Tannins in ruminant nutrition; Milk analyses in an AMS; Feed intake behaviour
Supervisors:
Prof. dr. ir. Seerp Tamminga Dr. ir. Jan Dijkstra
CoOperators:
Financer:
Commodity Boards Animal Feed and Dairying; WIAS
Start date:
01 August 2003
End date:
31 July 2007
Introduction:
An adequate feed intake is an important prerequisite to realize high milk productions. Regardless the way feed is offered to the animal, cows ingest their food within a number of discrete meals, resulting in the feed intake pattern. The aim of this project is to establish feed intake, -patterns and -behaviour and the release of nutrients in the rumen of dairy cows fed winter diets, and of grazing cows. This information provides insight in the process of fermentation in the rumen and the nature of nutrients becoming available for the dairy cow. In future the results of this study will be used as input in the new nutrient-based system of feed evaluation for dairy cows that is being developed.
