Measurement of rumination time and its use in herd management

VACEK, Mojmír and KRPÁLKOVÁ, Lenka. Measurement of rumination time and its use in herd management. Náš chov, 2017, vol. 77(10), p. 43-45. ISSN 0027-8068.
Year2017
CathegoryPublication in specialized journals
Internal link17162.pdf
Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the time of rumination, and feed intake, milk yield and changes in the health status of dairy cows in periparturient period. The set of 31 cows housed in the experimental stable in the experi­mental farm VUZV, v. v. i., in Prague – Uhrineves was used for this experiment. During the monitoring period daily feed intake, feed intake, rumination time, milk yield, fat and protein content of milk. Rumination time was measured by Vitalimetru 5P the manufactured by Farmtec a. s. Cows in the period from 40 to 10 days before calving received feed in smaller doses than after cal­ving, but within the same or longer time. In the period of 60 days after cows with the highest average daily milk yield, i. e. 41 kg or more highest feed intake (45.11 kg) had the longest feeding (3,13 h.) and rumination period (8.12 hrs.). Feed intake, feeding and rumination time declined with the impending calving already from 5 days before calving and cows began to increase feed intake irregularly from the 1st day after calving. 14th days after calving the average feed intake was 30.0 kg, feeding time 154, and chewing lasted 458 minutes. Metritis and lameness incidence caused a reduction in feed intake and times rumination. Food intake and rumination time monitoring can be used as a tool to improve a herd management and economic result.