EFFECT OF FEEDING FREQUENCY ON THE UTILIZATION OF HIGH-FORAGE DIETS BY CATTLE

Abstract

A feedlot trial and a digestion and nitrogen balance trial were carried out to evaluate the effect of feeding one (1 ×) or four times (4 ×) daily on the utilization of two high-forage diets. On a dry matter basis, diet 1 contained 76% alfalfa haylage and 22% high-moisture corn; diet 2 contained 93% corn silage and 4% soybean meal; the balance was composed of mineral and Rumensin premixes. In the feedlot trial, feed was offered ad libitum, and feeding frequency resulted in small differences in eating patterns within diets. Thus, rate of gain, feed intake and conversion were not significantly affected. In the digestion trial, feed intake was restricted to 90% of each individual's maximum intake, which resulted in larger differences in eating patterns between 1 × and 4 × feeding. Under these conditions, feeding frequently increased (P < 0.05) dry matter and organic matter digestibility, as well as N retention (percent of N intake). Increased feeding frequency had no beneficial effects under ad libitum feeding of high-forage diets. However, under restricted feeding, feeding more frequently improved total diet digestibility and nitrogen retention. Key words: Cattle, feeding frequency, digestibility, growth, nitrogen retention