Relationships between Dairy Cows’ Chewing Behavior with Forage Quality, Progress of Lactation and Efficiency Estimates under Zero-Concentrate Feeding Systems

Adaptivity of eating and rumination behavior are assumed to play a particular role for cows in low-input systems, because they more frequently challenged by altering forage quality. The present study examined relations between quality, chewing efficiency estimates dairy from Swiss zero-concentrate organic farming systems. A total 102 Fleckvieh on two farms were observed during one full production year. Each farm was visited eight times. At each visit, up 45 equipped with RumiWatch® (Itin Hoch GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland) sensor head collars, which time the frequency activity changes obtained 48 h. Milk complete day analyzed individually. All offered roughages (pasture herbage, grass silages hay) sampled at visit crude fiber, protein net energy, feed quality score calculated. Metabolic estimated based entire lactation data, individual visits. Lactation stage significantly affected variables. Eating increased decreased improved nutritive feed. Coefficients variance factor animal variables showed contribution cow behavior. Significant correlations not found. In conclusion, under on-farm conditions alters changing significant effects, indicating potential new phenotypes, albeit no indications efficiency.