Document Type
Conference Paper
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Proceedings of the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference 2026
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Publication Date
4-13-2026
Journal Article Version
Accepted Manuscript
First Page
1
Last Page
24
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Abstract
Adoption of automatic milking systems (AMS) in the US are expected to increase rapidly in the coming years driven primarily by a desire to improve labor efficiency and flexibility and decrease reliance on hired labor. As such, feeding and milking strategies to best optimize milk production and economic gains tailored to US dairy production systems are needed. Initially introduced as a method to encourage the cow to visit the AMS more frequently, offered feeds through the AMS provide an opportunity to individualize nutrient needs. Often, a pelleted concentrate is offered through the AMS due to its uniformity and customizable nature. Providing excess amounts of concentrate through the AMS is associated with increased day-to-day variation in consumed concentrate and/or a decrease in the partial mixed ration (PMR); thus, offering less concentrate through the AMS per day may prove to be a more economical strategy. Furthermore, the PMR is the foundation of every successful AMS nutrition program and remains the primary nutrient source for dairy cattle. As such, focusing on providing a PMR that supports rumen health through forage neutral detergent fiber requirements and quality forage to maximize nutrient-use efficiency is imperative. Offering a concentrate through the AMS that complements the PMR should be considered when developing individualized feeding strategies. Additional factors that influence feeding and milking strategies in an AMS include barn design, milking permissions, cow behavior, parity, cow health, labor, and stage of lactation. Further research is necessary to optimize production and economic returns in an AMS.
Recommended Citation
Kennedy, K. M., E. French, P. D. Ricks, and E. K. Lundgreen. 2026. Feeding Strategies and Milking Behavior in Robotic Milking Systems. Proceedings of the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Fort Wayne, IN.
Comments
The version archived here is the author's manuscript. A revised version was published in the Proceedings of the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference (2026).