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The dry matter intake widget is a very important widget for a farmer. Insights into the DMI are crucial for calculating feed efficiency and ultimately will help improve farm cost-effectiveness. But how to use the DMI widget and what to do when the feed intake deviates too much from the set ration?
DMI widgets
There are two widgets showing the DMI. The smaller widget can be added to the left sidebar and shows the DMI of the last 5 days. The larger widget can be added to the main screen and shows the DMI of the last 7 days. Hovering over the graph will show you more detailed information like the total dry matter (DM) fed and the number of animals on that day. Click on the name of the line to make it disappear from the graph. Feed intake with a 10% deviation from the set ration is marked in red and a warning sign will appear.
Dry matter intake report
Clicking on the widget will bring you to the dry matter intake report. This report is very useful to analyse the dry matter intake of different animal groups, rations, feedstuffs or locations. When the report is opened, it will give you an overview of all the different animal groups on the farm, showing you two bars: the DMI for last week and the rolling average for the last 24 hours. By showing the rolling average of the last 24 hours, changes in the DMI are quickly visible in the graph. Once you choose a specific location type, you will see more details about this specific location, like the set ration and the DMI per feedstuff. When a bar is striped, this means that the DMI deviates by 10%, or more, from the set ration.
What is the set ration?
The set ration is the ration that is filled into Horizon. It is what the farmer wants their animals to eat. You can find it on the mixed ration page in Horizon. But the fact that this is set in Horizon does not mean the animals eat this amount. The DMI report shows what was really eaten. Be aware that the set ration is just an indication helping with the reporting. With the Vector system, it is impossible to “tell the system how much an animal should eat” because the system will feed based on needs.
How to come closer to the set ration?
Not reaching the set ration can have multiple reasons. Either the cows are not eating the amount of feed you expect them to because, maybe, the feed quality is not optimal, and it is not tasty. Heat stress could also be the reason. Or a bad mixing due to the wrong loading order. It could also be that something is wrong with the feed grabber, resulting in bad loading accuracy. In this case, the cows are not receiving what they should receive. Always look at the production of the animals and the feed efficiency.
4 possible situations:
The current ration exceeds the DMI, and the farmer is satisfied with the production levels. In this situation, the ration could be lowered, but always check the feed quality, the tastiness, and if the dry matter percentages entered into Horizon are correct. Any changes to the set ration should be made in consultation with the farm nutritionist, as this likely requires adjustments to the overall ration. A lower DMI than set could indicate that the cows’ potential is not being fully achieved.
The set ration exceeds the DMI and the farmer is dissatisfied with the production levels or seeks to improve them: This situation indicates that animals are not consuming, and consequently producing, as expected. Several reasons can be the cause for this, including unrealistic goals, feed quality, tastiness, etc. Additionally, the feed might be too voluminous for the animals to consume the wanted amounts. It is physically not possible for them. Another possibility is that the dry matter percentage entered into Horizon is inaccurate. Always verify this, especially if there has been a switch to a different silage pit.
The set ration is lower than the DMI, and the farmer is satisfied with the production levels. While the set ration could be increased, it is essential to consult with the farm nutritionist, as this may necessitate adjustments to the overall ration. Additionally, a lower DMI might enhance feed efficiency.
The set ration is lower than the DMI and the farmer may be dissatisfied with production levels or seek to improve them. In this situation, the animals are consuming more than anticipated. On top of this, production levels are not according to the farmer’s wishes. It is advisable to consult a feed advisor. This increased intake means that the cows will consume more of everything, including minerals, which is more expensive for the farmer and can potentially be harmful to the animals.
The DMI widget offers valuable insights into how the cows are processing the feed calculated for them.
What to do when many feedstuffs show up as striped bars?
This means that the feedstuff is not loaded accurately. Check the accuracy of the feedstuff and see if anything can be improved regarding the grabber settings. Nevertheless, be aware that a striped bar is not directly a reason to panic. Especially with small quantities, 10% is not much difference when looking at the amount of the feedstuff. So, depending on the amount fed per feedstuff, the deviation is larger or smaller. Most important is to look at the feedstuff that is involved. If it is a concentrate or mineral, it might be necessary to calibrate the silo.
If you have any questions, please contact your FMS specialist.
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