Effects of the automatic feeding with dynamic feed delivery time on milk yield and composition in commercial dairy cow herd

The quantity and composition of milk are strongly influenced by the way cows are fed. This study was carried out using data from a commercial dairy farm, where the conventional way of feeding was replaced by an automatic feeding system (AFS) characterised by dynamic feed delivery time. The effect of changing the method of TMR delivery to cows on their yield and milk composition (DM, Protein, Fat, Caseine, Lactose, F:P Ratio, SCC, MUN) in individual months (VI – XI) under observation was evaluated considering the stages of lactation (5-30, 31-60, 61-100, 101-200, 201-369 DIM) of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. The results of the statistical analysis indicate that the change in the method of supplying feed to the feed table did not significantly affect the cows’ daily milk yield but had a significant effect on changes in milk composition. The introduction of AFS contributed to an increase in the protein and fat content of milk at each stage of lactation, except for fat during the 31 – 60 DIM period. Furthermore, the lactation stage (milking day) was proven to be a stronger determinant of milk quantity and composition than the method of feed delivery analysed.