Automatic Feeding System: Evaluation of energy consumption and labour requirement in north-east Italy dairy farm

Feeding operations in dairy cow farms are of strategic importance for the economy of the farm. In addition to being strictly related to the productivity of the cows, feeding represents one of the greater costs for farms, considering that more than 25 % of labour time is dedicated to this operation. In a context characterized by the need for maintaining high production standards and of decreasing the costs, the adoption of automated systems for the preparation and distribution of the total mixed ration (TMR) can represent a valid solution, especially in specialized farms. Automatic Feeding Systems (AFS) allow for the increase in frequency of feed distribution with a consequent optimization of dry matter ingestion by the animals, and simultaneously, assist with maintaining a higher stability of ruminal pH along with significant advantages in terms of health and production. Furthermore, they provide a reduction of man labour related to preparation of feed, distribution, and to propel the ration closer to the feeding rack. The present research was focused on monitoring of a dairy farm, located in the Veneto region of Italy, during the transition from a conventional feeding system (CFS), represented by a tractor-operated mixing wagon, to an automatic system equipped with stationary feeding hoppers, a mixing unit and distribution wagon operating on rail. The paper reports a comparative analysis of the functionality of the two systems, including energy consumption and man labor, for preparation and distribution of the TMR. Despite the initial capital investment and maintenance, expenditures have not been taken into account in this study, AFS represent an innovative way to reduce the labour requirements and the improve quality and consistency of work when feeding TMR. In particular, labour was reduced from 2.5 h·day-1 related to the CFS to 1.02 h·day-1 needed for the management of the AFS. The AFS also demonstrated, to be of interest, with regard to an economic point of view, reducing the costs for preparation and distribution of the TMR. The CFS, in fact, showed a cost of 1.44 EUR·m-3 and 0.16 EUR·cow-1 per day, and the consumption of energy of 24.66 kWh·m-3 and 2.74 kWh·cow-1 per day, while the AFS revealed a cost of 0.91 EUR·m-3 of TMR and 0.10 EUR·cow-1 per day, and the specific energy consumption of 6.81 kWh·m-3 of TMR and 0.76 kWh·cow-1 per day