In our freestall barns, the cows have constant access to food and water. Fresh food is put in front of the cows regularly throughout the day. Last fall, we began using a robotic feed pusher. The robotic feed pusher was really the beginning of our whole robotics journey.
Before we started using the robotic feed pusher, we used the skidsteer to push the feed up several times a day. When the cows eat they push the feed around, so a few times a day we need to push it back up to them so they can reach it. When a person was responsible for this, there was always maintenance attached. With a skidsteer, there is a lot to avoid hitting on all sides – big garage doors overhead and gates everywhere. Just a little tap can damage these things, which costs time and money.
Now, it’s all automatic. The feed pusher follows a computer program. In the program, we schedule when we want the feed pushed up and the route we want the feed pusher to take. It works off a laser, so the robotic feed pusher doesn’t need a track. When all of the feed is pushed up, it goes to the charging port and automatically charges.
It runs almost like a Roomba vacuum cleaner. You schedule it and it vacuums on a schedule. Technology really is amazing.
This is a video of the feed pusher working at MCD.