Goat Minerals
Minerals are perhaps the single most important nutritional component to ensure health and vigor. Let’s... View more
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Reply To: Mineral Buffet General Discussion
Cafeteria Style Free-Choice Mineral Feeder for
Lactating Dairy CowsABSTRACT
In two short trials we evaluated the
cafeteria-type free-choice mineral feeder
as a method of providing minerals and
vitamins for lactating Holstein cows under two nutritional regimes. Trial 1 was
16 wk in which two groups of cows in
mid-lactation (10 cows/group) were
group-fed rations with either corn silage
or alfalfa hay as the sole forage, and all
supplemental minerals and vitamins were
provided free choice. Trial 2 was 9 wk in
which two groups of cows in late-lactation (10 cows/group) were group fed
rations of corn silage and alfalfa hay.
Group 1 was force-fed minerals and vitamins in the grain ration while both groups
had access to free-choice minerals. Intake
was variable between weeks, and cows
selectively consumed some minerals. Bentonite intake remained high during both
trials. Little evidence was found that dairy
cows offered minerals and vitamins free
choice consumed to a specific appetite or
need under the two nutritional regimes.
https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(77)84073-3/pdf
