Milk Fat Depression and Rumination Stimulation,

Abstract

Stimulating rumination by feeding polypropylene ribbon had no effect in alleviating milk fat depression. In two experiments with six cows in each, milk fat depression was produced by feeding a ground pelleted hay with concentrates and limited long hay. Feeding this ration resulted in a large reduction in time spent ruminating. Adding polypropylene ribbon, 5 cm long, returned rumination times to normal but had no effect on milk fat depression. Replacing ground hay with long hay returned both rumination times and milk fat to normal. The effect of long hay in preventing or reversing milk fat depression is due to factors other than its potential for stimulation of rumination. © 1975, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.