Iranian Journal of animal Science

Iranian Journal of animal Science

Effect of feeding frequency on digestibility, milk production and composition in lactating cows: A meta-analysis and meta-regression

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Hamidreza Mirzaei-Alamouti 1
Mehdi Kazemi-Joujili 2
Hamid Amanlou 3
Mina Vazirigohar 4
1 Assistant Professor, University of Zanjan, Iran
2 Former M. Sc. Student, University of Zanjan, Iran
3 Professor, University of Zanjan, Iran
4 Ph.D. Graduated Student, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
10.22059/ijas.2015.56424
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of frequency of feeding total mixed ration (TMR) on total-tract digestibility, milk production and composition in lactating cows, using meta-analysis and meta-regression approaches. Data of fourteen experiments having containing 25 comparisons between treatment (higher feeding frequency) and control (lower feeding frequency) groups, defined selection criteria, were used. Data were analyzed using effect size method in STATA/SE. Increasing frequency of feeding decreased dry matter intake (DMI; weighted mean difference (WMD)= ‒0.134 kg/d) but had no effect on milk yield. Forage level of diet and days in milk (DIM) were the source of heterogeneity for standardized mean difference (SMD) of DMI. In this meta-analysis, higher feeding frequency had no effect on milk fat and milk protein content and yield. Increasing feeding frequency improved NDF digestibility (WMD= 5.663%). Results of univariate meta-regression showed that increasing frequency of feeding in diets containing high level of grains improved NDF digestibility, but in high forage diets lowered NDF digestion. In conclusion, delivery of TMR containing equal amounts of forage and concentrate three times vs. one times in a day decreased DMI but did not change milk yield. 
Keywords
feeding frequency
lactating cow
Meta-analysis
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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 46, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2015
Pages 301-314

  • Receive Date 10 March 2015
  • Revise Date 03 September 2015
  • Accept Date 26 September 2015