Studies of food consumption by the cow

Abstract

Studies on two different aspects of food consumption by the cow were carried out between 1960 and 1962 and are described in this thesis. The first consisted of an experiment designed to indicate whether or not dairy cows under the self -feeding, loose - housing system of winter management are able to consume silage to satiety. This study was suggested to me by my advisor, Mr. K. V. Runcie. The chromic oxide reference method was used as a basis for estimating the silage consumption of individual cows when self -feeding; its use was supervised by Dr. J. F. D. Greenhalgh. The results were presented to the winter meeting of the British Society of Animal Production in March 1962.The second study was of the regulation of food consumption by the cow. Unlike the first, it was not undertaken with a view to providing information of immediate significance to agricultural practice; rather it was intended to enlarge our understanding of the physiology of the cow. I wish to acknowledge the stimulating discussion I had with Dr. D.G. Armstrong of the Hannah Dairy Research Institute at the outset and for the specific suggestion of an all- concentrate diet.