Verification of equations to predict dry matter intake of dairy heifers

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRichardson, Donna Reneeen
dc.contributor.committeechairJames, Robert E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcGilliard, Michael L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPolan, Carl E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberVinson, William E.en
dc.contributor.departmentDairy Science (Management)en
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:50:19Zen
dc.date.adate2012-11-20en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:50:19Zen
dc.date.issued1987-12-05en
dc.date.rdate2012-11-20en
dc.date.sdate2012-11-20en
dc.description.abstractDiets 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 increased 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.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentix, 88 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-11202012-040155en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11202012-040155/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/45906en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1987.R524.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 17596336en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1987.R524en
dc.subject.lcshDairy cattle -- Feeding and feedsen
dc.subject.lcshIngestionen
dc.titleVerification of equations to predict dry matter intake of dairy heifersen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineDairy Science (Management)en
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
LD5655.V855_1987.R524.pdf
Size:
3.28 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

Masters Theses