Response to novel feed in dairy calves is affected by prior hay provision and presentation method

Animals raised in environments that prevent natural foraging opportunities may show difficulties adapting to novelty, such as feeding and management changes. Our objective was to evaluate how early provision and presentation of forage in dairy calves affected response to novel TMR (total mixed ration; grain and alfalfa) at weaning. Holstein heifer calves were housed individually on sand and fed a diet of starter grain and milk replacer (5.7–8.4L/d step-up) via a bottle (Control, n=9) or given additional access to mountaingrass hay presented either in a bucket (Bucket, n=9) or PVC pipe feeder (Pipe, n=9). Treatments were applied from birth through 50 d of age when step-down weaning began. All calves had 3 buckets and a pipe feeder in their pens. On d 50, each calf was briefly blocked inside their hutch. TMR was put in the 3rd bucket that previously contained hay (Bucket) or was empty (Control, Pipe). The calf was released and video-recorded for 30 min. Neophobia towards TMR was affected..., Please see the associated research publication. , Please see the associated README file.Â在缺乏自然觅食机会的环境中饲养的动物，往往难以适应新奇事物，例如饲喂与管理方式的变更。本研究旨在探究奶牛犊牛早期接触并获取草料，对其在断奶期对新奇全混合日粮（total mixed ration, TMR；谷物与苜蓿混合料）的反应的影响。试验选取荷斯坦青年母牛犊牛，单栏饲养于沙地环境，饲喂开食料与代乳粉（每日饲喂量按5.7~8.4L阶梯式递增），通过奶瓶饲喂（对照组，n=9）；或额外提供山地草干草，分别将草料置于料桶（料桶组，n=9）或PVC管饲槽（饲管组，n=9）中供犊牛采食。试验周期从犊牛出生至第50日龄，当日起开始实施阶梯式断奶。所有犊牛的栏舍内均配备3个料桶与1个管饲槽。第50日龄时，将每头犊牛短暂限制于犊牛小舍内。将全混合日粮放入此前盛放干草的第3个料桶（对应料桶组），或放入空料桶（对照组、饲管组）。随后释放犊牛并进行30分钟的视频录制。犊牛对全混合日粮的新异恐惧症受到……影响……详见相关研究论文。详见配套README文件。