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| Each cow with access to a compter-controlled concentrate feeder wears a device that identifies her when she enters the feeder head box. |
D.E. Pritchard1
M.L. Eastridge
J.E. Winkler
Ohio State University Extension
1 Present position at Dept. of Animal Sciences, North Carolina State University.
Dairy cows have traditionally been fed concentrates as they are milked to supplement nutritional requirements not supplied by the forages. In smaller-sized herds, feeding concentrates usually requires a considerable amount of labor. Automatic concentrate-dispensing equipment is available for use in stanchion or comfort-stall barns, but few producers have installed such equipment. On farms where concentrates are fed in milking parlors, the opportunity for individual feeding varies considerably, depending on type of equipment and milking management practices.
In some installations, the amount of concentrate each cow receives at each milking varies according to her needs, while in other setups, all cows have free-choice access to the concentrate while in the parlor. Dairy farmers have used various approaches to remove or reduce the feeding of concentrates in the parlor while trying to attain better control of feeding cows as individuals and still handle them as a group, especially in herds ranging in size from 50 to 150 cows.
With computer-controlled concentrate feeders, each cow wears a device around her neck that identifies her. As she enters the feeder head box, her specific number is read electronically and the amount of concentrate programmed in the computer's memory for her to receive is delivered at a rate she can consume before leaving the head box -- usually about one-half pound per minute. The total concentrate allotment is not available upon one entry to the head box but will be divided usually into four or more intervals for the 24-hour period.
Depending on the brand and model, multiple feed-dispensing units capable of delivering from two to four different feeds to each head box are available. Some systems include a cow calendar program that will generate reports listing days in milk, cows to dry off, cows to breed, etc., that can be used in managing the herd. Certain systems also include another program that will automatically adjust the daily amount of concentrate each cow is allowed to receive. Adjustments are based upon days since calving, projected lactation curves, or programmed equations. Some units either are or can be connected to a computer to allow other record-keeping functions to be performed.
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| Each cow with access to a compter-controlled concentrate feeder wears a device that identifies her when she enters the feeder head box. |
Computerized concentrate feeder systems overcome the feeding management problems of regulating the total amount of concentrate consumed in a day by regulating how much concentrate can be consumed at each meal, knowing how much concentrate each cow eats daily, and feeding varying amounts of different concentrate ingredients to each cow according to her individual requirements. Computerized feeders can also eliminate the need for feed in the milking parlor, thereby increasing efficiency and potentially increasing profits.
By having better control of the concentrate feeding program, dairy farmers responding to surveys conducted in 1982 and 1983 indicated an average increase in daily production per cow of more than 7%, an increase in milk fat of 0.1percentage unit and a 10% reduction in total amount of concentrate fed to the herd after computer-controlled feeders were installed. These results will vary with several factors, including the type, quality, and quantity of forage fed, the production level of the cows, the method used currently to feed concentrates, and the amount of concentrates fed. Results will also be greatly dependent on the level of management practiced in the herd - better results will accrue to those who spend more time managing the system.
The question of economic soundness of installing a computerized concentrate feeder system will depend on each farmer's situation and the assumptions used in the calculations. When making any major investment, a partial budget should be developed to determine the projected net return of the purchase. A sample partial budget for purchasing a computer feeder is shown in this fact sheet.
With the assumptions used in the sample calculations, it appears that the purchase of a computer-controlled feeder would be recovered by increased net returns in about 2-1/4 years.
University of Illinois researchers reported that income over feed costs was greater for the first five months of lactation when all concentrate was fed through a two-feed dispensing computer system vs. feeding 50% of the concentrate through a one-feed dispensing computer system and the other 50% mixed with the forage in the bunk. Individual cow concentrate requirements were updated every two weeks. Dispensing concentrate individually through the computer system vs. feeding part or all of it in the bunk with the forage also had other advantages. One such advantage was reduced weight loss in early lactation.
Computer-controlled feeding systems and total mixed rations (blended rations or complete rations) have both advantages and limitations. When deciding which system to use in a herd, consideration should be given to such factors as herd size, facility limitations for grouping cows and the number of groups that can be created, how concentrates are currently fed, types of forages fed, and type of forage-dispensing equipment currently used . Total mixed rations (TMR) systems are usually more adaptable and beneficial in larger herds that have the capability of having two or more groups of milking cows.
Some farmers have incorporated both feeding systems into their operations. By doing so, they have attempted to realize the advantages of each system. If restricted from expanding a TMR feeding system to more than two groups, a computerized concentrate feeder could be used to create a group within a group. Such an approach would bridge the nutrient gap between group rations and lessen the drop in production that commonly occurs when cows change groups.
A 1987 survey of 50 Ohio producers using both systems showed that milk production increased in three-fourths of the herds by about 10% after the second system was installed. Before installing a computerized feeder, many of the farmers were using a TMR in facilities where they could have only one or two groups of cows. This limitation prevented them from feeding rations closely balanced to the cows' needs. Before adding a second feed-delivery system, farmers should be sure they are feeding a balanced ration and doing the best job they can of feeding cows with their current equipment and facilities. Additional results from the survey are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
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Before deciding to buy a computerized feeder, consider:
The recommended loading rate is 20 to 25 cows per feeding station.
Feeding stations should be located in well-lighted, well-ventilated, and well-traveled (but not congested) traffic areas. Don't locate the feeders in high-traffic areas such as near holding pens or return alleys. This can restrict access and use. Cows should be able to "see" the units, which encourages use of the feeders.
If all concentrates are purchased as one complete mix, then a multi-dispenser feeder may not be needed. However, if high-moisture corn and a protein supplement are fed, or if concentrate ingredients will be handled separately, a multi-feed dispenser unit will be required.
The more often a cow consumes feed, the more efficient her rumen function and nutrient use. The number of feeding periods needed should depend on the number of cows per station, the number of hours each day the feeding stations are unavailable (during milking and manure scraping), and the quantity of grain to be feed each day.
The higher the demand for feeder use -- such as when loading rate maximum is exceeded, when cows are restricted from feeders for more than two hours per day, or when large quantities of grain are fed daily through each feeder -- the longer the feeding periods should be. For example, if 60 early lactating cows are restricted to using two feeders for only 20 hours per day, it is better to have two 12-hour feeding periods than six four-hour feeding periods. This reduces the pressure on cows to visit the feeders four additional times to receive their allocation.
Beware of scheduling more feeding minutes than are available because of the restrictions.
If the herd is on a DHI production-testing program and some sort of financial record-keeping system, the ability to keep cow records on the computer connected to the feeder may not be important. Also, some brands that connect personal computers to the feeders will not allow use of the personal computer for other functions and be able to operate the feeder at the same time.
Buy only the computer features that are needed and will be used, but keep in mind what may be needed or used in the future.
What is the reputation of each dealer you have contacted? Purchase the system from a reputable and reliable dealer who provides good service. Prompt repair service on the computer feeder is important, just as is prompt repair service on milking equipment.
For maximum benefits, computer feeders must be used in a manner that takes advantage of their capabilities.
Not only must the motor run, but the feed must flow without interruption.
Routine checking of "off-feed" cows should identify these.
This should be checked at least once every two weeks and when each batch of feed is loaded into the storage bin. Humidity level may affect dispensing rate.
Make adjustments in the feeding level at least twice weekly (daily would be best) during the first four to six weeks following freshening, then weekly up to 12 weeks if the system does not automatically adjust daily allocated concentrate amounts.
A cow yielding 80 lbs of milk and going up in milk yield will have a higher nutrient need between adjustment periods than one dropping in milk yield at 80 lbs. After the first three months, adjustments made on a monthly basis, or after DHI test, should be sufficient.
This can be increased by 3 to 5 lbs per week until production peaks or optimum intake is reached. Usually, a feeding rate of 2.25% of body weight is a safe maximum grain level. As production begins to decline, decrease the level of concentrate by an amount related to forage quality, concentrate ingredient prices, milk prices, and the cow's requirement.
Consider body condition (add 3 lbs of grain to replace one pound of body weight), fat-corrected milk production, and growth (add 2.5 lbs daily for cows under 36 months of age) when determining concentrate amounts to be fed during late lactation. During the last month of lactation, the concentrate allotment for cows fed more than 12 to 15 lbs concentrate daily should be gradually reduced to encourage drying off.
This helps to maintain a stable rumen condition, maintain higher milk-fat test, and prevent off-feed problems. It also reduces disruptive behavior among cows.
Dry cows can also benefit from using a computer-controlled feeder. Lead feeding of cows the last 10 to 14 days before freshening can help them adjust to the higher concentrate levels they will receive following calving. Increasing the amount of concentration gradually to a maximum of 1% of body weight at calving is recommended. Dry cows should receive a separate low-calcium, low-protein concentrate mixture, rather than the lactating cow mix.
Cows in early lactation need these high nutrient levels because of the very high output of nutrients in milk and the cow's self-restricted intake during early lactation. Forage quality is especially important during this period. The concentrate mix should contain 20 to 40% high-NDF, high-energy feeds (relative to other concentrates). Systems that can deliver more than one kind of feed provide the capability of adjusting the amounts of nutrients offered to each cow.
Supplementing with buffers, a fat source, and other additives may also be advisable. In mid and late lactation, considerable feed-cost savings can be realized by lowering the protein level and other additives in the concentrate mix.
The number of cows one station can accommodate depends on the amount of grain programmed for each cow. The maximum daily dispensing capacity of each feeder is about 500 lbs. However, a practical limit of about 350 lbs is recommended. Units should disperse at least 90% of the programmed amount of concentrates for the day. If it is less than 90%, more feed stations may be needed.
Check for stray voltage, since it may prevent cows from using the feeder. Some cows may not use the unit during the night. Also, it may be necessary to train older cows and new heifers to use the feeder.
Avoid narrow stall widths because they will appear as a chute or alley. Stalls should not be too long, which will allow timid cows to hide or stand in the "protected" area, but should be long enough to provide protection. A bar over the top at the rear of the stall will prevent a cow from being ridden while in the stall. Cover exposed wood partition ends with a strip of material to minimize body and rib injury.
The floor surface should be rough or grooved, with a slight slope from front to rear. If cows do not have to step up into the stall (more than six inches), less slipping and fewer falls will occur and there will be less butting in the rear udder region.
Cows may need to be brought in from pasture or shade to encourage uniform feed use throughout the day and night.
Proper materials and good grounding are essential for personnel and animal safety. Small voltage fluctuations can cause computer program problems. The unit should have protection against lightning, voltage fluctuations, and power outages. An equipotential plane should be considered around the feeder. All wiring should meet or exceed minimum standards of the National Electric Code.
Since the quantities of concentrates fed take into consideration the cow's requirements (for production, maintenance, growth, and pregnancy) with an estimated forage consumption amount (usually about 2 lbs of dry matter per 100 lbs of body weight), it is very important that the values used for body weight, forage consumption, and forage composition be as accurate as possible. Cows should be periodically weighed or, more practically, taped to have an estimate of body weight.
Likewise, forages should be tested for dry matter and nutrient content, and the quantities fed (consumed) should be weighed. The quantities of various feeds included in the concentrate mix should also be weighed. Forage mixer units and grinders that have weighing devices on them are very worthwhile.
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| Computer-controlled feeder head-box units should be well-protected and located in an area with good ventilation and lighting. |
Because feed costs constitute 50 to 60% of the total cost of milk production, regulating feed costs and/or improving feed utilization becomes the largest single area where profits can be increased. Due in part to high labor costs and attempts to reduce drudgery, feeding systems have become increasingly mechanized, automated, and computerized. Individual cow concentrate-feeding systems are rapidly gaining acceptance by dairy farmers across the United States. Capabilities of these systems grow as the feeding function becomes integrated with other herd management applications by interfacing the feeding system with more powerful computers. Most of the systems incorporate "management action reporting" into the feeder system directly. Ration formulation and feed distribution should be analyzed carefully so animal productivity, health, and profitability are maximized.
Companies known to be marketing computer-controlled feeders in the United States as of July 1999 are presented in the accompanying list. Company representatives should be contacted for current information about systems.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
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