Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Richardson, Donna Renee
URN	etd-11202012-040155
Title	Verification of equations to predict dry matter intake of dairy heifers
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Dairy Science (Management)
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title James, Robert E. Committee Chair McGilliard, Michael L. Committee Member Polan, Carl E. Committee Member Vinson, William E. Committee Member
Keywords	Ingestion
Date of Defense	1987-12-05
Availability	restricted
Abstract Diets of varying forage base were fed to dairy heifers to test the accuracy of an prediction equation to accurately predict dry matter intake (DMI). Heifers ranging from 120 to 430 kg body weight, were randomly assigned to treatments with forage bases of 1) 100% corn silage, 2) 75% corn silage : 25% alfalfa haylage, 3) 50 % corn silage : 50% alfalfa haylage, or 4) 25% corn silage : 75% alfalfa haylage. Diets were fed for an average of 187 days. Rations were formulated to meet NRC requirements for .68 kg ADG and reformulated monthly. Animals consistently gained an average of .8 kg per day. Statistical analysis showed actual DMI to be significantly less than predicted levels of DMI. The correlation coefficient of actual DMI to predicted DMI was .59. In spite of icreased rates of gain, differences due to treatment, ration acid detergent fiber (ADF) and season were not significant. Depressed intake may be the result of metabolic control of intake as ADG approaches .8 kg. This suggests that current recommendations for TDN may be excessive for dairy heifers reared in confinement.
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