The Cow Corner Top and Bottom Cow report highlights the top ten and bottom 10 cows for various key performance indicators (KPI). It is a quick and easy way to see find the cows that need special management attention. This report goes out to subscription customers every week. Horizon and DelPro both have indexes that give weighted value to each KPI to rate the best and worst robot cows in the herd overall. Those are valuable tools for ranking
the cows. They have less value for managing the problem cows. A cow with high incompletes or failures may need a different action as compared to a cow with low yield per milking. Let’s go through the report and review the appropriate management steps for each KPI.
Yield/Milking
How much milk does the cow make on each trip to the robot? The desired range is 30-40 lbs. For most systems, below 20 pounds is inefficient use of the robot. Either daily production is too low or the cow is allowed to come to the robot too frequently. Adjust milking permission to prevent cows from visiting to frequently. The immediate solution for low daily production is drying off or culling. Long term strategies may include improving transition management, shortening the calving interval, or reviewing feeding at the bunk and in the robot. Higher yield per milking isn’t always better. Cows that produce over 50 pounds in a single milking should probably be milked more frequently. Consider adjusting milking permission or stocking density, and reviewing robot training.
Failure/Incompletes
Lely counts failures. DeLaval counts incompletes. They are not the same thing. Incompletes and failures are defined differently. Both do indicate milkings when the cow did not give the expected yield. Cows that average more than one incomplete or one failure per day should be observed while milking. Check the stall position, udder fill, teat placement, and udder fill and cleanliness – and resolve the problem if possible.
Box Time/Milking Duration
Box time and milking duration are the total amount of time the cow spent in the stall – preparation, attachment, and milking. Less time is probably better and more time is probably worse – but we need more information. Often, the lowest producing cows will have the shortest duration and the highest producing cows will have the longest duration. And, a cow can be slow because she dances while she is being prepped or she can be slow because the teat orifice is small, or both.
Treat Time
Lely treat time is a little more specific. This is how long it takes to clean and attach. On a herd basis, it can be affected by the robots and the settings. On a cow basis, it’s best to observe a milking to find out what is causing the delay.
Yield/Box Time
Lely takes it a step further with yield/box time. This equalizes the high producers and low producers – slow milkers and fast milkers, quiet cows and kickers. Higher is always better. Low cows will be a judgement call. It’s hard to sell your highest producing cow because her yield per box time is low. It’s a little easier if you know you can use the same stall time to get more total milk from 2 cows.
Average Flow
DeLaval measures average flow. It doesn't tell us anything about prep time but it does point out the cows with small teat openings or delayed milk letdown. Genetics are an important part of average flow. But don’t forget that poor milk letdown can also slow the flow.
Top-performing robots need top-producing cows. Want help finding the top and bottom cows in your herd? Subscription customers get the Top and Bottom cow report updated every week. Contact me at Cow Corner so I can show you what it will look like for your herd!
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