Breaking Down No-Feed Practices in VMS Operations
DeLaval has experienced the elimination of feed for cows in rotary and parlor systems over the years, and now the company has seen operations using no-feed practices in DeLaval VMS™ robotic facilities, too.
Interest in this new management strategy is rising. Producers and industry leaders are curious about how a no-feed approach in the VMS robot can be done. DeLaval wants to ensure that farms who are looking to introduce this feed strategy are fully aware of what it entails for their operation, management routine and herd. Of course, robots are only intended for certain dairy farm management styles, and, therefore, so is the ability to have no feed in the robot.
To successfully have no feed in the robot, DeLaval has deemed these main factors as necessary:
- Guided traffic –The barn must be set up as a guided-flow traffic system to ensure cows are going to the robots based on the milking permissions that are set. This will ensure the cows are arriving in the robot area and getting milked at the appropriate time, based on the stage of lactation and production.
- Cow training protocol – New cows entering the robot facility (fresh heifers or cows that have previously been fed in robots) must be on a training program where the operator brings the cow to the commitment pen and through the robot at a minimum of three times a day for two full days or until the cow is comfortable doing this routine on her own.
- Feed quality in TMR – While the quality of feed is important in any robot barn, it is critical to have a high-energy TMR in a no-feed VMS operation to encourage the cow to eat from the bunk. Her desire to eat from the feed bunk is what will drive her to voluntarily go through the robots and get milked.
- Farm commitment – The farm, their staff and their consultants must be fully committed to all the protocols, procedures and changes needed to ensure this feed management strategy will be organized and well-executed. The farm must be committed to training cows to go to the robot commitment area, which may require additional fetching of cows during certain points of the day. The feed consultants and farm’s decision-makers must align on the plan to make high-quality and nutritionally balanced forages for the TMR.
DeLaval understands this new feed management strategy sounds exciting; however, we must clarify that a no-feed strategy is not for every farm. If you have any questions regarding how this could work on your farm, please contact the DeLaval team to evaluate your farm’s goals for a no-feed strategy with VMS robots. We can work with you and your nutritionists to identify opportunities and challenges, and help you develop on-farm protocols for this setup.