Cow intakes on self locking yokes

[Parkdairy]

We are looking at installing self locking yokes for our dairy cows. We currently have just a rail which they reach under to eat from a central passage. Our concern is the cows won’t be able to reach as far and this could restrict intakes, has anyone had this problem? So you need to push the silage up more often with jokes ? I would be very grateful to hear anyone’s experience. Thanks

 

[upnortheast]

Got 40 foot of self locking yokes in the straw pen which are very useful for PD, AI & other handling jobs.
Rest of the shed is single head rail.

Don`t consider the issues you describe to be a problem.

 

[Wesley]

There’s no real excuse for cows to have to stretch to reach silage whatever system you have. It should be kept pushed up if you want to maximise intakes. You can angle yokes forward slightly which would probably help.

 

[More to life]

Been on several farms that have taken them out to increase intakes.

 

[Conrod96]

We’ve 2 long runs of yokes and the rest of the shed is just a rail they definitely eat more in the straight rail but don’t think it should be an issue

 

[Parkdairy]

Been on several farms that have taken them out to increase intakes.

 

[Ducati899]

We had a section of yokes and then straight rails in rest of shed,took them out as was noticeable that cows favoured the straight rail over the yokes

 

[Horn&corn]

We have 60’ of headlocks for vet visits and the rest bar. Cows eat significantly less in headlock section. I’d be reluctant to change to all headlocks

 

[Wesley]

Totally dependant on this years silage but I’d like to think we’d be knocking on the door of producing 12k litres/cow by the end of the year (currently 11.5, 11.7k last autumn). 100% through yokes, so intakes can’t be that bad through them. Certainly wouldn’t take them out.

 

[Parkdairy]

Has anyone got all head locks for a dairy herd ?

 

[Parkdairy]

Totally dependant on this years silage but I’d like to think we’d be knocking on the door of producing 12k litres/cow by the end of the year (currently 11.5, 11.7k last autumn). 100% through yokes, so intakes can’t be that bad through them. Certainly wouldn’t take them out.

That’s very interesting, thanks. Which ones do you have ? Can I ask how many cows?

 

[More to life]

Totally dependant on this years silage but I’d like to think we’d be knocking on the door of producing 12k litres/cow by the end of the year (currently 11.5, 11.7k last autumn). 100% through yokes, so intakes can’t be that bad through them. Certainly wouldn’t take them out.

Well even at 12k they could be holding you back.

 

[Wesley]

Well even at 12k they could be holding you back.

I was waiting for someone to say that…
Intakes are no less than when they came from a shed with a single rail so If silage is in front of them & they want to eat then I imagine they’ll eat

 

[More to life]

I was waiting for someone to say that…
Intakes are no less than when they came from a shed with a single rail so If silage is in front of them & they want to eat then I imagine they’ll eat

So yields have increased but intakes haven't

 

[Wesley]

That’s very interesting, thanks. Which ones do you have ? Can I ask how many cows?

Jourdain. 2 robots so anything up to 125 cows. They do need more space to get all the cows in compared to a rail. @Forever Fendt was always the man for a very competitive price on them.

 

[dinderleat]

Think the issue is if they have a choice so will always favour a straight bar as opposed to locking yokes

 

[Ducati899]

Well even at 12k they could be holding you back.

Imagine if they had the choice of eating at straight rail as well,be cuffing them bots

 

[Wesley]

Think the issue is if they have a choice so will always favour a straight bar as opposed to locking yokes

I wouldn’t argue with that. But if there isn’t a choice I’m not sure it would make them eat less. I have to put more silage nearer the exit of the robots as they eat more there than the other end of the shed. There seems to be lots of things that influence it.
We have all locking yokes as its our handling system so we disturb the cows as little as possible.

 

[dinderleat]

I wouldn’t argue with that. But if there isn’t a choice I’m not sure it would make them eat less. I have to put more silage nearer the exit of the robots as they eat more there than the other end of the shed. There seems to be lots of things that influence it.
We have all locking yokes as its our handling system so we disturb the cows as little as possible.

Any restriction is bound to reduce intakes but probably only marginally, no different to having a Juno pushing up every hour it all ads up.

 

[TheRanger]

We have 60’ of headlocks for vet visits and the rest bar. Cows eat significantly less in headlock section. I’d be reluctant to change to all headlocks

Surely that’s because they have a choice? All headlocks and they wouldn't have that choice?