Inshed Feeding
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Dairy shed feeding systems are tools to deliver concentrated feed to cows during milking, supplementing their pasture-based diet. These systems offer flexibility in feeding, allowing different allocations for individual cows. The page guides you through planning the feeding system, including evaluating whether it's the right solution for your farm and selecting the correct system type. Consideration should be given to factors like the type of feed, how often it will change, the time for consumption, herd production, and labour requirements. Thoughtful planning ensures maximum returns and fits your farm's future goals.
Dairy shed feeding systems are designed to deliver concentrated feed during milking to supplement cows’ pasture based diet.
These systems have a low labour requirement and provide a lot of flexibility in the type, quantity, and timing of feed that can be included in a farm system. They can also be designed to provide different feed allocations to individual cows.
Planning the feeding system
Defining the feeding management needs of the farm is the first step in designing a suitable feeding system. Consideration should be given to cows’ potential eating rates of the selected feed and the quantity required. Herringbone dairies require the feed to be delivered to each bail position. This increases the complexity and cost of the equipment required.
NOTE: It is not advisable to implement a dairy feeding system for the primary purpose of improving cow flow. It is preferable to use good husbandry and dairy design to maximise cow flow rates at milking time. Although in dairy feeding can encourage cows into the dairy, it will always provide cows with a reason to delay their progress out of the dairy.
The benefits of spending time planning before installing a feeding system include:
- Deciding whether the installation of a feeding system is the right solution for the farm and whether there are the resources to run and maintain it is imperative before an investment is made.
- Choosing the correct system. There are many different types of feeding systems. Knowing how to choose the correct one will maximise the returns from investment.
A feeding system with individual feed bins
Before deciding on an appropriate feeding system consider the following points:
- Calving pattern – seasonal or split calving?
- What type of feeds will be fed through the system? e.g., Palm Kernel Expeller.
- What form will the feed be in - pellets or meal?
- How often will the feed type be changed?
- How much time will cows have to consume the feed?
- How will the feeding effect the entry and exit of each group of cows?
- Herd production level.
- Variations in individual cow milk production.
- Desire to maximise yield per hectare or per cow.
- Labour to operate the system at milking time.
- Labour and skill required to manage the system.
- Backup systems needed to cover down times and during electricity failures.
- Cost of the technology compared with the estimated financial return.
- Impact of feeding on cow health.
- Future goals of the farm and available budget.