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Response of Lactating Jersey Cows Fed Concentrate Twice Daily by Computer or in a Total Mixed Ration¹

University of Tennessee, USDA-ARS, Dairy Experiment Station, Lewisburg 37091

J. K. Miller³, F. J. Mueller and N. Ramsey

Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901

ABSTRACT

Two trials were conducted with 36 Jersey cows each to compare intake, production response, and relative economics of four concentrate management systems. Cows were assigned for 25 wk to concentrate fed: 1) for ad libitum consumption twice daily for 10 min, 2) twice daily according to production, 3) via computer feeder according to production, or 4) as part of a total mixed ration. Concentrate was fed at the rate of 1 kg/3.5 kg 4% FCM for treatments 2 and 3 and at the same rate, but to group average FCM, for treatment 4. Concentrate allotments were updated weekly. Cows were individually fed blended corn silage and whole cottonseed (84:16, DM basis) plus 2.2 kg alfalfa hay/d (Trial 2 only).

Concentrate DM intake was 2.3 kg lower and forage DM intake 2.3 kg higher when cows were fed to production (treatments 2, 3, and 4). Milk production was highest in both trials for treatment 2. Fat test was lowest for twice daily ad libitum feeding with no differences found between other methods. Body weight change was similar across treatments and trials. Milk income was similar, fed costs higher, and income over feed cost lower for treatment 1 than for other methods in both trials. Three methods of feeding concentrate according to production were equally effective in maximizing profit.

¹ Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the University of Tennessee or the USDA-ARS and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.

² Present address: Animal Sciences Department, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.

³ Reprint requests.