Timing of visits to the concentrates feeding station by dairy cows

Dairy cows can be fed concentrates in feeding stations with automatic feeding systems. This paper discusses factors which may influence the timing of the cows' visits to the feeding station. Factors affecting the dairy cows' behaviour just before and just after the visit, and information which might be used by the cows in deciding whether to visit the feeding station are investigated. An investigation was carried out with a group of 20 lactating dairy cows. In successive 3-week experimental periods the cows were fed concentrates with three different automatic concentrates feeding systems (fixed-7-time, fixed-3-time and variable-time systems). Twenty-four hour behavioural observations recorded the cows' general activities while the number and duration of visits to the feeding station and the intake of concentrates were recorded automatically. The three concentrates feeding systems each gave rise to a typical pattern of visits (total number of visits, and timing of rewarded and unrewarded visits). However, the pattern of general activities was not affected by the concentrates feeding system. The cows' general activities both before and after their visits to the feeding station were significantly affected by the time of the day. However, the cows' possible knowledge about their chances of receiving concentrates did not affect their general activities significantly. The results suggest that the cows fitted their visits to the concentrates feeding station into their normal daily routine. For instance, the cows did not often leave the cubicles solely to pay a visit to the feeding station. It was also not possible to show that the cows spent more time eating roughage after an unrewarded visit to the concentrates feeding station than after a rewarded visit. The cows could have learned the times of the day when concentrates were available and that at certain times they could also expect concentrates when another cow visited the feeding station and received concentrates. However, it was shown that the cows visited the concentrates feeding station throughout the 24-h period, which means that the timing of their visits was not affected by the time of day. The results suggested that, to some extent, the cows responded to information from the feeding station. Rewarded visits were more often and more consistently followed by a visit by another cow than were unrewarded visits. It is concluded that the cows: (i) did not respond to variation over the 24-h period in their chances of obtaining concentrates; (ii) did not always respond to information from the feeding station. The cows apparently chose a strategy of paying regular visits to the feeding station, because the cost for such visits is low and the reward is sufficiently high.