Nutrient intake and feeding behavior of growing dairy heifers: effects of dietary dilution

The objective of this study was to determine how the addition of straw to a total mixed ration offered to growing dairy heifers affects their nutrient intake and feeding behavior. Six prepubescent Holstein heifers (226.2 +/- 6.3 d old and weighing 250.1 +/- 17.7 kg), fed once per day for 1.0 kg/d of growth, were subjected to each of 3 treatment diets using a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. The treatment diets were 1) control (17.0% corn silage, 52.1% grass silage, 30.9% concentrate), 2) control diet with 10% straw, and 3) control diet with 20% straw. Dry matter intake and feeding behavior were monitored for 7 d for each animal on each treatment. Fresh feed and orts were sampled on the last 3 d of each treatment period for each heifer and were then subjected to particle size analysis. The particle size separator contained 3 screens (19, 8, and 1.18 mm) and a bottom pan, resulting in 4 fractions (long, medium, short, and fine). Sorting activity for each fraction was calculated as actual intake expressed as a percentage of the predicted intake. Heifers sorted against long particles and for short particles on all 3 diets. On the 10 or 20% straw diets the heifers sorted for medium particles. Heifers also sorted for fine particles on the 20% straw diet. There was a linear increase in sorting for medium, short, and fine particles with increased straw in the diet. Dry matter intake linearly decreased with increased straw in the diet. Feeding time and meal duration increased linearly with the addition of straw to the diet, whereas feeding rate, meal size, and meal frequency decreased with the addition of straw. Requirements for maintenance and growth of 1.0 kg/d were sufficiently met when the animals consumed the control and 10% straw diet. On the 20% straw diet the animals consumed sufficient nutrients to achieve a 0.9 kg/d growth rate. These results indicate that the addition of straw to the diet of prepubescent heifers strongly influences their sorting behavior. Despite this sorting, the results suggest that a low-quality feedstuff may be included in the diet to target nutrient intake and reduce feed costs without negatively affecting feeding behavior or growth potential.