Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Heat production and herbage intake of housed and free grazing cattle were examined using trachea cannulea oxygen consumption measuring system. The daily heat production of Holstein steer and Japanese Black cow grazing on orchardgrass pasture were 212 and 167 kcal/BW0•75/day, respectively. These figures were 56% and 37% greater than those of housed cattle. The daily herbage intake of the Japanese Black cow were 64 and 77 DMg/BW°·75/day in housed and grazing, respectively. And those of the Holstein steer were 69 and 149 DM/BW°·75/day. Regarding the behaviour of cattle, the highest heat production rate was observed in grazing activity, and lowest was observed in lying. The energy cost for grazing activity was estimated as the difference between the former and the latter. There was little difference between daily heat production for grazing activity of two cattle and the mean value of them was 21 kcal/BW°·75/day. Total daily heat production increase on pasture compared to that of housed experiment, was 76 and 45 kcal!BW°·75/day in Holstein steer and Japanese Black cow, respectively. Since these large amount of heat increase on pasture could be only partly explained by the heat increase for grazing activity, it was considered that large part of heat production increase on pasture compared to housed condition was due to the increased herbage intake of free grazing cattle.

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Heat Production of Free Grazing Cattle

Kyoto Japan

Heat production and herbage intake of housed and free grazing cattle were examined using trachea cannulea oxygen consumption measuring system. The daily heat production of Holstein steer and Japanese Black cow grazing on orchardgrass pasture were 212 and 167 kcal/BW0•75/day, respectively. These figures were 56% and 37% greater than those of housed cattle. The daily herbage intake of the Japanese Black cow were 64 and 77 DMg/BW°·75/day in housed and grazing, respectively. And those of the Holstein steer were 69 and 149 DM/BW°·75/day. Regarding the behaviour of cattle, the highest heat production rate was observed in grazing activity, and lowest was observed in lying. The energy cost for grazing activity was estimated as the difference between the former and the latter. There was little difference between daily heat production for grazing activity of two cattle and the mean value of them was 21 kcal/BW°·75/day. Total daily heat production increase on pasture compared to that of housed experiment, was 76 and 45 kcal!BW°·75/day in Holstein steer and Japanese Black cow, respectively. Since these large amount of heat increase on pasture could be only partly explained by the heat increase for grazing activity, it was considered that large part of heat production increase on pasture compared to housed condition was due to the increased herbage intake of free grazing cattle.