Co-Authors:
Halachmi, I., Volcani Centre, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Ben Meir, Y., Volcani Centre, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel, Volcani Centre, Animal Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization (A.R.O.), PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Miron, J., Volcani Centre, Animal Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization (A.R.O.), PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Maltz, E., Volcani Centre, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Low-cost feeding-behavior sensors will soon be available for commercial use in dairy farms. The aim of this study was to develop a feed intake model for the individual dairy cow that includes feeding behavior. In a research farm, the individual cows' voluntary feed intake and feeding behavior were monitored at every meal. A feed intake model was developed based on data that exist in commercial modern farms: 'BW,' 'milk yield' and 'days in milking' parameters were applied in this study. At the individual cow level, eating velocity seemed to be correlated with feed intake (R 2=0.93 to 0.94). The eating velocity coefficient varied among individuals, ranging from 150 to 230 g/min per cow. The contribution of feeding behavior (0.28) to the dry matter intake (DMI) model was higher than the contribution of BW (0.20), similar to the contribution of fat-corrected milk (FCM)/BW (0.29) and not as large as the contribution of FCM (0.49). Incorporating feeding behavior into the DMI model improved its accuracy by 1.3 (38%) kg/cow per day. The model is ready to be implemented in commercial farms as soon as companies introduce low-cost feeding-behavior sensors on commercial level. © The Animal Consortium 2015.