Adaptation of automatic feeding systems for dairy cows

Abstract

Automatic systems for the feeding and milking of dairy cows are being developed. Research is being carried out into the optimal development of these systems from the cow's point of view. Experiments have been performed where automatic systems for concentrate feeding serve as models for automatic feeding or milking systems. The influence of automatic systems on the daily rhythm and activity of the cows is being investigated. Both the pattern of concentrate distribution and the amount of concentrates delivered per visit can be varied by manipulating the computer program for the distribution of the concentrates. A preliminary analysis of the results of this experiment has revealed that cows respond immediately to those changes in the concentrate feeding system which affect their concentrate intake during the day. The cows took longer to adapt to changes in the feeding system affecting their intake during the night. Surprisingly, changes in the number of visits and in time spent in the concentrate feeding station did not influence the time spent lying or standing in the cubicles. The importance for the cows of understanding how the system functions was investigated by giving acoustic signals to individual cows. Five cows learned to visit the concentrate feeding station after receiving an acoustic signal. In later experiments, the order in which the five cows received their signal was changed and also the time of day at which the signals were transmitted; the cows responded satisfactorily under those circumstances. Behaviour of Cows in Completely Automated Feeding Systems J. METZ and A.H. IPEMA Institute of Agricultural Engineering, P.O. Box 43, 6700 AA Wageningen (The Netherlands)