Dietary restriction improved feed efficiency of inefficient lactating cows

Y A Ben Meir; M Nikbachat; Y Portnik; S Jacoby; H Levit; D Bikel; G Adin; U Moallem; J Miron; S J Mabjeesh; I Halachmi

doi:10.3168/jds.2019-16321

Dietary restriction improved feed efficiency of inefficient lactating cows

J Dairy Sci. 2019 Oct;102(10):8898-8906. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-16321. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

Authors

Y A Ben Meir¹, M Nikbachat², Y Portnik², S Jacoby², H Levit³, D Bikel⁴, G Adin⁵, U Moallem², J Miron², S J Mabjeesh⁶, I Halachmi⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel; Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel 7610001.
² Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel.
³ Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel 7610001; Precision Livestock Farming Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel.
⁴ Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel; Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel 7610001; Department of Animal Production, Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel.
⁵ Department of Animal Production, Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel.
⁶ Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel 7610001.
⁷ Precision Livestock Farming Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel. Electronic address: halachmi@volcani.agri.gov.il.

PMID: 31351720
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16321

Abstract

The aim of this study was to reduce voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) to increase feeding efficiency of preclassified inefficient (INE) dairy cows through restricted feeding. We studied the effects of dietary restriction on eating behavior, milk and energy-corrected milk (ECM) production, in vivo digestibility, energy balance, and measures of feed efficiency [residual feed intake (RFI) and ECM/DMI]. Before the experiment, 12 pairs of cows were classified as INE. The 2 dietary treatments consisted of ad libitum feeding versus restricted feeding of the same total mixed ration containing 36.5% roughage. Inefficient cows fed the restricted total mixed ration had a shorter eating time and lower meal and visit frequency, but a similar rate of eating, meal size, and meal duration compared with INE cows fed ad libitum. Compared with the INE cows fed ad libitum, restricted INE cows had 12.8% lower intake, their dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility remained similar, and their ECM yield was 5.3% lower. Feed efficiency, measured as RFI, ECM/DMI, and net energy retained divided by digestible energy intake, was improved in the restricted INE cows as compared with the ad libitum cows. Our results show that moderate DMI restriction has the potential to improve feed efficiency of preclassified INE cows.

Keywords: feed efficiency; feed restriction; residual feed intake.

Publication types

Clinical Trial, Veterinary

MeSH terms

Animal Feed*
Animals
Cattle*
Dairying
Diet / veterinary*
Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
Energy Intake
Energy Metabolism
Feeding Behavior
Female
Lactation
Milk*

Substances

Dietary Fiber