In the real estate business, they say property value depends on 3 things - location, location and location. In robotic milking, cow flow depends on 3 things - feed, feed and feed. Has that changed now that there are farms that do not provide feed in the robots?
My first conversation about robotic milking without pellets was in a pre-startup meeting about 6 years ago. That owner ultimately decided to feed pellets, but we all knew it was only a matter of time before somebody tested the idea. Today, I am aware of 2 herds that are successfully milking in box style robots without pellets, and I am working with other herds that are in the process of reducing pellet feeding to a bare minimum, and may or may not eliminate pellets. The rules are the same whether your goal is zero pellets or less pellets. Feed still brings cows to the robot. Here’s how.
Feed still brings cows to the robot
Farms that successfully minimize pellet feeding use guided flow traffic. In a guided flow system, cows move through the gates to get to the feed bunk because they are hungry. They go to the feed bunk as often as they want to. Some of the trips to the feed bunk include a detour to the robot. There are excellent reasons to choose free cow traffic over guided flow. I work with some very successful free traffic farms. I will not advise any free traffic farms to stop feeding in the robots. You must have guided flow traffic if you want to use feed in the bunk, instead of pellets in the robot, to bring cows to the robots.
Feed still brings cows to the robot
High quality forage is critical if the feed in the bunk is to bring cows to the robot. First, the nutrient density of the forage has to be high enough that the feed in the bunk can supply all the requirements of the highest producing cows. Second, the forage has to have a high rate of passage through the cow so that she will get hungry and come back to the bunk for another meal. You cannot maintain cow flow without high quality forage – especially if you stop feeding in the robot.
Feed still brings cows to the robot
Cows need to know where to find the feed. In guided flow systems it is more important to train cows to get to feed than it is to train them to get to milk. If they find their way to the bunk, milkings will follow. If they don’t find their way to the bunk, not only will milkings be low, but metabolic problems will follow and production will suffer. Several different training methods can be effective. The farm has to be committed to training cows to get to the feed bunk.
Feed still brings cows to the robot
Somebody needs to own it. Ownership starts with bunk management. The cow has to know that she can get a full meal whenever she goes to the bunk. It also includes checking reports to make sure cows are moving through the commitment pen and robots and to the bunk as they should. Most important, ownership includes time in the barn to watch the cows move through the system.
Whether your goal is to feed less pellets or no pellets, feed still brings cows to the robots. Success requires guided flow cow traffic, top quality forages, commitment to training, and an engaged team. I can be part of that team. Cow Corner can help you determine whether you can reduce or eliminate pellets, guide you through the transition process, and monitor the results.
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