Effects of a change in the daily time of access to hay on the rate of eating and feed intake of dairy cows

Time of eating and feed intake were recorded successively on 16 non-lactating dairy cows fed on mixed hay. The length of daily feeding time was changed from 24-hr to 4-hr and vice versa and observations were made on the behaviour of the cows. When daily feeding time was restricted to 4-hr the cows ate nearly all the time they had access to feed with a rapid rate of eating, but they could not prevent a reduction in feed intake compared to those with 24-hr access. In two meals of 2-hr the cows consumed more hay, with a quicker rate of eating, than in one meal of 4-hr. On the day access time changed from 24-hr to 4-hr intake was significantly less, and after changing from 4-hr to 24-hr it was longer than on subsequent days; this was because the rate of eating did not change immediately. At the second meal, however, intake and the rate of eating nearly attained the levels at the subsequent meals. It was suggested that cows adapt. in feeding behaviour to the change of daily feeding time in a short period; one or two days.