Abstract
The aims of this study were to know the differences of behavior of dairy cattle among lactation periods and between feeding methods. Twenty-four hour behavior of dairy cattle fed mixed ration was observed to evaluate the effects of early (Mx-E, 6 animals), middle (Mx-M, 4 animals) and late (Mx-L, 4 animals) lactation periods and also to do those of feeding methods between rations fed mixed and separately (Sp-E, 4 animals) in early lactation at tie-stall barn of Iwate Animal Husbandry Experimental Station. Lactation period did not affected the ingestion, rumination and resting time of cattle. However, Mx-E was higher in frequencies of ingestion and of drinking than Mx-M and Mx-L, and higher in frequency of urination than Mx-L. As compared between feeding methods, Mx-E was longer in rumination and shorter in lying resting time than Sp-E. It is considered that cut length of hay affected those differences of behavior between the two. And also feeding method affected behavioral patterns. Mx-E was longer in ingestion time and shorter in rumination time during night period than Sp-E. Total milk production through lactation period was higher in Mx (7433kg) than in Sp (6222kg) .
