Following some initial teething problems with the system, Steve began working with ForFarmers’ robotic milking specialist Clive Slawson, in August 2021, to make sure cow health and nutrition was supporting the business’ aim to improve herd health and higher margins. The herd is fed a ration comprising grass and maize silage, plus a forage-balancing blend, which supplies maintenance plus 27 litres. Milkers are also fed a specific ForFarmers robot ration, through the robot.
“Steve’s cows have high genetic milk yield potential,” says Clive. “The diet must keep up with them and they must be fed a carefully balanced and consistent ration. In robotic milking systems, feeding is crucial to success. If any part of the ration is not balanced, the cows will vote with their feet and choose not to go to the robot to be milked.”
“The basal ration must meet the nutritional requirements of high-yielding cows,” he adds. “Then you can formulate a ration for the robot, which meets the nutritional requirement per litre. This creates a strong foundation, allowing each building block of feed to add to the 60-litre yields the cows are achieving, without compromising on cow health and fertility.” Careful analysis of the data provided by the robots can help to spot any potential issues earlier, and allows time to address them quickly and before they become bigger problems.
“We pay particular attention to outlying cows, which are not keeping up with the rest of the herd,” Clive says. “Looking closely at individual cows who are not performing, as well as the rest of the herd, and addressing any issues improves overall efficiency.”