As winter approaches in the U.S., there are measures dairy producers can take to prepare for the cold days and nights ahead. Categories to consider as the colder months get closer include housing, management and nutrition.

Over recent years, it has become obvious the dairy industry is showing increasing growth in the use of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as solutions to many challenges on the farm, particularly as related to labor demands.

Dairy producers have waited long enough for precision ag to acclimate to their unique and varied operations. While precision farming in row crops has enjoyed exceptional growth over the past 20 years, it’s been slower to take root in hay and forage.

Marcus Hollmann, a consultant based in Wisconsin; and Steve Mayo, a consultant assistant based in Idaho, both with Standard Dairy Consultants, use drones to help their dairy clients with feed management and completing TMR audits. 

There are a few areas on a farm that don’t receive as much attention by publications, consultants and even the dairy producers themselves that can have a dramatic impact on farm profitability. 

Precision feeding is not a new concept. However, with increases in technology and information available, the ability to achieve new levels of precision feeding is growing.

The year is 2015, and the philosophy for feeding a robotic milking herd is to feed limited energy at the bunks so the cows go to the robots for the remainder of their nutrient requirements; more energy available in the robot means more visits and ultimately more milk.

A typical dairy operation manages different animal types (from young heifers to lactating cows), intakes and rations characteristics, resulting in a wide range of feed load sizes.