Response of Growing Dairy Heifers to Frequency of Feeding

Abstract

Twelve animals were used in a single-reversal trial to study the effect of feeding equalized intakes of feed 2 and 10 times daily on body weight gain, nutrient digestibility, rumination time, and rate of feed passage. The animals were fed chopped alfalfa-orchard grass hay of medium quality as the only feed. Maximum feed intake was established during a 21-day preliminary period and this level of intake was maintained throughout the 2 subsequent 50-day experimental periods. Frequent feeding significantly increased weight gains and rumination time and significantly decreased feed digestibility. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of feed passage between the 2 feeding schedules.