Robots are going to the cows – dairy cows, that is. Lely recently introduced its first Vector automated feeding system on U.S. soils during an open house at Westview Farm, Peach Bottom, Pa.
While the 180-cow dairy owned by Galen Nolt and family has a new freestall barn equipped with three robotic milkers, the main attraction to dairy farmers was the automated feeding system. Without human intervention, the Vector builds fresh total mixed rations in up to 1,200-pound batches via centralized controls in the feed room. Then it follows a guidance system to the barns to deliver up to 14 batches in 24 hours.
IMPRESSED: "I went up to Canada [to see it]," says Nolt, "and loved what I saw – the way the cows responded to it. It motivates them to eat feed."
One big advantage of the Vector is that it gives you more time in the day to do other work, says Nolt. "Before this, we were mixing feed probably at least four hours a day. Now, we don't worry about that. It [the Vector] does it 24 hours a day."
System details
One Vector can handle up to 240 cows, according to Rich Peters, Lely Vector sales representative. Two Vectors can be put on one control system.
Sensors on the mobile Vector can "sense" feed left in front of the cows, push remaining feed up, and knows if it has to deliver fresh TMR or move on. Come winter, those same brushes that push feed up can clear snow on its path between the feed room and the barns,
At Westview, all feed ingredients are mixed from upright silos. Where bunker silage or bales are used, a "feed kitchen" is needed. It's a separate staging area where feed types are stored and a feed grabber is programmed to select and load ingredients into the robot.
FRESH FOOD: With the robot delivering fresh feed numerous times a day, cows come to the table to eat more frequently. Less feed is wasted.
The Vector robot feed delivery system costs about $150,000. A feed kitchen raises the total to about $250,000. For more details, contact Lely at 1-866-535-9872, or visit www.lely.com.
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