To download the PDF version if this bulletin does not appear in color or without pictures : ftp:// /fmsna/bulletin/fmsnabulletin17.

Transcription

1 To: Cc: Bcc: Subject: FMSNA/LELY, FMSNA Bulletin #17: Influence Vector / Startup video / Fat and protein study / Milk quality study / Training / Conference / Happy 2015! Dear Lely Center partner, The FMSNA bulletin is sent to all FMS stakeholders in North America to keep you posted on tips and news from the FMSNA team. Feel free to copy and paste the appropriate articles to your customers or colleagues. To download the PDF version if this bulletin does not appear in color or without pictures : ftp:// /fmsna/bulletin/fmsnabulletin17.pdf In this bulletin: 1. Influence Vector on farm management 2. FMS startup support video 3 Results fat and protein study 4. Results SCC, Bacterial Count & Free Fatty Acid study. 5. Sneak preview: Conference Lely NA FMS: May 5-7, Overview FMS Training courses 7. Happy Holidays and a Healthy, Sustainable, Profitable and Enjoyable Influence Vector on farm management Just like the Astronaut milking robots, the Vector feeding system has a major impact on farm management and cow behavior on a day to day basis. Consistency in rations and multiple feedings a day have helped farms see: - increased dry matter intake - more visits to the feed bunk - better rumen health - increased visits to the milk robot - increased production - saving lots of energy and fuel.

2 Farm managers have also seen a reduction in time spent on feeding, which give them flexibility and the opportunity to spend time on managing other areas of the operation. Here is an article explaining the benefits of automated feeding on a farm. ftp:// /fmsna/bulletin/influenceautomaticfeedingonfarm.pdf Any questions or concerns: FMSNA@lely.com 2. FMS Startup support video. Many prospects and partners have a hard time to envision what FMS is about and what it entails throughout the startup of a Lely robot system. Therefore a new 'startup' video clip was made to illustrate the work and added value of FMS to the startup process. The clip is available on YouTube: Feel free to use this video and forward the link to your prospects and partners.

3 3. Results fat and protein study. The new and easy fat and protein sensor calibration based on milk tank results have lead to many more farmers getting access to their milk content info in T4C. For details of this calibration method, check the YourGuide or FMSNA bulletin #14. We got lots of feedback from farmers in the field saying how useful this information is, to: 1. Assess the production value of each cow; 2. Use the fat and protein corrected milk in the feed tables 3. Find cows with ketosis and acidosis 4. Tune the ration, especially in the early lactation to overcome the negative energy balance. We would like to share the results from a study conducted by our EU colleagues based on more than 500 Dutch farms. On average farms milking with an Astronaut milking robot have about 1 kg (2.2 lb) higher energy corrected milk compared to the Dutch average. The contents itself are slightly lower, but since more milk is produced, the energy corrected milk is higher on Lely farms. The link below gives more detail, including management recommendations to assess fat and protein results on a farm. Any questions or concerns: FMSNA@lely.com 4. Results SCC, Bacterial Count & Free Fatty Acid study. We would like to share the results from a milk quality study conducted by our EU colleagues based on more than 500 Dutch farms. Some highlights: Bacterial Counts are lower on farms: - with Astronaut A4 robots compared to A3/ A2. - with twin milk filters - running cleaning 3 times a day instead of 2 times a day - with less than 5 failed milkings/robot/day SCC (Somatic Cell Count) is lower: - in case Lely Pura steam device is installed on robots - if cows are fed on a ration containing 40-50% mais silage complemented with grass or grass silage - on farms with less than 5 failed milkings/robot/day Free Fatty Acids are lower: - on farms operating a pre-cooler - on farms which have excellent robot maintenance in place - on farms with a higher content of mais silage in the ration - on pasture based farms - in herds with higher protein and fat levels in the milk

4 - if cows are not milked too often Details of the study, including farm management support recommendations in the links below : - Bacterial Count: - Cell Count: - Free Fatty Acids: 5. Sneak Preview : Conference Lely NA FMS : May 5-7, 2015 You got it right, with this topic we warm you up for the FMS Conference in May. We started preparations and already booked a couple of nice external speakers for you and are in the process of developing a couple of breakout choice workshops. Some of the topics we've lined up for you: - Optimize Feed bunk management - Efficient Stockmanship - Energy savings with robot systems - Future of farm consultancy - Milk quality and mastitis management in robot systems - Big Data in farming and robotic milking - Practical small break out workshops and of course, most important: the interactions with other experts in the field on the side! REMEMBER. THE DATE: May 5-7, 2015 Note: Participation in this conference is by invitation only. All FMSNA certified L2 advisors and key principles of North American Lely Centers will receive an invitation in January Overview FMS Training courses in North America For your convenience a reminder of our FMSNA Advisor Training courses coming up : L1 courses (schedule: ftp:// /fmsna/bulletin/trainingadvisorl1agenda pdf) - January 19-23: Calmar, IA USA (English) To sign up: - February 9-13: Drummondville, QC Canada (French) To sign up: - March 16-20: Truro, NS Canada (English) To sign up: L2 courses (schedule: ftp:// /fmsna/bulletin/trainingadvisorl2agenda pdf) - January 6-8: Batavia, NY USA (English) To sign up: - April 7-9: Drummondville, QC Canada (French) To sign up: Questions regarding registration/reservations: Karen Spoelstra (kspoelstra@lely.com). Questions regarding content or program: FMSNA@lely.com

5 7. Happy Holidays and a Healthy, Sustainable, Profitable and Enjoyable 2015 Another year gone, but not before we have expressed our sincere appreciation to our customers for their business and to our FMS partners for the great cooperation in 2014!! We wish you a great Holiday Season and a Healthy, Sustainable, Profitable and Enjoyable 2015!!!!! See also We hope you enjoyed reading this bulletin. Any feedback or suggestions for improvement are very much appreciated. The FMSNA team: From left to right: Ben, Sara, Dan (Vector product manager), Gaylen and Mark P.S.: If you do not want to receive this E-news anymore, please reply to this with 'unsubscribe' in the header. Please reply to: FMSNA@lely.com Farm Management / T4C Support Lely North America fmsna@lely.com