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A note on the effect of sustained exercise on straw intake and body weight in lactating cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

R. W. Matthewman ,
J. D. Oldham  and
G. W. Horgan
R. W. Matthewman
Affiliation:
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG
J. D. Oldham
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, Scottish Agricultural College, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QE
G. W. Horgan
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural Statistics Service, JCMB, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
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Extract

The effect of exercise (walking 10.6 km/day and climbing 480 m/day) on intake of barley straw and body weight changes in 12 pregnant lactating suckler cows was investigated. Three groups of four cows received ad libitum barley straw and 4 kg per cow per day of different supplements. Neither exercise nor supplement had a significant effect on straw intake. Cows gained weight when not exercised, but lost weight during the exercise period. The experiment confirms previous findings that animals performing moderate work and given poor quality roughage, in the short term cannot increase daily intake to meet energy requirements and that intake may decrease when animals work.

Keywords

body weightcowsdraught animalsexercisefood intake
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , December 1993 , pp. 491 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

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