Evaluation of a Mobile Computerized Grain Feeder for Lactating Cows Grazing Grass Pasture

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate a mobile computerized grain feeder for use to feed individually Holstein cows grazing grass pasture. Thirty-two Holstein cows averaging 95 d of lactation and 39.3 kg/d of milk were rotationally grazed on predominantly Dactylis glomerata pastures for 9 wk starting in early May. Cows were blocked according to parity, days of lactation, and milk yield. Cows were randomly assigned to a control group in which cows were individually fed grain twice daily at milking or to a group that was offered grain four times daily using a mobile grain feeder in the pasture. Cows in both groups were offered 1 kg of grain/3 kg of milk; pasture was the only source of forage. Cows fed using the mobile grain feeder consumed less grain than did control cows (9.3 vs. 11.3 kg/d) and tended to yield less milk, but with a higher fat content. A separate analysis was conducted using data from only those cows that were fed using the mobile grain feeder and that consumed, in four relatively equal amounts, at least 75% of the allotted grain of their respective pairmates ( 7 per group) in the control group. When cows that were using the mobile grain feeder consumed amounts of grain comparable with that of the controls, more frequent grain feeding did not alter milk yield or composition. Plasma samples (five per cow per treatment) were collected at 2-wk intervals to measure glucose, urea N, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). Plasma glucose and urea N were not affected by treatment and averaged 54.9 and 19.9 mg/ dl for all cows, respectively. Cows fed grain using the mobile feeder had higher (212.4 vs. 170.5 meq/L) concentrations of NEFA than did control cows, but, when cows consumed greater than 75% of their allotted grain from the mobile feeder, concentrations of NEFA were similar. The mobile grain feeder can be used to feed cows individually on pasture; however, adaptation of the cows to the mobile grain feeder appears to be important. ( Key words: grazing, grain supplementation, mobile grain feeder, lactating cows) Abbreviation key: BCS = body condition score, CF = computerized grain feeder, CGI = cumulative grain intake during a 24-h period, CI = consistency index, G6H = grain intake in a 6-h period, IVDMD = in vitro DM digestibility, PUN = plasma urea N, SP = soluble protein, TDMI = total DMI, TNC = total nonstructural carbohydrates.

Impact of increasing grain feeding frequency on production of dairy cows grazing pasture

“…Published responses to increased concentrate feeding frequency have yielded conflicting results, with Dalley (1998) reporting improvements, but no benefits were measured by Peyraud and Delaby (2001) or Hongerholt et al (1997). Hongerholt et al (1997) did not focus on maximizing pasture intake and a concentrate-based ration was available every 6 h, whereas Dalley (1998) offered concentrate at milking and 2 h after milking, at a time when most cows had completed grazing.…”

“…Hongerholt et al (1997) did not focus on maximizing pasture intake and a concentrate-based ration was available every 6 h, whereas Dalley (1998) offered concentrate at milking and 2 h after milking, at a time when most cows had completed grazing. The feeding regimen chosen by Dalley (1998) was designed to achieve some synchrony between nutrient supply from pasture and grain, with a 2.1 L response in milk production.…”

“…In this situation, the temporal pattern of supplement intake is fixed and the time required to consume the supplement does not impinge on grazing time (Gibb et al, 2002). An increase in the frequency of grain feeding from 2 to 4 times daily at 6 hour intervals for cows given an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L)/ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L)/smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L) pasture on a 2 day rotation (Hongerholt et al, 1997) did not improve production whereas Dalley (1998) demonstrated increases in milk production of up to 2.01 l/day with 8 kg concentrate a day when grain was fed in four rather two meals per day to cows grazing ryegrass. Dalley (1998) provided new pasture after each milking and the concentrate was fed at and 2 h after milking to minimize disruption to grazing and synchronize nutrient supply.…”

The effect of concentrate allocation on traffic and milk production of pasture-based cows milked by an automatic milking system

“…Grazing has several advantages with the most frequently cited ones including benefits for animal health (Burow et al, 2011) and for the environment (Peyraud and Delagarde, 2013) which are positively perceived by the consumers (De Olde et al, 2016). Including grazed pasture in cows' diet lowers milk production costs (Hongerholt et al, 1997;Dillon et al, 2005) in comparison with barn feeding, and increases the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cows' milk (Stockdale et al, 2003;Wales et al, 2009). Despite these advantages, combining grazing and AMS remains a challenge due to the lower milking frequency observed when cows are grazing (van Dooren et al, 2002;Spörndly and Wredle, 2005).…”

A Programmable, Multiple Supplement Cattle Feeder for Pasture Use

“…Although the system was not efficient enough to run without additional electrical power, Gardner et al (1995) concluded that photovoltaics could power such a feeder if redesigned for higher efficiency. Hongerholt et al (1997) used this system and showed that a mobile, computer-controlled concentrate feeder can successfully feed dairy cattle in a rotational grazing system. They found that the computer-controlled feeder led to less grain consumption with similar fat-corrected milk production.…”