USING PEAK PRODUCTION TO EVALUATE ROBOTIC MILKING

Every dairy producer likes to look at peak production numbers, especially with the availability of that metric in robotic milking software. It is truly amazing how much milk the modern dairy cow can make in a day, when she is at the top of her lactation curve. Peak production is even more impressive when you remember that each extra pound at peak will result in 200 to 250 more pounds over the whole lactation. If peak milk increases 5 pounds per cow in a 300-cow herd that’s 300,000 to 375,000 pounds – about the same as adding 10 to 15 cows except you don’t need any extra free stalls, bunk space, or robots.

Dr. Ryan Pralle, a technical specialist from Balchem, talked about using peak milk to evaluate herd performance at a feeding workshop I attended, hosted by University of Wisconsin Extension. Pralle suggests that producers should start by looking at the average

peak production for the herd. His benchmarks are 90 pounds for heifers, and 113 pounds for mature cows. Those benchmarks are very close the Dairy Records Management Service (DRMS) averages in the table.  Compare your farm to the standard deviation and high values. Just over two thirds of the farms will be within 1 standard deviation.

Pralle focused on the importance of transition management for high peak production. He stressed feed availability and bunk space for the pre-fresh and post-fresh groups. Maintaining correct body condition was also high on his list. The minimum dry period for all cows is 45 days.

Comparing peak yield between lactation groups is a useful troubleshooting tool, according to Pralle. First lactation cows should peak somewhere between 76 and 80% of mature cow

peaks. The average in the table of 86-pounds for first lactation cows and 112-pounds (average of 108 and 116) for mature cows fall on the low end of the range at 76%.

If first lactation cows peak at less than 76% of mature cows, heifers are not peaking as high as they should and the problem is probably related to heifer management. Make sure heifers are well grown. According to Penn State, Holstein heifers should calve at 85 to 90% of mature weight and 95% of mature height. Keep fresh feed available at least 22 hours per day through the transition period. For heifers milked in robots, training is a key part of transition management. Strive for 3 to 4 milkings per day right from the start. Robot pellet intake may be limited if heifers don’t come to the robot as often as they should.

If first lactation cows peak at more than 80% of the mature cow peaks, mature cows are not peaking as high as they should, and mature cow feeding and transition management need to be reviewed. Review the transition management points above. In robotic facilities, make sure your cows are eating all the robot feed that the nutrition consultant intended for them to eat, and make sure system settings are not limiting access to the robots.

Cow Corner can help you track and compare peak production in your herd. I can also help with feed settings and milking permission to make sure the system is not limiting performance.