Targeting feed efficiency for robots
Using a molasses-based liquid feed can increase the efficiency of robotic milking systems, according to a major new trial.
Robotic milking systems continue to grow in popularity bringing a number of benefits including reduced reliance on labour and improved animal welfare. To ensure an adequate return on investment it is vital that efficiency of usage is optimised.
“The ultimate measure of efficiency of robotic milking systems is milk yield per robot per day,” comments Dr Phil Holder from molasses-based blends specialists ED&F Man. “This in turn is a function of milk yield per cow and visits per cow per day. Cows need to be encouraged to make several visits per day with a minimal number of wasted visits.
“Feed has a major influence over visit frequency, with systems usually based on a lower level of TMR and feeding to yield through the robot to drive cows to visit more often.
Offering different compounds and varying feed formulation have been shown to increase efficiency. Now a new trial has demonstrated that including a high-energy molasses-blend as one of the concentrates can positively influence both yield and visit frequency.”
“Feed has a major influence over visit frequency, with systems usually based on a lower level of TMR and feeding to yield through the robot to drive cows to visit more often”
A survey of feed advisors showed that the use of liquid feeds in robots is dominated by high-cost glycerine-based products, but molasses-based blends specifically formulated for robotic systems can provide a more cost-effective alternative. Dr Holder suggests a liquid feed can provide more than just energy and can help encourage more traffic through the robot.
Robomol is a high-energy multienergy source molasses blend from ED&F Man specifically formulated for use in robotic milking systems which will help drive visit frequency to increase milk yields.
Developed in conjunction with nutritionists and robot users, it is easy to handle and will pass easily through any robot filters. A cost-effective source of sugars containing over 40% sugars in the dry matter, palatability is further improved through the addition of a banana flavouring.
The sugars help stimulate rumen function and microbial protein production, essential for productive cows. The inclusion of multiple sources of glucose precursors provides the high levels of energy essential for fresh cal- vers and high yielders in particular. Typical feed rates are 0.5-i.okg/day.
“Every farm faces different challenges when looking to increase efficiency of robotic milking, and for this reason we carried out a major farm study in the UK overseen by independent nutritionist Dr Sophie Parker- Norman, from Big Sky Technical Consultancy, and the results were presented at the recent British Society for Animal Science (BSAS) conference.”
The trials were conducted on six farms using robotic milking systems, running for six months. In total there were 1300 cows on the trial and each herd used the product for at least 90 days, generating over 150,000 data points.
“Across all farms, the average increase in milk yield was around 2 litres per cow per day”
Sophie comments that his level of data would have been nearly impossible to gather using traditional methods, and Robomol is the only such product supported by independent published trial work.
“One of the great strengths of robotic systems is the volume of consistent, real-time data you can collect,” Phil says. “It’s not just about whether a product ‘works’ or not. The real value is in asking where it works and why. That’s where the insights lie.
“Each farm presented different challenges – some were understocked, others overstocked. Some had excellent rumination and visit numbers, others struggled with cow traffic and visit frequency. These variances proved critical in understanding where RoboMol made the biggest difference.”
Across all farms, the average increase in milk yield was around 2 litres per cow per day, but there were variations between farms. On farms with high stocking rates and low robot visits, the product had the biggest impact on the lower-yielding cows where there was an increase in milking numbers, improved rumination time, and a lift in overall herd average milk yield.
Feeding sugars like those in RoboMol can support a healthier rumen environment, in turn leading to better digestion and energy availability, which is especially critical in cows that are underperforming.
In herds on the trial which were already achieving good robot access and rumination time, RoboMol boosted the top performers. There was an increase in eating time and a reduction in refusal numbers which is when cows go into the robot and get refused for visiting too soon.
If milking frequency is still adequate, then fewer refusals is a good thing – as those cows are the ‘time wasters’ which drive down robot efficiency.
“The trial shows that in addition to being a sugar source, Robomol is also a management tool for robotic systems. Depending on a farm’s bottlenecks, RoboMol can work in different ways, either supporting the top end cows, or by lifting the bottom end where visit numbers and rumination are limiting yield
“Incorporating Robomol, which can be easily fed through any robotic milking system, will help improve the ROI on the milking system and deliver an ROI of 4.5:1 on the feed itself.”
