MONITORING FEED DISTRIBUTION IN MILKING ROBOTS

If you have been milking with robots for any length of time, you probably have a story about running out of feed in the robots. That story probably includes an observation about how quickly all of the cows knew that there was no feed. I don’t know how they share that information, but I am sure that they do, because they all stop coming to the robots. Sometimes it’s a little less obvious. The graph is an example from a Cow Corner weekly report. It shows an increasing difference between feed allowed (ration) and feed dispensed, with a clear impact on milk production, and milking frequency. We can use software, calibration, and cow behavior to help us detect and troubleshoot feed handling problems.

Remember that robotic milking lingo is definitely not literal when it comes to feed distribution. Robot programs refer to pounds or kilograms, and consumption or intake. But the only time the feed is weighed is when the robot is calibrated, and the program can’t tell us whether the feed that is dispensed is eaten by the cow in the robot, or if feed actually moves when the auger turns. The program counts turns of the auger, and assumes the auger is full, and a turn delivers a specific amount of feed.

Different manufacturers have different ways of dispensing feed, and this is important for troubleshooting. Lely robots dispense feed at a set rate, while the cow is in the robot, until her allotment is used. If she isn’t receiving all of the feed that the system allowed, the most common reason is that she did not spend enough time in the robot. If she is in the robot, the auger is normally turning, and the system will indicate that feed is being dispensed – even if the auger is empty. DeLaval robots only dispense feed when the cow puts her head in the feed bowl. If her head is in the bowl, the auger is turning, and the system registers that feed is dispensed, even if the auger is empty. However, at some point, if there is no feed, the cow will take her head out of the bowl, the auger will stop turning, and the system will register lower consumption. There are advantages and disadvantages to each system, but the approach to troubleshooting can be different. The robot program can provide some clues as to whether feed is actually being dispensed. Compare the feed dispensed by each robot. Track intake versus consumption over time for specific pens and lactation groups.

Begin by calibrating the feed system anytime there is doubt about what is being consumed. I am looking for obvious discrepancies here. I still weigh the feed, since I am collecting the sample. On more than one occasion, I have run a calibration cycle and collected a sample that was obviously less than half of what was expected. In one case, fines had plugged the auger on the robot. In another case, pen counts changed dramatically, and the robot with the feed level sensor did not call for feed soon enough to fill the other robots, which were milking more cows. I have also found mold and chunks in the calibration sample. Robot feed needs to be uniform and high quality so each cow has a good experience every time she comes to the robot. Calibration is easy and inexpensive. It is an important step in the troubleshooting process.

The cows will tell us when the bin is empty, but they will also give other indications before the barn completely shuts down. Observe individual cows. They are not always subtle. Head butting the feed bowl is a clear indication that feed is not being delivered as expected. Some farmers report restless cows, and more kickoffs when feed delivery is compromised. It’s a big red flag when cows don’t even put their heads in the bowl. Either feed is not being dispensed, or the quality is not what she expected.

Use the software, calibration, and cow behavior to monitor the feed delivery in your robots. With careful observation, you can detect small problems before they become big problems – not only before you run out, but also when cows are underfed. Cow Corner can help find problems early, and give you confidence that the robots are feeding the cows according to plan.