The Effect of Feeding Concentrates with Different Degrees of Fineness and Water Contents on the Eating and Milking Times in Dairy Cattle

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Abstract
Two trials were conducted to detn. the effects of finely, medium, and coarsely ground grain (1/16, 1/8, and 5/16, in. screens) and 4 water-to-concentrate ratios (air-dry, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 lbs. of water/lb. of concentrate) on the concentrate consumption rate and milking rate of dairy cows under barn feeding and pasture conditions. As the ratio of water-to-concentrate increased, there was a decrease in eating time. These results were explained on the basis of changes in the methods of eating concentrates with different water-to-concentrate ratios. When the water-to-concentrate ratio was 1.5 to 1, the cows drank the slurry concentrate. There was no significant change in the eating time for the 3 degrees of fineness. The cows ate air-dry concentrate more slowly when on good pasture than under barn feeding conditions. As the concentrate consumption rate decreased, there was a corresponding, but not directly proportional, decrease in milking rate.

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