{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,15]],"date-time":"2026-06-15T13:29:28Z","timestamp":1781530168407,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,20]],"date-time":"2022-01-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1642636800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>For ruminants, grazing and ruminating activities are essential in nutrient capture and ultimately animal performance however these activities can demand significant time and energy. This study evaluated the effect of three different pasture allocation frequencies (PAF\u2019s; 12, 24 and 36 h) on the feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows. Eighty-seven spring calving dairy cows were divided into three treatments. Animals were rotationally grazed with fixed paddock sizes of 0.14 ha, 0.28 ha and 0.42 ha paddocks for the 12 h, 24 h and 36 h treatments, respectively. Animals (14 per treatment) were fitted with behaviour halters that monitored feeding activity. Diurnal feeding patterns were evident for all animals irrespective of PAF, concentrating the majority of grazing during daytime (90%) and ruminating activity during night (73%). Treatment significantly affected feeding behavior patterns. Peak grazing activity coincided with fresh pasture allocation in the 12 h and 24 h treatments. In the 36 h treatment, grazing was more evenly distributed over each 24 h period with peak grazing activity witnessed daily between 17:00 and 19:00 regardless of fresh pasture allocation, suggesting lack of anticipation of fresh feed delivery. In the 12 h treatment primiparous animals exhibited greater grazing and ruminating activity relative to multiparous animals in the 12 h treatment highlighting the impact of competition for resources within each feed on lower dominance animals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12030243","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,20]],"date-time":"2022-01-20T22:40:20Z","timestamp":1642718420000},"page":"243","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7923-8112","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica G.","family":"Pollock","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK"},{"name":"Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillborough BT26 6DR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alan W.","family":"Gordon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, 18a Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kathryn M.","family":"Huson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillborough BT26 6DR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Deborah A.","family":"McConnell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillborough BT26 6DR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1403","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(98)75704-2","article-title":"Performance and nutrient intake of high producing Holstein cows consuming pasture or a total mixed ration","volume":"81","author":"Kolver","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1317","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(04)73281-6","article-title":"Dietary preference of dairy cows grazing ryegrass and white clover","volume":"87","author":"Rutter","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"764","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2009-2659","article-title":"Comparative grazing behavior of lactating Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Jersey\u00d7 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows and its association with intake capacity and production efficiency","volume":"93","author":"Prendiville","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1258","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2007-0710","article-title":"The effect of herbage allowance and concentrate supplementation on milk production performance and dry matter intake of spring-calving dairy cows in early lactation","volume":"91","author":"McEvoy","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2033","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2007-0579","article-title":"Frequent allocation of rotationally grazed dairy cows changes grazing behavior and improves productivity","volume":"91","author":"Abrahamse","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"45","article-title":"A comparison of the feeding and grazing behaviour of primiparous Holstein-Friesian and Jersey\u00d7 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows","volume":"51","author":"Vance","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ir. J. Agric. Food Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2701","DOI":"10.2527\/1998.76102701x","article-title":"Energy requirement for eating in cattle","volume":"76","author":"Susenbeth","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"437","article-title":"The physiology of eating and the energy expenditure of the r uminant at pasture","volume":"27","author":"Osuji","year":"1974","journal-title":"Rangel. Ecol. Manag. J. Range Manag. Arch."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2014.01.006","article-title":"Comparison of energy expenditure, eating pattern and physical activity of grazing and zero-grazing dairy cows at different time points during lactation","volume":"162","author":"Kaufmann","year":"2014","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mota-Rojas, D., Braghieri, A., \u00c1lvarez-Mac\u00edas, A., Serrapica, F., Ram\u00edrez-Bribiesca, E., Cruz-Monterrosa, R., Masucci, F., Mora-Medina, P., and Napolitano, F. (2021). The use of draught animals in rural labour. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11092683"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(02)74052-6","article-title":"The effects of social dominance on the production and behavior of grazing dairy cows offered forage supplements","volume":"85","author":"Phillips","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Hussein, A.N., Al-Marashdeh, O., Bryant, R.H., and Edwards, G. (2016). Relationship between Social Dominance and Milk Production of Dairy Cows Grazing Pasture, New Zealand Society of Animal Production."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1432","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(04)73293-2","article-title":"Effect of feeding space on the inter-cow distance, aggression, and feeding behavior of free-stall housed lactating dairy cows","volume":"87","author":"DeVries","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2012.02.001","article-title":"Effect of herbage allowance on grazing behavior and productive performance of early lactation primiparous Holstein cows","volume":"173","author":"Chilibroste","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"798","DOI":"10.1111\/gfs.12350","article-title":"The effect of grazing intensity on the performance of high-yielding dairy cows","volume":"73","author":"Dale","year":"2018","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2494.1997.tb02355.x","article-title":"Effects of length of grazing session, rumen fill and starvation time before grazing on dry-matter intake, ingestive behaviour and dry-matter rumen pool sizes of grazing lactating dairy cows","volume":"52","author":"Chilibroste","year":"1997","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3553","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(05)73040-X","article-title":"Frequency of feed delivery affects the behavior of lactating dairy cows","volume":"88","author":"DeVries","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2006.02.008","article-title":"Do different levels of moderate feed deprivation in dairy cows affect feeding motivation?","volume":"101","author":"Davison","year":"2006","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Verdon, M., Rawnsley, R., Raedts, P., and Freeman, M. (2018). The behaviour and productivity of mid-lactation dairy cows provided daily pasture allowance over 2 or 7 intensively grazed strips. Animals, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani8070115"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pollock, J.G., Gordon, A.W., Huson, K.M., and McConnell, D.A. (2020). The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on Pasture Utilisation and the Performance of High Yielding Dairy Cows. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10112176"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jneumeth.2017.08.022","article-title":"Evaluation of the RumiWatchSystem for measuring grazing behaviour of cows","volume":"300","author":"Werner","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Neurosci. Methods"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2018.12.004","article-title":"Identification of possible cow grazing behaviour indicators for restricted grass availability in a pasture-based spring calving dairy system","volume":"220","author":"Werner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1017\/S135772980005061X","article-title":"The effects of group size on the ingestive and social behaviour of grazing dairy cows","volume":"68","author":"Rind","year":"1999","journal-title":"Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1777","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(02)74252-5","article-title":"Milk response to concentrate supplementation of high producing dairy cows grazing at two pasture allowances","volume":"85","author":"Bargo","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"237","article-title":"Automatic measurement of grazing time by dairy cows on tropical grass and legume pastures","volume":"4","author":"Stobbs","year":"1970","journal-title":"Trop. Grassl."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2494.1983.tb01642.x","article-title":"Effect of stocking rate on the grazing behaviour and faecal output of lactating dairy cows","volume":"38","author":"Stockdale","year":"1983","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(00)00188-X","article-title":"Seasonal changes in circadian grazing patterns of Kerry cows (Bos taurus) in semi-feral conditions in Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry, Ireland","volume":"71","author":"Linnane","year":"2001","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3212","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2011-4741","article-title":"Rumination and its relationship to feeding and lying behavior in Holstein dairy cows","volume":"95","author":"Schirmann","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2012.02.020","article-title":"Rumination behavior of grazing dairy cows in response to restricted time at pasture","volume":"146","author":"Gregorini","year":"2012","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5305","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2016-12413","article-title":"Milk production and composition, nitrogen utilization, and grazing behavior of late-lactation dairy cows as affected by time of allocation of a fresh strip of pasture","volume":"100","author":"Vibart","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1071\/EA00088","article-title":"More frequent allocation of herbage does not improve the milk production of dairy cows in early lactation","volume":"41","author":"Dalley","year":"2001","journal-title":"Aust. J. Exp. Agric."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4079","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(03)74020-X","article-title":"Diurnal feeding pattern of lactating dairy cows","volume":"86","author":"DeVries","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(96)01120-3","article-title":"Diurnal patterns of intake rate by sheep grazing monocultures of ryegrass or white clover","volume":"52","author":"Orr","year":"1997","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1943","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2005-537","article-title":"Timing of herbage allocation in strip grazing: Effects on grazing pattern and performance of beef heifers","volume":"84","author":"Gregorini","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2494.2001.00284.x","article-title":"Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows","volume":"56","author":"Orr","year":"2001","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2009.02.004","article-title":"Toughness, particle size and chemical composition of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Hud.) herbage as affected by time of day","volume":"151","author":"Gregorini","year":"2009","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1979","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(01)74641-3","article-title":"The effects of frequency of feeding a total mixed ration on the production and behavior of dairy cows","volume":"84","author":"Phillips","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1016\/0168-1591(86)90116-4","article-title":"The effect of forage supplementation on the behaviour of grazing dairy cows","volume":"16","author":"Phillips","year":"1986","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7764","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2014-8261","article-title":"The effects of feeding time on milk production, total-tract digestibility, and daily rhythms of feeding behavior and plasma metabolites and hormones in dairy cows","volume":"97","author":"Niu","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1111\/gfs.12471","article-title":"Performance, milk fatty acid composition and behaviour of high-yielding Holstein dairy cows given a limited grazing period","volume":"75","author":"Atkins","year":"2020","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(06)72099-9","article-title":"Performance and feeding behavior of primiparous cows loose housed alone or together with multiparous cows","volume":"89","author":"Bach","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1071\/EA98043","article-title":"Dry matter intake and nutrient selection by lactating cows grazing irrigated pastures at different pasture allowances in summer and autumn","volume":"38","author":"Wales","year":"1998","journal-title":"Aust. J. Exp. Agric."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1016\/0168-1591(89)90040-3","article-title":"The effect of group size and space allowance on the agonistic and spacing behavior of cattle","volume":"24","author":"Kondo","year":"1989","journal-title":"Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2008-1091","article-title":"Effect of restricted access time to pasture on dairy cow milk production, grazing behavior, and dry matter intake","volume":"92","author":"Kennedy","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(99)75210-0","article-title":"Competition for total mixed diets fed for ad libitum intake using one or four cows per feeding station","volume":"82","author":"Olofsson","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3158","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(90)79005-4","article-title":"Effect of particle size of forage and rumen cannulation upon chewing activity and laterality in dairy cows","volume":"73","author":"Grant","year":"1990","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(94)76936-8","article-title":"Variation in and relationships among feeding, chewing, and drinking variables for lactating dairy cows","volume":"77","author":"Dado","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/3\/243\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:04:25Z","timestamp":1760133865000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/3\/243"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,20]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ani12030243"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani12030243","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,20]]}}}