The effect of number of daily meals for dairy cows on milk yield and composition

The effect of the number of daily meals on milk yield and composition was s tudied in a commercial dairy herd. One hundred and eighty Israeli Holstein cows were divided into two groups. One group was given one meal daily and t he second group three meals daily. Feeding frequency had no effect on DM in take, milk yield or milk composition. Total VFA and molar proportion of ace tate were higher before feeding than 3 h later. The decrease in molar propo rtion of acetate after feeding was greater in the cows given one meal daily . The propionate molar proportion was higher before feeding and lower 3 h l ater if cows were given three meals daily. As a result, the acetate to prop ionate ratio was lower in cows fed three meals daily before feeding and ros e after 3 h. Ruminal ammonia-N concentrations, before and after feeding, we re lower when cows were fed three meals daily. Plasma urea-N concentrations were higher before feeding, as compared with 3 h later. Plasma urea-N was higher for the one meal treatment, but significantly only 3 h after the mor ning meal. It is suggested that increasing feeding frequency may improve di etary nitrogen utilization and may shift metabolism towards more gluconeoge nesis. Production responses to more frequent feeding are more likely to be revealed in high yielding dairy cows, maintained on high concentrate diets.