@conference {75923,
	title = {Feeding behaviour differs between dairy calves selected for divergent feed conversion efficiency},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {281-285},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {Feeding behaviour and efficiency of feed utilisation, measured as residual feed intake (RFI; defined as actual feed intake minus predicted feed required), were measured in dairy calves aged six to seven months-old, and associations between the two variables were determined. The intake, feeding behaviour, and live weight of 219 female Holstein-Friesian calves were recorded for 46 days. Animals were housed in an outdoor facility comprising 28 pens, each with a single-access feeder containing dried, cubed lucerne. Efficient animals were associated with lower intakes (r{\texttwosuperior} = 0.29), fewer meals/day (r{\texttwosuperior} = 0.05), less time spent eating/day (r{\texttwosuperior} = 0.03), and slower eating rates (r{\texttwosuperior} = 0.03). The 30 most efficient animals consumed less (mean {\textpm} standard error of difference; 6.15 vs 7.46 {\textpm} 0.20 kg cubes/day), had fewer meals (4.03 vs 4.85 {\textpm} 0.29 meals/day), and spent less time feeding (2.68 vs 2.93 {\textpm} 0.11 hours/day) compared to the 30 least efficient animals (all P <0.05). Rate of liveweight gain, eating rate, amount eaten per meal, and meal duration did not differ between the 30 most efficient and 30 least efficient animals (P >0.05). In conclusion, differences in feeding behaviour were found between dairy calves selected for divergence in efficiency which may have implications for their management.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Green TC and Waghorn GC and Beausoleil NJ and MacDonald KA}
}
