Observations of other management
activities are noted also in Fig. 17.1. These
activities include milking, feeding, feed
push-up and bunk cleaning. In these herds,
cows increased bunk usage after feeding,
when feed was pushed up, or when return-
ing from the parlour. Feed bunk management
that provided fresh feed throughout a 24-h
period, within reach of the cows, promoted
numerous, smaller meals throughout the day.
Accessibility of feed may be more
important than the actual amount of370 R.J. Grant and J.L. Albright
Fig. 17.1.Impact of management factors on feed bunk usage in two commercial dairy herds (adapted from
Menzi and Chase, 1994).