Bunk Management

Automated feeding benefits transition cows

dschreiner@lely.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Automated feeding systems support herd health and performance by delivering consistent, precise rations around the clock on dairies. It can also benefit more targeted feed groups like dry cows and transition heifers so that cows receive the right nutrients at the right time, supporting a stronger start to lactation.

What we’ve learned from 15 years of TMR audits

msattler@diamondv.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

TMR audits started from a single question: Why did dairies that just bought a new mixer see a bump in milk production? Today, it is a fundamental tool that helps us use our equipment and data more effectively and better support our people and cows. Curiosity and a willingness to feed cows better will continue to influence what comes next.

5 critical feed management areas to improve milk production efficiency

lkrentz@vitaplus.com — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Many feedbunk management factors should be regularly evaluated by farm managers and consultants. The goal is to provide adequate amounts of a uniform ration that all cows can access whenever they access the feedbunk.

Measure It to Manage It: Feed efficiency data improves culling and breeding decisions

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:20:19 -0400

When Ryzebol Dairy purchased a feed efficiency service from Afimilk, its goal was to identify cows not only producing more milk but also converting feed into milk well. The service determines each animal’s feed consumption efficiency based on data that represents the relationship between daily average milk yield and daily average feed consumption. It indicates whether increasing the feed yields more milk.

California dairy farmer installs fully automated feed center

audrey@agproud.com — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It was dairy producer Danny Martins’ vision to design a fully automated feed center where he didn’t have to rely on multiple feeders and could instead entrust just one person.

Push your manure and feed management to automation

julie.johnson@gea.com — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

How does your dairy push feed and manure? Do you rely on a skid loader and an employee? Pushing these responsibilities to automation can save labor, fuel, and equipment wear and tear.

One size does not fit all: How Jerseys are not small Holsteins

kortega@jefo.com — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Jerseys have their own requirements and different nutritional challenges that we must consider when formulating rations.

Take me out to the robot

john@cow-corner.co — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Just as the line at the concession stand depends on what is happening on the baseball field, the line at the robot depends on what is happening in the barn.

Preparations for bunk stability

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A total mixed ration (TMR) diet has long been used to consistently offer a high-quality mix to ruminants. It allows farms to incorporate almost any ingredient into the diet consistently, safely removing much of the variation from one mouthful to the next.

Simple steps to improve milk and component yields through silage

hannah.tucker@novusint.com — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

There are three areas where consistency is necessary to optimize feed management: inventory, mixing of the total mixed ration (TMR) and the feedbunk.

The advantages of automated feed pushing for cows

jim.mattox@cowsultants.org — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:47:59 -0500

In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, robotic technology has found its way into various aspects of farming, including dairy production. Automated feed pushing systems have emerged as a revolutionary solution for improving feed management in dairy farms.

Nurturing your feed team: Four essential foundations for feeder excellence

tthayer@diamondv.com — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In the realm of dairy farming, a cow's daily routine plays a pivotal role in her well-being and productivity. Cows thrive on consistency, particularly when it comes to their dietary needs.

The power of residual feed intake in optimizing feed efficiency

alvaro@dellait.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The dairy industry is facing numerous challenges with a pressing need for sustainable practices that optimize resource utilization and improve profitability. Residual feed intake (RFI) provides a powerful tool for evaluating feed efficiency in dairy production.

Evaluate feeding strategies for the winter

jon.pretz@hubbardfeeds.com — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Automated feeding systems: A way to improve feeding and save labor?

sblez@verizon.net — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Smart feeding can lead to increased milk in robotic herds

jenn@agproud.com — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 08:43:52 -0400

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.

Create the five-star dining experience cows crave

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:18:36 -0400

There are five factors that influence a superb dining experience for cattle, including ration uniformity, feed availability, diet composition, cow comfort and other cow-related factors.

Considerations for sizing a TMR mixer

pletelier@vitaplus.com — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Silage and sustainability

meghan.gebhardt@silostop.com — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:58:51 -0400

Typical silage loss can run up to 20%. Using a product that is environmentally friendly and that prevents oxygen ingress cuts that loss in half.

Good face management leads to greater dry matter recovery and higher-quality silage

cmccary@vitaplus.com — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:13:35 -0400

Even when a farm does everything right prior to feedout, silage piles that are subjected to less-than-ideal face management have the potential for massive spoilage.

Reducing feed cost checklist

amelie_mainville@cargill.com — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Feed is expensive. The good news is: Successfully implementing feed management protocols can help to lower your feed cost. Feed management encompasses many aspects on a dairy, some of which can’t be controlled like weather, markets and supply chain.

Case study: Molasses-based DCAD leads to better TMR distribution and feedbunk management

kai.yuan@qlf.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 17:32:25 -0500

In this on-farm case study, two “bad TMR samples” that had substantial variations accidentally demonstrated the distribution benefit of molasses-based liquid DCAD product in TMR.

Feedbunk management: Access to uniformly mixed feed 24 hours a day

kimmo@novonesis.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

One very important management practice that may be the least expensive with the greatest potential return is proper feedbunk management.

Dairy farming back to the basics

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Farming equipment manufacturer Hustler Equipment recently released an innovative range of front-end loader and tractor attachments.

3 steps to reduce feed variation on your dairy

Joel.Pankowski@churchdwight.com — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 15:25:16 -0500

Dairy producers are in a continuous tug of war, trying to create consistency in an exceedingly inconsistent world. The goal is to create a steady environment for cows even as outside factors are destined to disrupt the calm.

[Podcast] Dry Matter Intake: The most important metric for herd performance

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:15:12 -0500

There are many metrics that help shine light on a dairy herd’s performance, but one metric that is often overlooked can speak volumes – Dry Matter Intake. In this podcast, we’ll explore the sometimes unseen impact of how much the cows eat can affect health and performance.

33 cents: The elephant of feed costs

pauldyk@gpsdairy.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

A dime, a nickel, maybe even a penny. Dairy producers and nutritionists go back and forth on cutting feed costs by fractions while optimizing milk production.

Feedbunk management: Ensuring enough feed for all cows

jrl65@cornell.edu — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Even when producers put up the right quality of feed for a class of cows, ensuring all cows have enough feed is a goal that has a few components to consider.

Winter feeding and management: Don’t let the cold freeze up your dairy’s progress this winter

tamilee.adolph@adm.com — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 20:09:11 -0500

Heat stress is a topic regularly addressed for dairy farms as it causes detrimental impacts each year. On the other end of the spectrum is cold stress, a subject that isn’t talked about as regularly but one that can still create some challenges for farms.

Assessing the true cost of TMR variability

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:17:47 -0400

Total mixed ration (TMR) variability: We know it exists, but evaluating the true extent and impact of this phenomenon can be a daunting task. Cows love consistency, so when looking at inherent TMR variability, we may often wonder about the impact on animal performance.