[Food intake of dairy cows and heifers in late pregnancy during feeding of maize silage].
The influence of restricted (covering requirements) or ad libitum supply of maize silage in late pregnancy on feed intake was tested in two experiments with totally 51 dairy cows with several calvings (V1, V2 and in one experiment with 14 heifers (V3). Experimental time were the last 8 weeks before the expected calving date and was equivalent to the dry period of the cows. With adjusted feeding for energy requirement as a restricted supply the cows in V1 and V2 consumed 5.73 vs. 5.64 kg DM maize silage/animal and day, with ad libitum supply the intake of maize silage was substantial higher with an average of 9.65 vs. 9.85 kg DM/animal and day. With adjusted feeding for energy requirement as a restricted supply the heifers in V3 consumed 4.77 kg DM maize silage/animal and day. With ad libitum supply, however, the daily maize silage intake of heifers was substantial more with 7.00 kg DM/animal. With ad libitum feeding the mean daily intake of maize silage was unchanged in the weeks 8 to 3 before calving and decreased very strong in the cow experiments (V1, V2) in the last two weeks before calving and in the heifers experiment (V3) in the last week before calving. With restricted feeding the intake of maize silage was nearly unchanged until calving, only the cows in V1 showed a slight decrease in the last week before calving. With ad libitum feeding of maize silage in late pregnancy until 2 weeks before calving the cows and heifers reached a net energy intake of about 80 vs. 62 MJ NEL/day, which corresponded to 160% (V1, V2) vs. 135% (V3) of the energy requirement. The overconsumption for the crude protein was slighter with 120 to 140% of requirement.
Kirchgessner
M
M
Institut für Ernährungsphysiologie, Technischen Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
Bauer
T G
TG
Eidelsburger
U
U
Schwarz
F J
FJ
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012820:Silage; D003313:Zea mays