Tip of the Month – December 2017

Different Groups on VMS.

If you have the possibility to make groups in your stalls, this could be an interesting feature.

Often, groups are made according to productivity: high versus low. To be honest, the effect can be dissapointing, especially when the cows have to go from the high productivity group to the low productivity group. Not only does the ration change, but they also, again, have to go up against tough, older, or in late lactation stronger cows.

But we do see great results when you make a group heifers accompanied by the smaller, second time calving cows. In this case, the animals will stay in the same VMS group for a whole year. One advantage is that these heifers don’t have to go up against bigger cows as often.
It is measured e.g.  by “Vetvice” that these cows make about 10% more visits to the troughs and VMS because there are less dominant cows in the way.

That results in higher productivity and a healthier development of the young cows.

For the group, perhaps you can choose different VMS settings, smaller or other teatliners and milking jug.