Feeding Behavior of Holstein Growing Dairy Heifers in Response to a Modified Lignin Product as Feed Ingredient
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by a student grant from the UI Office of Undergraduate Research.
Abstract
The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate feeding behavior of Holstein dairy heifers when offered a lignin product as a component of pelleted feed. Five feed pellets were prepared: a positive control containing molasses, a negative control containing neither molasses nor the product, and three pellets containing the product in varying levels – low, medium, high – plus molasses. Growing Holstein heifers (16 months of age, average BW = 399 ± 9 kg) were placed into individual pens (3 x 5 meters) with one pelleted feed offered at a time to test the acceptability of each feed. Feeding behaviors were recorded for each animal in a specified amount of time (60 min). A total of 129 observations were statistically analyzed. Preliminary data show the animals accepted the pelleted feed containing the high inclusion lignin product more than the other feeds: heifers consumed more feed within 60 minutes (P < 0.0001) and per approach (P < 0.0001). Heifers spent less time ruminating (P < 0.0006) and eating (P < 0.0001) when the negative control was offered compared with that of other feeds except the low inclusion. We are currently evaluating rumen fermentation characteristics of pelleted feeds containing the modified lignin product.
Feeding Behavior of Holstein Growing Dairy Heifers in Response to a Modified Lignin Product as Feed Ingredient
The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate feeding behavior of Holstein dairy heifers when offered a lignin product as a component of pelleted feed. Five feed pellets were prepared: a positive control containing molasses, a negative control containing neither molasses nor the product, and three pellets containing the product in varying levels – low, medium, high – plus molasses. Growing Holstein heifers (16 months of age, average BW = 399 ± 9 kg) were placed into individual pens (3 x 5 meters) with one pelleted feed offered at a time to test the acceptability of each feed. Feeding behaviors were recorded for each animal in a specified amount of time (60 min). A total of 129 observations were statistically analyzed. Preliminary data show the animals accepted the pelleted feed containing the high inclusion lignin product more than the other feeds: heifers consumed more feed within 60 minutes (P < 0.0001) and per approach (P < 0.0001). Heifers spent less time ruminating (P < 0.0006) and eating (P < 0.0001) when the negative control was offered compared with that of other feeds except the low inclusion. We are currently evaluating rumen fermentation characteristics of pelleted feeds containing the modified lignin product.
Comments
T39