Location: Dairy Forage Research
Project Number: 5090-31000-027-042-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2026
End Date: Jul 31, 2027
Objective:
The goal of this research study is to collect preliminary data to determine if dairy cows, Holsteins and Jerseys, can be offered a lower amount of pellets in automatic milking systems (AMS) at an earlier stage of lactation while maintaining expected milk production and to determine the economic implications. The implication of this research is that it could save producers money as they will not need to feed as many pellets to lactating dairy cows in an AMS system, particularly free flow farms.
Approach:
During the study, 24 cows (12 Holsteins and 12 Jerseys) will be on feed tables that are adjusted to 2 kg by reducing pellet offered by 25% at 120, 210, and 280 days in milk (control). Cows placed into feed intake gates for 6 weeks 1 week prior to start of ramp down through 1 week post ramp down. During this time, cows will be milking twice per day (physically brought up), and milk sampling will occur over two consecutive days for composition and fatty acid analysis. Weekly feed samples (PMR, pellets, and individual ingredients) will be collected, and wagon data for daily dry matter intakes will be collected. Prices of all ingredients will be collected for later economic evaluation based on intakes and milk production and composition.