Automatic vs. Conventional Feeding Systems in Robotic Milking Dairy Farms : a Survey in The Netherlands

Automatic feeding systems (AFS) for totally or partially mixed rations (TMR or PMR) are expected to stimulate cows’ activity and to promote visits to both the feeding devices and the automatic milking system (AMS). AFS’s have only recently been introduced in commercial dairy farms, and little experience with integration of these systems in the barns and management guidelines is available. The objective of this paper is to review the experiences of farmers that have applied AFS compared to those who utilize conventional feeding systems (CFS) in order to put in evidence the effects related to barn design and herd management. We conducted an in-person survey of 22 dairy farms in the Netherlands between December 2009 and February 2010. All farms milked automatically with one or more automatic milking boxes, 54.5% (n=12) fed their milking cows with an AFS and 45.5% (n=10) used a conventional feeding system. The farmers who fed with automatic feeding systems were positive about the management aspects of the relevant systems. The results with respect to the milk production were interesting but below expectations.