Page 21 - Vol.36-No.9 issue

ANIMAL PREEDING

KEEPING COWS FIT AND HEALTHY LONGER

WITH THE RIGHT FEEDING STRATEGY

What goes for human beings, also groups, means a corresponding increase
goes for dairy cows: A healthy and indi- in work hours. With GEA’s automated
vidually tailored diet is one of the most feeding systems, it doesn’t matter how
important requirements for high per- many groups are desired, the only work
formance and well-being. With GEA’s required is filling the bunkers, which
automated feeding systems, the perfect only takes about 30 minutes. Every ani-
recipe can be conveniently delivered to mal group is provided with the optimal
each animal group. Years of experience feed ration: cows at the beginning or
as well as the latest scientific findings the end of lactation, dry cows as well as
advise systems for precision feeding. youngstock and heifers receive exactly
The success speaks for itself: Farmers the rations they need for their current
are achieving significantly improved lactation phase, their calculated calving
animal health with above average herd period or their recommended weight od to keep the pH level in the rumen as
performance. In addition, better feed gain. consistent as possible is to provide feed
quality and resource-friendly feed con- throughout the day. Another argument
version go hand in hand with huge time Healthy growth supports for frequent feeding is supplied by the
and labor savings, as well as the ability productivity for a lifetime cow herself: her tendency to sort against
to optimize feeding strategies in a tar- small particles in her feed contributes
geted and result-oriented manner. to an unbalanced diet, which in turn has
a negative impact on the pH level in the
Good feed mix: rumen. Here, too, frequent feeding is a
optimized dosed rations successful countermeasure, as it verifi-
ably reduces variations in the pH value
down to the gram during the day.
Measuring out fodder is surprisingly Secure nutrient supply also
easy in the feed kitchen. Depending on
the size of an operation and the number for subordinate animals
of animals needing to be fed, space-sav- The last in line only get the leftovers:
ing bunkers for basic feed types as well Heifers are the cows of the future. The this often applies when feed is conven-
as containers for minerals are installed. way they are fed improves not only their
well-being, but has a direct influence on tionally distributed on the feeding table.
their lifelong productivity. To support Since the nutritional value of the ingre-
growth in the best possible way, GEA has dients begins to deteriorate as soon as
developed automated feeding systems, feed is distributed, low ranking cows,
where even small batches can easily who are initially denied access to the
be mixed and distributed according to feeding table, can maintain neither their
plan. The latest research shows that heif- feed and nutrient intake nor milk pro-
ers that were fed according to a precise duction to the full extent. The common
feeding plan grew faster. In addition, practice of pushing the feed forward
they calved significantly earlier than may provide all cows with access to it,
in the conventionally fed control group but cannot guarantee the uniform qual-
The recipes, selected feed types and (22.2 compared to 24.6 months). Mean- ity of the feed mix. When animals are
fed more often, they distribute their feed
desired quantities can be conveniently while, the costs for rations as well as feed intake more evenly throughout the day.
entered into the WIC System. Weighing and supplements were nearly identical At the same time, the movement profile
and mixing take place automatically in in both groups. Thanks to the earlier age of lower ranking cows reveals that when
the stationary mixer or directly in the at first calving and the increased willing- they get equal access to the feeding ta-
feed wagon. And while the feed wagon ness to perform over the animal’s entire ble, they are better fed with all the nec-
provides the selected animal groups life cycle, an investment in the automat- essary nutrients. The otherwise labor-in-
with individual, freshly prepared rations ed feeding system pays off. The addi- tensive processes of weighing, mixing
at predetermined times, current milking tional time required for preparing and and distributing can conveniently be
results can be checked against the feed- distributing smaller rations is taken on carried out by the automated feeding
ing strategy. Precisely these valuable by the system. system. All programmed tasks are taken
conclusions help dairy farmers achieve care of on time, precisely according to
short- and long-term goals. Because re- Better feed intake through plan.
sults can be replicated, producers are frequent feeding
able to continually optimize the feeding
strategy. Feeding that is efficient for the farmer
also helps cows absorb nutrients better
More animal groups, better for their own energy balance. In a cow’s
feed supply, less work stomach, there are millions of active bac-
teria that support the digestion of plant
It’s clear that individual feed mixes de- fibers. Because microorganisms cannot
signed to suit a cow’s nutritional needs adapt very well, they need a relative-
will best support its performance. In ly stable environment to carry out their
conventional feeding systems, howev- tasks. The ideal pH level for a good feed
er, dividing animals into performance conversion is at 5.5 – 6. An efficient meth-
Circle 22 on enquiry card
Vol. 36 No. 9 19