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Lely's new Vector robot automatically loads, mixes and feeds dairy cattle groups, pushes feed, even clears a snow path.

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

September 15, 2014

2 Min Read

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.

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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.

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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.

About the Author(s)

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

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