Friday, March 29, 2024

In-dairy feeding systems

Avatar photo
In-dairy feeding does have a place, depending on the farming system, dairy, and cows, Massey University associate professor Richard Laven says. “It’s a useful, additional way of feeding easily and quickly with minimal wastage, where farmers can assess how much each cow is consuming. Individual rationing for cows at different lactation stages has merit, but is marginal for a single seasonal supply system.” In-dairy feeding can vastly improve cow flow into the bail area, without compromising exiting cow flow when smaller rations are fed. And cows walk straight on to the rotary platform instead of blocking the entrance. With fewer empty bails and stoppages, milking time is reduced. “Cows love molasses and eat it pretty quickly, so its addition is worth considering,” Laven said.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Minerals should be blended into a high-quality and attractive concentrate to ensure all cows get their share,” he said.

Adding minerals to feed like palm kernel which is not eaten by all cows, is not a reliable way of mineral supplementation.

Nutritionally, in-dairy feeding probably won’t replace feeding on a feedpad where forage and larger concentrate rations can be fed.

If the bonuses of in-dairy feeding also include happier cows, happier staff, less stress and worry, these are valid reasons to consider it.”

An in-dairy feeding system requires considerable capital investment. The basics include a silo, auger system, dispensing system, tray or bins, controller, and possibly facilities for including minerals or liquids like molasses.

Rotary systems that need only one dispenser are considerably simpler and more versatile than those designed for herringbones.

THE SILO

Silos come in the traditional galvanised steel and polyethylene. Steel grade and galvanising quality can vary so should be checked. Likewise the support legs can vary in design, material, and therefore strength.

Ladders must meet the New Zealand standard and should have a robust safety cage.

Bridging of feed, which is the feed sticking to the side of the silo and not flowing out, can be a problem. It varies with the type of feed, with palm kernel and fine meals often affected.

Stewart Dairylands’ Central Silo Systems main auger line has a gradual curve, and is well-supported.

Dispensers should allow accurate and reliable measuring of rations, with calibration for different feed types. The range of rations can be 0.5kg to 5kg.

Polyethylene dispensers should have UV inhibitors where they are exposed to sunlight. Dispenser triggering to dump the feed into the bin or trough is generally by lever in a herringbone, or automatically in a rotary.

The drop pipes which deliver the feed into the bins or trough must be robust, as cows do bang them with their heads to get any feed they can.

PVC drop pipes can be cut short to limit damage, but the feed falling into the trough can result in a very dusty bail area unless there is a flexible hose from the drop-pipe down.

PVC drop-pipes should be well-supported to prevent damage. Herringbones can have a dispenser for each bail, or for every two bails with a “Y” in the drop-pipe.

BINS OR TROUGHS

Moulded individual plastic bins or stainless steel troughs are used. Aluminium troughs have been used but can oxidise with exposure to some feeds.

Stainless troughs should be tig-welded if liquids are to be fed.

Others are bolted together. Pop rivets have been used but have failed. Drainage should be included so the receptacles can be emptied and cleaned.

Rotary receptacles should prevent the spillage of feed over into the middle of the rotary.

The configuration of the bins or troughs is important. Some installations have resulted in cows having to reach well forward to feed, making applying cups a stretch for milkers.

Partitions between cows’ heads in rotaries to prevent theft from neighbours is recommended. Herringbone breast rail adjustment should not be compromised by the trough or bins.

ADDITIVES

There are three ways of including mineral additives in the feed:

  • Having the feed supplier blend in the minerals to be delivered, so they are fed as one from the silo
  • Installing a mineral hopper and dispensing system at the silo, which feeds the minerals into the main auger line from silo to bail area. Addition rates as low as 20g/kg of feed are possible.
  • Installing a mineral dispenser beside the feed dispenser in a rotary. The mineral dispenser can be manually filled or supplied by its own auger from a hopper or silo outside.

Adding minerals onfarm means a greater capital expense. It allows more versatility because addition rates can be varied, but is less convenient.

Liquids like molasses and syrup blends are pumped to the bins or troughs. This, like the feeding system, is much simpler in a rotary where only one dispenser is needed.

Troughs need to be water-tight, so will be continuously welded. Drop volumes of extras like probiotics and minerals as low as 20ml are possible using a peristaltic pump.

“A water spray system dispensing one to two litres to feeds like palm kernel makes it more digestible, with less dust, and less chance of choking, and salt and magnesium can be added,” Bill King of Buster Cover said.

“And there’s a noticeable difference in demand on the farm water supply.”

CONTROL

While feed is usually dispensed manually in herringbones, a double auger system allows a timer to dispense feed.

Two ration settings can be made for different herds at the timer. Rotary feeding systems are programmed. EID identification and herd management programmes, including Protrack, allow individual cow feeding.

Sensors in rotaries detect empty bails and cows on a second rotation and withhold feed from them.

A maximum run timer with alarm can be added to existing auger systems to prevent the silo being emptied into the bail area in case of gear failure – it has happened.

HERRINGBONE TRAVELLING HOPPER

PPP Industries have patented a travelling hopper system for herringbones, where one hopper can dispense two feed types and minerals, on each side of the bail area.

There are three variations:

  • A blanket feeder where every cow gets the same ration of feed, with mineral and liquid options.
  • With an EID reader on the travelling hopper, cows can be group-fed any one of five feed rations, or where the system is connected to different silos they can be fed different feeds.
  • With EID, cows can be fed according to production or other criteria.

The system can feed minerals, molasses and other liquids. And with positive herringbone EID, there are advantages for herd testing, antibiotic alerts and drafting.

GENERAL

Like most machinery, the purchase consideration should include durability, maintenance requirements, availability of spares, provision for power outages, breakdown service and reputation.

• For more information go to www.dairynz.co.nz/milking/new-dairies-and-technology/feeding-systems/

Total
0
Shares
People are also reading