HOW TO CHOOSE A ROBOT FEED

Have you ever taken a freeway on-ramp only to discover the road you were on did not lead to your intended destination? I have. Once I realized I was going the wrong direction, I had to decide between an illegal U-turn, or going 10 miles out of my way to the next off ramp (I chose 10 miles out of my way). A bin full of the wrong robot feed is like that. Once the feed is in the bin you either feed it out or find a way to divert it for another use. The larger the load, the bigger the problem. I have had calls from customers who filled a bin with a “better buy” which slowed cow traffic in a matter of days. How do you choose the right robot feed, and what can you do to minimize the impact of the transition.

Let’s begin with a review the things that your robot feed needs to do. First, specific to free traffic, the robot feed needs to complement the partial mixed ration (PMR). Usually this means it has to have a significantly more energy than the PMR so that it satisfies a

metabolic need that the PMR does not. Next, the robot feed has to be consistent. The cow needs to be confident that she will have the same experience every time she comes to the robot and puts her nose in the bowl. Along those same lines, the feed needs to be palatable – the consistent experience has to be good. Finally, the feed has to flow through the delivery system. That may mean different things in different systems. If it’s a pellet, it needs to be a hard pellet that will not break down into fines as it moves from the pellet mill to the truck, to the bin, to the robot, and finally to the feed bowl. Pellet or meal has to be dry enough that moisture will not migrate to the outside of the bin and cause spoilage or bridging.

In most systems, it’s very difficult to test a new feed in the robot. With 2 bins feeding into the same auger, it may be possible close one bin and test a short load of the new feed in the other bin. If the robots are equipped for 2 feeds, the new feed can be tested side by side with the old feed. If there are different bins for different pens, consider experimenting with one pen before committing the whole barn. If there is only 1 feed and one bin, the transition will be unpredictable as the old feed and the new feed form cones in the bin and flow at their own rates.

Consider hand feeding the new feed to test palatability, and to make the cows familiar with the new feed. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Simply top-dress the new feed on top of the PMR and watch the cow reaction. Don’t mix it in the PMR. Put it on top so the cows have to stick their noses in it. If they eat around it, it’s probably not going to encourage them to come to the robot. If they reach for it, that’s a good sign. If they are exposed to it on top of the PMR, it will be familiar when the find it in the robot.

When margins are tight, it’s tempting to try to save a few dollars on the robot feed. Any changes should be made gradually. If possible, test the new product before you commit to it. Ask your nutrition consultant and your neighbor what works for them. At Cow Corner, we have experience with different feeds in different brands of robots. We can help steer you in the right direction.