Feeding behaviour of dairy cows in forced or free cow traffic in Automatic Milking System (AMS)

AbstractSeveral options have been suggested in the literature for “inviting” the lactating cows to a milking unit, minimizing the interference with the activities of the cows during the day (eating, drinking, resting) and optimizing the welfare of the animals. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of forced and free cow traffic on feeding behaviour in primiparous (PR) and pluriparous (PL) cows. The trial was carried out in the experimental free stall barn “V. Tadini” equipped with a single box automatic milking system (Galaxy, Milkline) and with a 40 lactating cows group. Cows were fed once a day (at 07:30 a.m.) the same Total Mixed Ration (TMR). During the trial two different cow traffic situations combined with different feeds management were tested. In the 1st period forced cow traffic (FC) was used; in the 2nd period free cow traffic (FR) but with an increase of the concentrate fed in the milking unit (+1.5 kg/head/day) and a reduction of the concentrate percentage in TMR (from 44.5 to ...