Effect of fenceline feeding on the behaviour and performance of lactating crossbred cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of type of manger on the performance and behaviour of lactating crossbred cows. For this 18 crossbred (Karan-Fries) cows from their 1–3 parity were selected and divided randomly into three groups (control, treatment 1 and treatment 2) as per their milk yield, body weight having six cows in each group. In control group cows were fed in the elevated manger i.e. 50 cm, above from the ground level, in treatment 1 cows were fed through fenceline consisting of post and rail without partition and in treatment 2 cows were fed though fenceline consisting of post and rail with partitions. Behaviour measured in terms of % aggressive index (AI) and % displacement index (DI) was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) in C (31, 40) and T₁ (40, 36) as compared to T₂ (18, 28). The overall average milk yield was found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T₂ (17.84 kg) than T₁ (16.37 kg) and C (15.74 kg) group. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in total daily DMI in T₁ (14.96 kg) and T₂ (15.34 kg) groups of animals compared to the control (11.19 kg). The differences in the mean wastage of feed among the 3 groups of cows were significant (P < 0.05) being highest in C, followed by T₁ and T₂. Hence fenceline feeding system proved to be beneficial in terms increased DMI; lower feed wastage, improved milk yield and lower level of aggression as compared to existing manger system of feeding in dairy cows.