dairy day robotic calf feeder presentation

Dairy Day GBFW 14

Robotic Calf Feeding Panel

Participants:

• Henk Pastink, Henria Holsteins Inc.

• Jan Prehn, Prehnbrook Farms LTD.

• Neil Anderson, OMAF & MRA

Dairy Day GBFW 14

Robotic Calf Feeding PanelHenk Pastink, Henria Holsteins Inc.

Dairy Day GBFW 14


• Milking 600 holsteins in a 50 stall

rotary parlour

• 3000 acres - mainly corn silage,

alfalfa, cobmeal, hay and some

mixed grain

Henk Pastink, Henria Holsteins Inc.

Dairy Day GBFW 14


Dairy Day GBFW 14


• 180 calves being fed on robotic

calf feeding system plus 120 older

calves trough feeding

• Using robotic feeding system for 3

years, 6 forester CF1000s


Dairy Day GBFW 14


http://www.greyagservices.ca:2095/cpsess6759133622/horde/imp/message.php?mailbox=INBOX&index=26874


Dairy Day GBFW 14


Dairy Day GBFW 14


• Feeding whole milk in single pens

6L per day

• Calves stay in single pens for two or

three days... When drinking well,

they move to the robotic feeders


Dairy Day GBFW 14


• First calves enter the training pen

with five calves per pen. They are

housed in this pen for four or five

days before moving on to the larger

group pens of twenty calves per pen


Dairy Day GBFW 14


Dairy Day GBFW 14


• Calves in the training pen can

receive up to eight liters per day and

calves in the larger group pens can

receive up to twelve liters per day

Dairy Day GBFW 14


• Calves are not being weaned on the

robotic feeders but rather being moved

to pens with troughs for milk. This

occurs at about 7 or 8 weeks of

age. Heifer calves get weaned at

three months of age and bull calves at

four months of age (at which time the

bulls go to market).

Dairy Day GBFW 14




Dairy Day GBFW 14



• Calves stay in the same pen while

at the robotic feeders. After being

moved to the troughs, they get split

up between heifers and bulls.

• Heifer calves receive free choice hay

after eight weeks and go on silage

after three months.

Dairy Day GBFW 14



• Pelleted starter is provided free choice

at 22% protein and aureomycin is

added. This is fed until three months

of age

Dairy Day GBFW 14


• Started with eight litres per calf per

day and are now feeding twelve

liters per calf per day. Through this

change, they have seen stronger

growth

Changes Implemented:

Prehnbrook

Farms

•Calf

Feeding

Located at Amberley

Partnership with brother

Nephew coming into operation

Milking 235, 3X with a total of 270

Cropping 930 acres with some

cash crops

Calf Feeding

New barn built in 2011, 40x60,

12 foot ceiling

Calf Feeding

Main Reasons for Robotic Feeding

Labour saving, more

comfortable for staff

More consistent feeding of

milk, water and grain

Calf Feeding


Being able to feed more milk,

up to 11.2 liters per day

With bottles could only do 6

liters, and pail feeding is

usually inconsistent

Calf Feeding


Less stress at weaning, while

simultaneously increasing

starter intake

Quieter and happier calves

Faster growth with less labour

Calf Feeding

Calf Feeding

Young Calf Group

Calf Feeding

Starting Calves

Minimum of 6 liters of

colostrum in first 24 hours,

drenched only

Moved to hutches in 24 hours

Calf Feeding

Starting Calves

Then receive milk replacer

for 8 days until drinking well

from bottle

3L twice daily, access to

water from pail

Calf Feeding

Moving to Barn

Once drinking well, calves

get moved into younger group

Show them where the nipple

is and have them drink

Some take on real well while

others can take up to 3 days

to teach

Calf Feeding

Moving to Barn

Let them be hungry and do

not force them in more than 2x

daily

If led to feeder too often,

calves will wait for people to

come

Calf Feeding

Almost Weaned Group

Calf Feeding

Feeding Program

Replacer is acidified, 26%

protein with min of 26% protein

from milk source

18% fat

Free choice starter 20% protein

No hay, straw in bedding

Calf Feeding

Holm& LaueCalf Feeding

Mixing chamber, with options to

add powder and liquid additives

Calf Feeding

Info ScreenCalf Feeding

Feeding Program Start

Calf Feeding

Daily Info Screen

Calf Feeding

Weaning MenuCalf Feeding

Challenges -Disadvantages

Had problems getting good

intakes with non acidified milk

replacers, some scours

Ventilation has no room for

errors, needs draft free and

fresh air at all times

Calf Feeding

Calf Feeding

dairy day robotic calf feeder presentation

Education

larger group

calf feeding

calf feeding

robotic feeding

robotic feeders

henria holsteins

henk pastink

training pen