Jennefer Beller, John Bramley, Joanne Knapp and Sid Bosworth
Duration: 1997 - 1998
Supplemental
feeding trials, particularly as it pertains to pasture, often commingle
the animals into one grazing group; however, previous research has indicated
that social bonds and interactions can strongly affect the feeding behavior
of animals. This study addresses the question of the strength of
social facilitation on grazing behavior by examining three specific aspects
of the feeding behavior of the dairy cows: their intake, bite rate and
time spent engaged in various activities. These behavioral measurements
are compared between two groups of cows fed one of two different supplement
feeds when they are grazed as one commingled group versus in separate groups
divided by supplement feeding regimen. The objective of this project
is to determine if these three aspects of their behavior differ when the
cows graze commingled with cows on different feeding regimes or grazed
solely with cows on a similar diet. The results of this study may
influence research methodology when comparing different supplemental feed
programs.
abramley@zoo.uvm.edu
Last modified December 13 2005 10:02 AM