 20% higher. However the consequence of enlarging the 'feeding-space-for-animal (FSFA)' has not yet being scientifically fully explored. Twelve Holstein-Friesian male calves were held in one single group. Six calves were allocated to one single feeding trough per 6 calves (so called the 6: 1 treatment) while the other six calves were allocated 1 feeding trough per 1 calf (so called 1: 1 treatment). Computer controlled TMR feeding system monitored every meal and pneumatic cylinders controlled the calves' access to the feed places. The experiment lasted from June to October 2010, at the ARO's northern research station - Newe Yaar. The crossover experiment design included (a) prior to each monitoring period-3-4 weeks adaptation to the feeding troughs allocation, and (b) crossover: after the first monitoring period the 1: 1 calves switched to 6: 1 treatment and vice versa. (c) 60970 meals and 17160 ruminate bouts were analysed by Matlab statistical toolbox. The difference between individual animals, gain per intake ratio, reached 28%. Results suggest that social interaction and computation prolonged a meal time and encouraged the animals to consume more kg feed per a meal. As a consequence, the final kg was higher. The conclusion is that simple, low-cost, manipulation in feeding behaviour can significantly increase production.
AB - The needed 'feeding-space-for-animal' plays a role in (1) the farm design process, (2) managing decisions concerning seasonal animal inventory, (3) public perception - since space for animal is an animal welfare issue, (4) in a research station where individual feeding troughs are located on weighing scales - how many animals should be allocated to one feeding station without interfering production or behaviour?. A common practice is the number of troughs is at-least number of animals. In some cases 20% higher. However the consequence of enlarging the 'feeding-space-for-animal (FSFA)' has not yet being scientifically fully explored. Twelve Holstein-Friesian male calves were held in one single group. Six calves were allocated to one single feeding trough per 6 calves (so called the 6: 1 treatment) while the other six calves were allocated 1 feeding trough per 1 calf (so called 1: 1 treatment). Computer controlled TMR feeding system monitored every meal and pneumatic cylinders controlled the calves' access to the feed places. The experiment lasted from June to October 2010, at the ARO's northern research station - Newe Yaar. The crossover experiment design included (a) prior to each monitoring period-3-4 weeks adaptation to the feeding troughs allocation, and (b) crossover: after the first monitoring period the 1: 1 calves switched to 6: 1 treatment and vice versa. (c) 60970 meals and 17160 ruminate bouts were analysed by Matlab statistical toolbox. The difference between individual animals, gain per intake ratio, reached 28%. Results suggest that social interaction and computation prolonged a meal time and encouraged the animals to consume more kg feed per a meal. As a consequence, the final kg was higher. The conclusion is that simple, low-cost, manipulation in feeding behaviour can significantly increase production.
KW - Dry matter intake (DMI)
KW - Feed efficiency (FE)
KW - Total mixed ratio (TMR)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908667063&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84908667063
T3 - Precision Livestock Farming 2011 - Papers Presented at the 5th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2011
SP - 59
EP - 69
BT - Precision Livestock Farming 2011 - Papers Presented at the 5th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2011
A2 - Berckmans, Daniel
A2 - Lokhorst, C.
PB - Czech Centre for Science and Society
T2 - 5th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2011
Y2 - 11 July 2011 through 14 July 2011
ER -