What Cows are Telling Us at the Feed Bunks

Time-lapse cameras help us see patterns in the following areas:

• Consistent feeding time
• TMR distribution along the bunk
• Weighed versus estimated push outs
• Consistent bunk adjustments
• Push out target levels
• Lessons learned from time-lapse cameras
• Takeaway message

These continuous time-lapse video records emphasize the need for every management system to set goals to help guide the feeding team and those who advise the dairy. Meeting these feed bunk management goals helps ensure that every cow in the pen gets the same nutrition by:

• Reducing the variation in feed bunk adjustments
• Determining the most profitable level of push-out
• Awareness that target push-out levels may be different according to…
• Varying stages of lactation
• rBst cycle
• Weather patterns and season of the year
• Management skills and abilities

To read the full article on time-lapse cameras, click here.