Effect of Particle Size of Forage and Rumen Cannulation upon Chewing Activity and Laterality in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Three ruminally cannulated Holstein dairy cows housed in free stalls (with .7% slope) were fed three total mixed rations, differing in silage particle size, in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Observations on cow behavior were made every 5 min during 24 h for each of three periods. Additional observations of six cows (three intact, three cannulated) housed under identical conditions yielded information concerning recumbent rumination activity and laterality. Results indicated that decreasing particle size of forage reduced time spent ruminating, whether standing or recumbent, and had no effect upon rumination rate or number of rumination bouts per 24-h period. Eating time was unaffected by treatment. Effect of forage particle size upon baseline rumination activity appeared to be most pronounced from 0800 to 2000 h, although maximum rumination activity occurred during nighttime hours. Ruminally cannulated cows demonstrated increased right-side laterality (70%) compared with intact cows (47%), but the cows tend to ruminate while lying on their left side. The percentage of time spent ruminating while recumbent on the left side was similar (55%) for intact and cannulated cows.