New feeding robot aims to up dairy cow fodder intake

DeLaval has unveiled the second generation of its OptiDuo feed-pushing robot, which it claims can increase daily cow milk yields by up to 3 litres.

The robot runs through the barn up to 10 times a day, refreshing feed supplies and remixing forage to encourage the housed cattle to eat more.

Various feed types can be mixed thanks to its twin rotating augers and, for the new model, there is the option of a concentrate dispenser.

This can be filled up while the machine is charging and it will record concentrate distribution throughout the day.

The shell of the robot is made from thermoplastic materials used in car manufacturing, which apparently makes it resilient against occasional bumps or interest from cattle.