Effect of Ration on Free Choice Consumption of Calcium-Phosphorus Supplements by Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Daily individual consumption of dicalcium phosphate by 69 lactating Holstein cows was measured for 22 consecutive weeks in a continuous feeding trial. The four rations fed did not differ significantly in their influence on the amount of free choice mineral consumed. Individual variation in mineral consumption was large in all four ration groups. The correlation between free choice consumption of dicaleiumphosphate and the requirement for calcium and phosphorus was small though significantly different from zero.