Chapter 17
Feeding Behaviour
R.J. Grant^1 and J.L. Albright^2
(^1) Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA;
(^2) Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Introduction
Adequate consumption of feed ensures
survival and productivity of the animal, so
an understanding of factors affecting feed-
ing behaviour of farm animals is critical.
Feeding is the predominant behaviour of
ruminants and is illustrated by the fact that
feeding activity has priority over rumina-
tion whenever the causal factors of the two
activities conflict (Metz, 1975). Well-
designed management systems accom-
modate normal feeding behaviour to
improve animal comfort and well-being.
For example, accessibility of feed during
times of the day when cows want to eat,
e.g. when leaving the milking parlour,
promotes greater feeding activity in dairy
cattle (Menzi and Chase, 1994). Likewise,
proper animal grouping strategies within
dairy herds will reduce competition for feed
at the bunk or manger and improve feed
intake. For feedlot cattle, pre-conditioning
diets fed prior to entering the feed yard may
aid the animal in overcoming neophobia,
or fear of new diets (Launchbaugh, 1995).
This feeding behaviour apparently is
innate and usually develops when cattle are
first exposed to feedlot diets even though
the diet is not toxic. In contrast, recent
research with pigs indicates that palatability,
not novelty, of a feed may be responsible for
feed intake responses to certain feeds such
as spray-dried plasma and dried skimmed
milk (Ermer et al., 1994).
This chapter will focus primarily on
the feeding behaviour of cattle in confine-
ment systems, specifically dairy cattle.
Feeding behaviour of grazing cattle has
been reviewed (Albright, 1993, 1997). Water
undoubtedly is the most important nutrient,
and drinking behaviour and water intake
have been reviewed by Murphy (1992).
Some information regarding the feeding
behaviour of feedlot cattle and other
ruminants will be presented in this
chapter, but more detailed discussions of
eating activity in beef cattle may be found
in Hicks et al. (1989). Research on feeding
and drinking behaviour in pigs was sum-
marized by Bigelow and Houpt (1988).
Forbes (1995) published a review which
focused on techniques to monitor feeding
behaviour and analysis of feeding data for
cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry.
For any dairy enterprise, the feeding
management system must promote intense
feeding behaviour by the milking herd.© CAB International2000. Farm Animal Metabolism and Nutrition
(ed. J.P.F. D’Mello) 365