Good lighting will lead to some increase in nighttime use but likely will not increase usage to daytime levels. Table II gives the maximum number of cows per feeding station as a function of expected feed intake per cow and number of feeding intervals daily. Maximum number of cows per feeding station. Not considered realistic or practical use of system. No allowance is made for time feeders are inaccessible to cows due to cleaning of stalls, maintenance, manure removal, etc.
Table assumes two minutes required per cycle for one cow to exit and another cow to enter stall.
All times rounded up to nearest minute. Cow numbers rounded down to nearest whole number. An efficient method of using the computer feeder is in combination with a bunk-fed total mixed ration, or bunk mix. Cows producing more milk are given computer neck tags so they can obtain additional grain. The rations formulated for use in the computer feeder station are designed for higher milk production by balancing them with the nutrients supplied to the cow in the bunk mix.