Agonistic interactions by cows and frequency of feeder entrances differed among feeders and were correlated to feeder design induced feed losses. Feed losses were positively correlated with agonistic interactions, frequency of regular and irregular entrances, and feeder occupancy rate (P < 0.05). Cows feeding from the cradle feeder had nearly three times the agonistic interactions and four times the frequency of entrances compared to cows feeding from the other feeder types (P < 0.05). Percentage of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein were all lower and acid detergent lignin was higher in the recovered waste compared to the hay fed (P < 0.05). Calculated dry matter intake of hay ranged from 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight and was not different among feeder type (P < 0.05). Dry matter hay waste was 3.5, 6.1, 11.4, and 14.6% for the cone, ring, trailer, and cradle feeders, respectively. Feeder access, occupancy rate, and occurrence of agonistic interactions were recorded. Data were collected from 5-min observational intervals from the video tapes every 0.5 h each day. On four consecutive days in each period, animal behavior was recorded using a time-lapse video system. At the end of a 7-d period, each feeder type was assigned to a different pen for a second 7-d period. Hay that fell onto the concrete surrounding the feeder was considered waste and was collected and sampled daily. Alfalfa and orchardgrass round bales were weighed and sampled before feeding. All feeder types provided approximately 37 cm of linear feeder space per animal. Twenty cows were allotted by weight and body condition score to one of eight pens with four feeder designs: cone, ring, trailer, or cradle. One hundred sixty beef cows (631 +/- 78 kg) were used to evaluate the quantity of hay loss and feeding behaviors from different round bale feeders.

Round bale feeder