Comparison of Two Systems for Group Feeding Dairy Cows,

Jersey cows on a one-group feeding system (Treatment I) were compared to those on a two-group system (Treatment II) over 3 yr.Those on Treatment I were group-fed concentrates at 7.3 kg per cow per day during the entire lactation regardless of yield.Cows on Treatment II were allotted to high and low subgroups on production of fat-corrected milk on a single day (Dairy Herd Improvement test day).Both subgroups were group-fed concentrates at the same rate (1 kg per 2.25 kg fat-corrected milk).Silage and hay allowances were constant for both groups throughout lactation.Except for gradual adjustment to concentrate feeding beginning 2 wk prepartum, nonlactating cows were allowed roughage only.The groups did not differ significantly in actual milk production, fat-correctedmilk production, body weight change, health, or reproductive performance.Milk fat percentage was higher for cows on the one-group system.