DairyTalk 679: Less Concentrate, Same Performance? Where Robotic Dairies May Cut Feed Costs - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Sep 23, 2026 · 20m

This podcast episode is based on a technical article by Brandon Van Soest examining whether dairy cows in automatic milking systems really need substantial amounts of concentrate at the robot. Traditionally, feed has been used as an incentive to drive voluntary visits, but increasing concentrate allocation does not necessarily translate into more milk and may create nutritional instability. The right strategy depends on herd management, cow traffic design, reproductive status, and how effectively the partial mixed ration meets nutrient requirements at the feed bunk. Guided-traffic systems may…