Well, due to some sudden changes around here last August, we desperately needed to cut down on the amount of feed we were buying. So we implemented the plan that had been in our minds since we started milking. To get the feed outside the barn and cut down on waste. Also intended to cut back on how much each cow ate, and that was not possible with our current set-up.
So we put in extra gates to give us two holding areas outside the cow exiting door:
The first is for holding two sets while the two sets before them eat. The second is for keeping the cows who already ate, from coming back up the lane to sneak more from the next set. Several of the Holstiens have very devious minds....
Then we put in concrete feed bunks with enough room to feed 8 cows at a time. We would prefer to feed 12 at a time, but we really don't have the room for that.
Then we built a feed bin so that the feed was readily accessable outside and no longer delivered to the barn loft. Partly finished in this pic.
Then we put all this into effect. After milking that morning, we cleaned every bit of feed out of the barn feeders(the loft was already empty),and set up for that night. The first night it was a little rowdy. The cows came in expecting grain so that was no problem. When they didn't get grain, a few got shovy and ill-mannered. They got a thwack on the shoulder and they mostly settled down. Lots of "nervous cow poops" resulted from the changes happening. Lots of rolling bovine eyes and snorting.....but they were mostly well-behaved. When they were fed outside it was with a "well, finally" look that they dug in.
The second milking with no grain was THE PITS. No cow would come into the parlour and some ran away to the other end of the holding pen. Those cow huddles are really hard to break up. Put with persistance and calming words(and a few not so calming words, I'll admit), we got the milking done. This went on for several days, but they gradually got better and better. After two weeks they knew what to expect and just stood there to be milked and chewed their cuds the whole time. Now, 3 months later, it goes like clockwork. The cows are calmer than they were before the change from feeding inside to feeding outside, not having eating to worry about, they just stroll in and chew cud. There is almost 0 cow crapping in the barn(one old cow thinks its her right but what can ya do?), there is no shoving for grain, there is no grain wastage on the floor. The barn smells fresher, the mice population is not the control issue it used to be. With no feed in the barn, there is nothing for the mice to be attracted too. Outside the mice run the risk of the farm cats.....I haven't seen a single mouse in the feed bin.
We are able to feed 5 lbs per head per milking, all are doing well on that and the corn silage they are fed out on the lot. No one seems to be getting less than their share of feed in the bunk feeders. That was a concern for me, but all seem to be holding their own.
All-in-all it was a great change!
Calm in the barn, knowing the feed comes later:
Calm eating after milking.
By the way, the bull in that pic is now 8 years old and still calm. Oldest Jersey bull we've ever had. I'm prepared for him to need to go anytime......and have been for several years now.
LOL
