Sometime ago I read a book by Susan Scott called Fierce Conversations – definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has conversations. One of the phrases Susan used to help people confront reality in fierce conversations was, “What were you pretending not to know?” We all have things we pretend not know. We cannot afford to pretend not to know what is in the robot feed bin. It is best not to wait for a fierce conversation with the cows in which they communicate by avoiding the robots. I assume that quality feed is delivered to the farm. Pellet quality can deteriorate during farm storage and handling. We can monitor pellet quality by observing the robot, checking the software, and managing the bin.
In the Robot
At the robot, start by looking at the floor under the feed bowl. If feed is piled up, it indicates that the cows are playing with the pellets more than they are eating them. This is the first indication that the pellets are not as palatable as they should be. The feed bowl should be empty when the cow finishes milking. Leftovers can be caused by incorrect system settings, or unpalatable feed. Watch the cow eating in the stall. She should have her nose in the bowl, eating with enthusiasm.
In the Software
Back at the computer, compare what the cows are eating to what the system is allowing them to eat. For Lely robots, rest feed should be less than 5%. For DeLaval, consumption should be more than 80% of ration. Make sure the dispense rate and max per visit are consistent with the form of the feed and the milking duration. Check the date of the last calibration. Calibrating the robots is a good way to get a feed sample for evaluation. Even if the weight of pellet is consistent, I now recommend calibrating the feed system once a month because it is your best chance to see, touch, and smell the pellets.
In the Bin
Pellets have very low moisture content, but moisture can still move to the walls of the bin when the air temperature is significantly different from the temperature of the pellets. Feed bins for robots are not equipped for agitation or aeration. When moisture accumulates near the walls it stays there and leads to mold growth. Emptying the bin is the best way to control spoiled feed. Small amounts of mold will flush out of the bin if it is emptied on a regular basis. Moldy pellets accumulate if the bin is never emptied. I recommend having 2 feed bins so you can empty and inspect one bin while continuing to feed from the other. Pellet orders may travel long distances, require advance notice, and have incentives for larger orders. All of these make it difficult to empty a single bin without interrupting feeding.
Use all of the clues in the robot, the software, and the bin, to monitor feed quality. Contact Cow Corner to learn more.
Comments