Leiber, Florian; Walkenhorst, Michael and Holinger, Mirjam (2020) The relevance of feed diversity and choice in nutrition of ruminant livestock. Landbauforschung Journal of Sustainable and Organic Agricultural Systems, 70 (1), pp. 35-38.
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Online at: https://www.landbauforschung.net/issues/vol-70-1-2020/
Summary
In this position paper, we argue that the realisation of forage diversity and feed choice for ruminant livestock should be considered as an essential aspect of animal welfare because selection from an array of different plants is an important experience for such animals. We provide examples that diet balancing with regard to nutrients and plant secondary metabolites is particularly for ruminants so much essential that this ability must be a deeply rooted cognitive and behavioural predisposition. In this context, we assume feed choice to be a behavioural need of ruminants. Therefore, we argue in favour of nutritional concepts, which account for botanical and biochemical diversity and are based on behavioural research approaches. We provide a brief outlook of potential research topics, which we consider important if the societal target of animal welfare is to be reached in European ruminant production systems.
EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
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Keywords: | feeding, forage diversity, ruminant livestock, animal welfare |
Subjects: | Animal husbandry > Production systems > Beef cattle Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth |
Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Animal Husbandry and Breeding |
Deposited By: | Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL |
ID Code: | 38148 |
Deposited On: | 22 Jun 2020 09:10 |
Last Modified: | 22 Jun 2020 09:10 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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