WHICH COWS ARE YOU FETCHING TO THE ROBOTS?

I got my first hands-on training with fetch cows during some of the early start-ups I supported. More than once, I handed someone a list of cows to fetch, assuming it was a simple task. An hour later it wasn’t done. It was overwhelming for people who had never done it, so I began walking with people when they fetched, and looking for ways to simplify the task. The first step is creating a list of the right cows to fetch. Fetching too many cows makes robots less available for cows to milk voluntarily, and can lead to a fetching habit. The fetching routine should include fresh heifers, fresh cows, recently moved cows, cows that need motivation, and overdue cows. If your barn is flowing well, you might not have any cows in one or more of those groups. Some cows may fit in more than one category. I don’t disagree with those who distinguish between fetching and training, but both groups can be gathered in the same trip around the barn, so it might make sense to group them on the same list.

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