The use of computers in dairy cattle menagement has so far been concentrated on the very important area of feeding, because the animal yield and thus the profitability of this form activity can be directly influenced by safeguarding a nutrient supply designed to meet requirements. Although oll dairy cattle rations are based on an adequate supply of high-quality basic feed, economic and nutrition physiology reasons dictate that the mein emphasis is on the concentrate in feed distribution. Hence the development of computer-controlled feeding techniques was chiefly concerned with the concentrate supply. Meanwhile automatic "on demend" systems for loose housing have been introduced on a wide scale, whereas the likewise available automatic metering systems for the tying stall are used only occasionally. To evaluate the computer-controlled feeding techniques, Landtechnik Weihenstephan conducted many investigations of individual farms and a survey of the use of autometic "on demand" systems in the Federal Republic of Germeny. From the approximately 1000 systems in service at the end of 1980 about 355 usable survey results were obtained for evaluation. The important criteria for evaluation of the "on demend" systems are eating behaviour, the accuracy of feed distribution, operational reliability, handling by the farmer and finally the effect on animal yield.     «

The use of computers in dairy cattle menagement has so far been concentrated on the very important area of feeding, because the animal yield and thus the profitability of this form activity can be directly influenced by safeguarding a nutrient supply designed to meet requirements. Although oll dairy cattle rations are based on an adequate supply of high-quality basic feed, economic and nutrition physiology reasons dictate that the mein emphasis is on the concentrate in feed distribution. Hence t...     »