Frequent feeding
Introduction
Frequent feeding to improve health, fertility and milk yields
Regular, frequent feed pushing is important to keep your cows healthy. It encourages them to come to the feed fence more often and fill up their rumen again. Increasing your feed pushing frequency pays off – it stimulates frequent feed consumption throughout the day and night, resulting in a higher feed intake among your cows. This not only has a positive effect on animal health, but can improve fertility, production, and your financial results.
Fresh feed at all times for optimal rumination
Giving smaller quantities of feed more often means that cows always have access to fresh, tasty feed at the feed fence, and they have less opportunity to be selective over their feed. The ration cows eat is therefore more in line with what they need, including that for submissive cows. The latter can come to the fence to eat at their own time, without being chased away or having to eat feed left over by others which is less balanced. As a result, every cow receives sufficient nutrients for optimal feed ingestion and maximum production.
Benefits of flexible and frequent feeding
More frequent feeding also means flexible feeding: not at fixed intervals, but when necessary. When cows are grazing outside, the feeding will stop, and only resume when the animals come back in. This means that animals are fed as necessary, and the amount of residual food is reduced, both of which have a positive impact on your bottom line.
More frequent feeding leads to a stable pH level in the rumen and good rumen health. Feeding smaller portions means less selection. The ration eaten is balanced and reflects requirements. That is also good for stabilising the pH level, and helps cows get the most out of the feed they eat. This in turn improves health, fertility and production.
If cows only eat once or twice a day, they ingest a large amount of fodder, which decreases the pH level in the rumen considerably. This can result in subclinical rumen acidosis which damages the rumen wall.
Always having good feed within reach prevents unnecessary stretching of the neck, and the resulting pressure on front legs. In addition, there is less competition by the feed fence: animals lower in rank are no longer chased away, and no longer make sudden stressful movements with their front legs. Both these situations reduce the risk of hoof-related health problems.
More frequent feeding makes cows more active: they go to the feed fence more often, and ruminate more. If the system is combined with a Lely Astronaut, the number of visits to the milking robot, and milk production, can also increase.
Feeding
Frequent and precision feeding positively affects cow health and milk yield. Mixing the right ingredients with the right quantities and feeding at the right time requires knowledge, understanding, and time. Our products for automatic feeding are flexible and able to adapt to your circumstances while helping to save you time and provide the right feed at the right moment.