More frequent feeding and feed pushing really pays off. It stimulates frequent feed consumption throughout both day and night, resulting in an improved feed intake. This has a positive effect on animal health, fertility, production and on your finances.

The pH level in the rumen drops considerably if a large amount of quickly fermentable feed is ingested once or twice a day. This can cause subclinical rumen acidification, which damages the rumen wall. The forage can pass through the rumen too quickly, as the bacteria that ferment the raw fibre are inactive if the pH level is too low, resulting in poor digestion of roughage.

The ideal scenario is for cows to eat 10 to 14 smaller portions every 24 hours. This will maintain proper and stable pH levels, ensuring optimal fodder usage. Increasing both the feed frequency and feed pushing frequency will encourage cows to visit the feed fence more often. Offering smaller portions reduces the possibility of cows selecting feed, which also has a positive effect on pH stability in the rumen. In addition, it means more frequent consumption of fresh and tasty feed at the feed fence.

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Smart feeding works

Smart feeding works (English)

The basic principles of smart feeding

Customised rations for each group

Lactating cows have different nutritional requirements compared to dry cows and youngstock, and dry cows vary in their needs depending on their stage of progression. Ideally, a specific ration should be calculated for each group to achieve the best results. Automatic feeding makes it possible to load, mix and distribute small batches for small animal groups.

Ensure precise loading of the ration

Feeding a precise ration starts with the loading of the feed components. The more exactly they are weighed, the more accurately a group of cows can be fed. Through smart and specific software, automation makes it possible to load the correct weight per feed component very precisely. This ensures a well-constructed ration. Every day, regardless of how often you feed the cows.

Feed frequently and fresh

Frequent feeding leads to a stable pH level in the rumen and good rumen health. A cow gets more than half of its energy requirements from fatty acids left over from fermented carbohydrates. If the pH level in the rumen is low, these micro-organisms become ineffective. Multiple smaller meals per day keep pH levels stable, which means cows use the feed they eat more efficiently.

The results of smart feeding

Find your Lely Center

Curious how our solutions fit your farm? Get advice from your local Lely Center.

Our solutions for smart feeding

Lely Vector

Automatic feeding is ready for you

Increase the efficiency and profitability of your feed strategy by feeding your cows more often. More frequent feeding stimulates frequent eating day and night, which means cows ingest more fodder. This has a positive impact on animal health, fertility and production, and also benefits your bottom line.

Lely Juno

Increasing feed intake has never been easier

The Lely Juno takes over the repetitive work of pushing the feed multiple times a day. By pushing feed regularly, it is always within the cows’ reach. Every cow, even those lower in rank, can eat the roughage it needs for optimal rumen health and growth.

Lely Cosmix

Concentrate feeder for cows that deserve a little more

Higher milk yield, improved rumen health and efficient feeding: you get all of these with the Lely Cosmix. Every cow gets the portion of concentrate that it requires. Lely Horizon, our management platform provides insights into the concentrate intake and helps improve the health of your animals.

Lely Calm

For optimal growth and development from calf to dairy cow

Reduce the breeding period and stimulate the calf’s development into a strong, healthy and high-yielding cow with the Lely Calm. This automatic feeder supplies milk at the right temperature and provides insights into the milk intake of each calf.

Unequalled service

Even after your purchase, we continue to offer you help with optimising the production process.

We can help you make the transition to our barn concept by drawing up a finance plan.

Why our solutions?

Freedom of choice and well-being for yourself and your cows. Flexibility and well-being for yourself and your cows while at the same time producing high-quality milk. That is what our barn concept offers. From milking to feeding and from care to barn lighting.

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