Deviations of feedstuffs loading in TMR preparation

Abstract

Loading of feedstuffs in planned amounts in total mixed ration (TMR) recipes are very important in terms of profitability,productivity, animal health, and performance. In the scope of this study, the planned and loaded feedstuffs amounts were determinedin the mixer wagons. The study was conducted on a dairy cattle farm with ~1500 milking cow capacity. In this study, 13,276 feedstuffsloading data were examined and the mean and standard deviation of the deviation from the planned amount was 8.95 ± 18.38%.Deviation values of feedstuffs loading were found to be different; according to 1- TMR preparing operators, 2- type of loader, 3- physicalproperty of feedstuffs, 4- feedstuffs loading methods, 5- measure of the amount of feedstuffs in TMR, 6- type of ration, 7- type offeedstuffs. In this context, five different TMR preparation operators, three different loaders, the physical properties divided into fourcategories, two different loading methods, feedstuffs quantities in TMR mixture, eight different ration type, and fourteen differentfeedstuffs were evaluated. The difference between the deviations ratios of each case was found to be significant (P < 0.0001). According tothe data evaluated, the deviation percentage values in the feedstuffs loadings varied for the aforementioned factors in TMR preparation.