Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
I wouldn't worry about 'extra' visits as such, the main worry with robot visits, atlwast in my mind, is a lack of them, and surely guided systems just restrict that?
Do you zero graze ?Free access seems to be most popular and my view both work. Its a personal preference to have a guided system feed last. I don't know how quick certain robots are at rejecting cows if they have already been milked. I figured having a guided system the robot shouldn't need to reject cows as all that enter would be ready to milk. The other reason is the ability to segregate cows, whether for ai, pd or needing treatment. We feed fresh grass so i was concerned in a free access system that might take cows away from the robot.
Our experience of zg on robots was that its a very fine line between under and over feeding, we found we couldn't keep the cows clean and this led to one or two problems. We have now reverted back to full tmr.yes we zero graze
we cut back from four loads to two, getting a bit loose and difficult to find a balance plus hit the bf hardOur experience of zg on robots was that its a very fine line between under and over feeding, we found we couldn't keep the cows clean and this led to one or two problems. We have now reverted back to full tmr.
Not difficult to design a layout where the above can be sent into a holding pen as they leave the robots.The other reason is the ability to segregate cows, whether for ai, pd or needing treatment
From memory independent studies show on a housed free access system cows will visit the feed fence 12-14 times per 24 hrs . On controlled traffic this dropped to 5-6 times per 24hrs . Also cows needing fetching to robot twice a day was marginally higher on forced traffic .How many times on average would a cow get up to go and eat if she's passing the selection gates she enters the robot if she is due to be milked you could also set how often she is allowed in. Do you think a guided system would deter them from going to the feed passage once they know the system?
Is that information still available?From memory independent studies show on a housed free access system cows will visit the feed fence 12-14 times per 24 hrs . On controlled traffic this dropped to 5-6 times per 24hrs . Also cows needing fetching to robot twice a day was marginally higher on forced traffic .
What forced traffic will allow for though is feeding far more energy down the feed fence than most free access systems could get away with .
These studies were done some time ago though and if you were to dig far enough back through the 13 odd years of robot posts on the old forum you would find them posted
From memory independent studies show on a housed free access system cows will visit the feed fence 12-14 times per 24 hrs . On controlled traffic this dropped to 5-6 times per 24hrs . Also cows needing fetching to robot twice a day was marginally higher on forced traffic .
What forced traffic will allow for though is feeding far more energy down the feed fence than most free access systems could get away with .
These studies were done some time ago though and if you were to dig far enough back through the 13 odd years of robot posts on the old forum you would find them posted
Probably if you dig back through the old forum .Is that information still available?
Wonder how @Chippy is getting on with his now ??The biolectric slurry ad plant might be worth another look me thinks.
Not sure, I know one has been performing well on a robot farm at Leeds and a recent install at Cambridge is outperforming expectationsWonder how @Chippy is getting on with his now ??
I’d like to have a look at one now toWhat electric cost per litre are people aiming for at the moment ?
We are currently on a variable day/night tariff and looking at fixing is making my eyes water, looking at 2ppl for everything on farm.
The biolectric slurry ad plant might be worth another look me thinks.