Evaluating Feeder Performance

Profile Picture of Post's Author Erin Mosley | Posted September 12, 2022

Feeders deliver feed every day. They handle the largest cost category of the daily production cost of the dairy. Both times of economic uncertainty and plenty require wise stewardship of feed usage. How do you go about evaluating your feeder performance? Do you know how accurately each ingredient is loaded? Is your feeder adequately monitoring weighback and target DM per head? It seems that the job of the feeder reaches much farther than just mixing the loads. Given this, it is important to routinely evaluate performance, communicate both positive observations as well as areas to be improved, and educate feeders on why and how to accurately deliver and manage feed.

Accuracy in loading individual ingredients as well as accurate delivery of rations to pens will impact overall ingredient utilization. Routinely evaluating these performance parameters will provide valuable information, such as which feeds may be problematic when loading or which feeders are more accurate when loading and unloading. Many times, data detailing how accurately feeders load feed to mix loads takes priority. However, accuracy in ration unloading should also be considered. Over delivery of feed to a pen will result in higher feed weighback which is equated to lost feed. On the other hand, not delivering adequate feed amounts could limit dry matter intake and thus have a negative impact on milk production. Additionally, how often are feeding targets adjusted? Are they on a DM per head basis, AsFed per load, feeding %? Do adjustments correspond to weather events, pen moves, or ration changes?

In monitoring feeder performance, it is important to know current performance parameters. Once a baseline of performance is established, then reasonable goals may be set to improve overall feeding performance. The raw data showing feeder loading performance is the target versus actual ingredient loading per load. Most feed programs offer standard reports that summarize these loading actions over time. Some programs only offer this data in AsFed values. I generally look at monthly feeder loading deviations, with a goal of < 30 lbs of DM per action. On farm evaluation of this data could be weekly or bi-weekly. I choose to monitor dry matter lbs because it is DM that the cows consume to drive production. Evaluating data on a DM basis is also a way to standardize the data across a variety of feed ingredients.

Data collection and evaluation just creates a bunch of numbers unless the data and your expectations are communicated to the feeder. Again, this communication should occur on a routine basis. Perhaps schedule a monthly or bi-weekly meeting to discuss performance data. Allow the feeder to ask questions and provide a response to the data. It is also important to explain what your expectations of performance are. Whatever you choose as your goals, make sure the feeder is educated as to why your goals are necessary. Consider providing continuing education opportunities to feeders to help them develop a better understanding of the feeding process. You may want to take advantage of online or other resources for basic feeder education. Another area to consider is the occurrence of procedural drift. Schedule routine times to reinforce your dairy’s standard operating procedures, even at the feeding center.

A feeder who is invested in the feeding process is invaluable! Your efforts to keep the feeder engaged in the process of feeding from start to finish will not only provide tools to improve feeder performance but may lead to increased employee satisfaction at the feeding center.

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