Lely

Dynamic feeding

Individual feed efficiency

Under current feeding practices, all animals in a herd/group are fed according to the average dry matter intake and milk yield of that herd/group. However, feed efficiency varies widely between cows and the economical results may strongly improve by optimally using these differences in feed efficiency.

Dynamic feeding uses the individual feed efficiency of an animal by recording how an animal responds in milk yield to a specific amount of concentrates. By also taking into account the milk return (kg of milk and solids), costs of concentrates, costs of roughages and dry matter intake, the system searches the economically optimal amount of concentrates fed at which profits are maximal (please refer to Figure 1).

Figure 1: Relationship between amount of concentrates and profits for a specific cow x

Development

The system and mathematical model (Dynamic Linear Model) for dynamic feeding was developed by Wageningen UR Livestock Research in cooperation with Lely Industries and Agrovision, an automating company in agriculture. Two feed companies have been using dynamic feeding over the past year through the system of Agrovision. However, the farmer’s data need to be transferred to a central computer, which performs the calculations. The main benefit of dynamic feeding through Lely is that all calculations are performed in T4C; it is independent of the feed company and the system takes the effect of concentrate intake into account.

Results of dynamic feeding

Lely research indicates a saving of € 90 per cow per year, mainly due to reduced concentrate intake (please refer to Figure 2a and b) and a better utilisation of roughage, without any adverse effects on animal health or fertility. For more information about the Lely research please refer to the leaflet. Click here for the download.

Figure 2a and b: Concentrate consumption per 100 kg of milk for control and DLM groups

Data of the Dutch feed companies ForFarmers and Agrifirm from 400 farms support our results, indicating a gain in profit of € 0,72 per 100 kg FPCM (please refer to Table 1). The increase is related to lower feed costs (better use of roughage and less concentrate intake) and a higher milk return (higher fat/protein %). On average, farms applying dynamic feeding feed 2.45 kg of concentrates/100 kg FPCM less than regular farms.

Table 1: Profits (milk return minus feed costs) of farms with dynamic feeding compared to regular farms (€/100 kg FPCM)

Adapted from ForFarmers and Agrifirm

Better general health and fertility

Overall health and fertility are not impacted, or even positively. Due to a slightly lower peak milk yield, negative energy balance is less severe, which is illustrated by a more stable weight curve throughout lactation and less variation in body condition. This results in a better fertility and general health. It is, however, crucial to feed a well balanced basic ration of good quality to ensure that cows can compensate a reduced concentrate intake by eating more at the feed fence.