How Often Should You Push Up Feed?

We all know what it feels like to be ‘hangry’ – that dreaded combination of being both hungry and irritable at the same time. But can cows experience that same feeling? If the feedbunk is left empty for too long, then the answer is probably yes.

As cows eat throughout the day, feed is pushed further from the bunk. This makes it more difficult for the animals to reach. To prevent this from happening, feed should be pushed toward the animals regularly.

“Pushing feed is perhaps the simplest and least expensive management strategy dairy operators can implement,” says Michal Lunak, extension educator for Pennsylvania State University. “It is one of the major management factors that explain the differences in milk production between dairy herds. [One study] found out that herds where feed was routinely pushed up produced on average over eight pounds milk more as opposed to herds that did not push feed.”

According to Lunak, feed should be pushed up 1 to 2 hours after its initial delivery. This is the time when cows are most competitive. From there, feed should be pushed up every 1 to 2 hours throughout both day and night. Cows should not go without feed for more than three hours.

“When a cow is without feed or when access to the feed bunk is restricted for 10 hours, usually during nighttime, dry matter intake (DMI) is reduced by 3.5 pounds per day,” Lunak says. “On the other hand, when cows have unrestricted access to feed throughout the night, from 12 AM to 6 AM, milk yield improved by an additional 7.9 pounds of milk per day, lying time was 1.8 times greater, and cows spent twice as much time feeding at the bunk.”

To help be more consistent with feed push-ups, consider these tips:

• Create a schedule – Have set times throughout the day (and preferably night) designated towards pushing up feed. Work with employees to create a realistic feed push-up schedule and ensure that it is being implemented correctly.
• Install cameras – Feedbunks often look full throughout the day, but are cows left with enough feed to consume throughout the night? Installing cameras will help you identify when cows are running out of feed. Additionally, they can give you an idea as to what time feed should be pushed up throughout the day.
• Distribute feed evenly – Unintentionally, feeders will often unload more feed towards the beginning and end of the feedbunks. This causes cows towards the middle of the bunk to be left with less. When pushing feed up, be sure to distribute feed evenly to ensure all animals have easy access for their next meal.

Keeping fresh feed available for cows to access at all times will help them reach their full potential.