What the ration difference says about autonomous feeding
When assessing a feeding robot, the question is not only whether it can mix and dose feed. It is also whether animals receive a comparable ration when rations differ. In this homogeneity trial, the calf ration was mixed considerably more homogeneously than the goat ration. That difference helps readers interpret the outcome within this trial, with ration and dosing as determining factors.
Broad knowledge question
Do animals at the feed fence receive a comparable ration
The broad knowledge question was whether an autonomous feeding robot can mix and dose different rations homogeneously. The trial focused on feeding with the automatic feeding robot FEEDR®.
Approach
Samples from two farms
Feed samples were taken at four moments, each with an interval of three weeks. This was done on two farms, one calf farm and one goat farm. The samples were sieved and analysed using wet chemistry for dry matter, crude protein, starch and crude ash content.
Goal
An objective view of mixing and dosing
The goal was to objectively establish how homogeneously the FEEDR® mixes and doses different rations. This helps readers weigh the outcome for their own ration, animal group or feeding process. The trial therefore does not provide a broad market conclusion.
Result and reflection
Ration and dosing were part of the outcome
Within this validation, the performance of the feeding robot was related to ration and dosing. The calf ration was mixed considerably more homogeneously than the goat ration. In the goat samples, larger differences were visible between samples, probably due to less even dosing of the ration.
Successful
The trial combined two farms, four sampling moments and two rations.
The samples came from one calf farm and one goat farm.
The analysis looked at dry matter, crude protein, starch and crude ash.
Lessons learned
Assess the performance of a feeding robot in relation to ration and dosing.
In a next validation, ask which boundary values for feed homogeneity are used.
A standardised measurement method helps readers weigh outcomes between situations more precisely.