Cows are inherently competitive and aggressive eaters, which makes effective management of their physical environment essential. Properly designed and managed feeding conditions can help mitigate competitive behaviors, promoting higher dry matter intake (DMI). As a rule of thumb, each additional 0.45 kg (1 lb) of DMI translates into 0.91 kg (2 lb) of milk production in Holstein cows (Grant, 2015).
Factors Stimulating Feeding Behavior
Three primary factors influence feeding behavior:
Among these, the delivery of fresh feed is the most significant stimulus, though it has practical limitations (DeVries et al., 2005; Grant, 2015).
Feed Delivery Frequency
Delivering fresh feed twice daily is the optimal strategy in most circumstances. Studies show that this approach keeps feed more consistently available, reduces sorting, and improves both DMI and milk yield. For instance, Sova et al. (2013) reported that cows fed twice daily showed a 1.41 kg (3.1 lb) increase in DMI and a 2.0 kg (4.4 lb) rise in daily milk production compared to less frequent feeding.
However, increasing feeding frequency beyond twice daily (e.g., four or five times) can have diminishing returns. Excessive frequency may reduce both DMI and lying time (DeVries et al., 2005).
More frequent meals are associated with better milk components, particularly higher milk fat yield. Frequent meals promote consistent rumen pH and enhanced fermentation patterns, which help boost milk fat production. Conversely, inadequate feed push-ups can cause large gaps between meals, leading to dips in rumen pH after cows consume large meals. These fluctuations increase the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis and result in milk fat depression.
Frequent feed push-ups are especially beneficial during summer months, as they help prevent TMR (total mixed ration) heating and spoilage. Redistributing feed throughout the bunk reduces heat buildup in TMR piles, maintaining feed quality and encouraging consistent intake.
Special Considerations During Heat Stress
In hot weather, increased feeding frequency helps reduce sorting and improves intake. When maintaining a twice-daily feeding routine, it is recommended to distribute feed as 40% in the morning and 60% in the evening, aligning with changes in intake patterns during heat stress (Hart et al., 2014).
Feed Push-Up Management
Feed push-ups are one of the simplest and most cost-effective strategies for improving milk production. Research has shown that herds where feed is routinely pushed up produce, on average, 3.63 kg (8 lb) more milk per cow daily compared to herds where feed is not pushed up (Bach et al., 2008).
The timing of feed push-ups is crucial. The first one to two hours after fresh feed delivery is the period of highest competition among cows (Grant, 2015). During this time, pushing feed twice per hour instead of once per hour can result in a 1.81 kg (4 lb) daily increase in milk yield per cow and a 0.07 kg (0.15 lb) improvement in milk production efficiency (Armstrong et al., 2008).
Maintaining Feed Access
Cows should never be without feed for more than three hours. Longer periods without feed significantly increase hunger-driven behaviors and reduce DMI. For example, restricting feed access for 10 hours, often during nighttime, can lower DMI by 1.59 kg (3.5 lb) daily (Schutz et al., 2006; Collings et al., 2011).
Conversely, providing unrestricted feed access overnight (from midnight to 6 a.m.) has been shown to improve milk yield by 3.58 kg (7.9 lb) daily, increase lying time by 1.8 times, and double the time cows spend eating at the bunk (Matzke and Grant, 2002).
Low-Investment Strategies to Enhance DMI
Farm managers can adopt these practical and cost-effective strategies to increase DMI by approximately 0.45 kg (1 lb) per cow daily (Grant and Albright, 2001):
By implementing these practices, producers can optimize the feeding environment, boost DMI, and enhance overall milk production efficiency.