Without feed, there’s no milk – every dairy farmer knows that. However, achieving higher milk yield involves more than just providing feed. By optimizing not only the feed itself but also the feeding patterns, you can significantly boost milk yield. Discover how to analyze feeding patterns, and what actions you can take.
As with any optimization, it starts with observation and analysis. Alta COW WATCH offers more than just daily alerts for heat and health. It also provides opportunities for deeper analysis, such as examining feeding patterns. This means you can extract more insights from the same data.
Why should I optimize herd eating patterns?
A consistent feed intake is crucial for good milk production. Cows need a constant supply of energy to produce milk, and the pH in the rumen must remain within a stable range for proper digestion1. Additionally, cows are creatures of habit and thrive on regular routines, which reduces stress. By ensuring that cows eat regularly and sufficiently, you can optimize milk production, health, and well-being of your cows.
What will I see in Alta COW WATCH?
The feeding pattern of all cows in a group is combined and displayed in a graph as a percentage of cows eating simultaneously (Figure 1). On a timeline, you can see the feeding pattern from the past 24 hours as a sharp dark blue line, with the pattern from the past ten days shown as a light blue shadow behind it. At a glance, you can tell whether the intake pattern is consistent daily (narrow range) or if it shifts slightly each day or time (wider bandwidth). Peaks indicate when many cows are eating at once, such as when fresh feed is provided or when feed is pushed up.
Figure 1: The Herd eating pattern shows when and what percentage of the herd is eating.
In this example, the graph shows that cows are milked three times a day (blue dots), as you see a drop in intake because the cows are in the parlor, but also a quick return back to feed afterwards. It also shows that cows don’t eat between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. This could mean that feed may not be available or accessible to the cows. Additionally, the shift in the circled high peak at the end of the timeline shows that yesterday, the cows were fed an hour later (sharp blue line) than on previous days (light blue shadow). With the historic data available in the interface it’s also possible to view trends over a longer period, allowing you to identify changes in the feed or seasonal variations.
Watch the video to discover the insights you can gain from feeding patterns on milk yield and more.
What can I do with this information?
This information allows you to adjust your farm’s protocols and monitor compliance: Are my feeding and milking times consistent every day? How often is the feed pushed up? Is fresh feed always available and accessible to the cows?
You can also detect abnormalities: Is there something wrong with the feed? Are the cows eating less due to heat stress or a change in the feed?
Cows are creatures of habit and prefer to eat at regular times. Due to the hierarchy within the group, not all cows may eat at the same time. The dominant cows may eat first when fresh feed is provided. Therefore, feed should always be available so that all cows have sufficient access. If at any point no cows are eating, it’s a clear sign that no feed is available, which you want to avoid.
If you have multiple locations, it is also possible to compare eating patterns between locations. Locations with a milking robot have a different, more even herd eating pattern than locations with fixed milking times. The latter shows more peaks and troughs in the percentage of cows eating at the same time. Insight into peak times can be used to evaluate the design of the barn, the amount of bunk space required for a pen and, where possible, adjust feed management accordingly.
When should I look at this information?
Of course, attention lists and work lists remain your most practical tools for daily tasks. However, for dairy farmers looking to further improve milk yield, Alta COW WATCH can help you fine-tune operations. Since you can see all historical data, you can schedule reviews at regular intervals such as weekly or monthly.
These insights for feeding patterns can also easily be provided to your feeding advisor or consultant. This applies to fertility or health analyses as well. You can easily grant external advisors, such as your nutritionist, veterinarian, or breeding specialist, access to Alta COW WATCH insights with the permissions you choose. This enhances the value of their advice, enabling you to work together as a team to optimize your dairy farm.
