Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
J Dairy Sci. 2022 Sep;105(9):7564-7574. doi: 10.3168/jds.2022-22066. Epub 2022 Jul 19.
Residual feed intake (RFI) is commonly used to measure feed efficiency but individual intake recording systems are needed. Feeding behavior may be used as an indicator trait for feed efficiency using less expensive precision livestock farming technologies. Our goal was to estimate genetic parameters for feeding behavior and the genetic correlations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows. Data consisted of 75,877 daily feeding behavior records of 1,328 mid-lactation Holstein cows in 31 experiments conducted from 2009 to 2020 with an automated intake recording system. Feeding behavior traits included number of feeder visits per day, number of meals per day, duration of each feeder visit, duration of each meal, total duration of feeder visits, intake per visit, intake per meal [kg of dry matter (DM)], feeding rate per visit, and feeding rate per meal (kg of DM per min). The meal criterion was estimated as 26.4 min, which means that any pair of feeder visits separated by less than 26.4 min were considered part of the same meal. The statistical model included lactation and days in milk as fixed effects, and experiment-treatment, animal, and permanent environment as random effects. Genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits were estimated using daily records and weekly averages. Estimates of heritability for daily feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 (number of meals; mean ± standard error) to 0.23 ± 0.03 (feeding rate per meal), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.23 ± 0.01 (number of meals) to 0.52 ± 0.02 (number of feeder visits). Estimates of heritability for weekly averages of feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.19 ± 0.04 (number of meals) to 0.32 ± 0.04 (feeding rate per visit), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.46 ± 0.02 (duration of each meal) to 0.62 ± 0.02 (feeding rate per visit and per meal). Most of the feeding behavior measures were strongly genetically correlated, showing that with more visits or meals per day, cows spend less time in each feeder visit or meal with lower intake per visit or meal. Weekly averages for feeding behavior traits were analyzed jointly with RFI and its components. Number of meals was genetically correlated with milk energy (0.48), metabolic body weight (-0.27), and RFI (0.19). Duration of each feeder visit and meal were genetically correlated with milk energy (0.43 and 0.44, respectively). Total duration of feeder visits per day was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.29), milk energy (0.62), metabolic body weight (-0.37), and RFI (0.20). Intake per visit and meal were genetically correlated with DM intake (0.63 and 0.87), milk energy (0.47 and 0.69), metabolic body weight (0.47 and 0.68), and RFI (0.31 and 0.65). Feeding rate was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.69), metabolic body weight (0.67), RFI (0.47), and milk energy (0.21). We conclude that measures of feeding behavior could be useful indicators of dairy cow feed efficiency, and individual cows that eat at a slower rate may be more feed efficient.
剩余采食量(RFI)通常用于衡量饲料效率,但需要个体采食量记录系统。通过使用成本较低的精准畜牧业技术,采食行为可以作为饲料效率的指示性状。我们的目标是估计荷斯坦奶牛的采食行为遗传参数及其与饲料效率的遗传相关性。数据来自 2009 年至 2020 年 31 项试验中 1328 头泌乳中期荷斯坦奶牛的 75877 个日常采食行为记录,采用自动采食记录系统。采食行为性状包括每天采食次数、每天采食次数、每次采食持续时间、每次采食持续时间、每天采食总持续时间、每次采食摄入量、每次采食摄入量[干物质(DM)]、每次采食摄入量、每次采食摄入量[每 min 的 DM 量]、每次采食速度和每次采食速度[每 min 的 DM 量]。餐标准定为 26.4min,即任何两次采食之间的间隔少于 26.4min 的,都被认为是同一餐的一部分。统计模型包括泌乳期和泌乳天数作为固定效应,试验-处理、动物和永久环境作为随机效应。使用每日记录和每周平均值估计采食行为性状的遗传参数。每日采食行为性状的遗传力估计值范围为 0.09±0.02(采食次数;均值±标准误差)至 0.23±0.03(每餐采食速度),重复性估计值范围为 0.23±0.01(采食次数)至 0.52±0.02(采食次数)。每周平均值的采食行为性状的遗传力估计值范围为 0.19±0.04(采食次数)至 0.32±0.04(每次访问的采食速度),重复性估计值范围为 0.46±0.02(每次采食的持续时间)至 0.62±0.02(每次采食的速度)。大多数采食行为指标都具有很强的遗传相关性,表明奶牛每天的采食次数或采食次数越多,每次采食或采食的时间越短,摄入的饲料量越低。每周平均值的采食行为性状与 RFI 及其组成部分一起进行分析。采食次数与牛奶能量(0.48)、代谢体重(-0.27)和 RFI(0.19)具有遗传相关性。每次采食和采食持续时间与牛奶能量(分别为 0.43 和 0.44)具有遗传相关性。每天的采食总持续时间与 DM 摄入量(0.29)、牛奶能量(0.62)、代谢体重(-0.37)和 RFI(0.20)具有遗传相关性。每次采食和采食的摄入量与 DM 摄入量(0.63 和 0.87)、牛奶能量(0.47 和 0.69)、代谢体重(0.47 和 0.68)和 RFI(0.31 和 0.65)具有遗传相关性。采食速度与 DM 摄入量(0.69)、代谢体重(0.67)、RFI(0.47)和牛奶能量(0.21)具有遗传相关性。我们得出结论,采食行为的度量可以作为奶牛饲料效率的有用指标,而进食速度较慢的个体可能更具饲料效率。