Publication Date
1993
Description
A computer system has been developed to record the consumption of' supplements provided free choice to grazing cattle. The system is based on electronic animal identification and one or more weatherproof electronic scales located in simple feed stations connected by telephone cable to a computer at a distance of up to 1 km. The software program identifies and records individual animals, • time and duration of visits, and the quantity of supplement consumed. The system has been tested in the field using 40 kg molasses-based feed blocks with up to 20 steers per feed station in paddocks of approximately 4 • ha. During the tests all animals consumed the supplement and did so on a daily basis. Average consumption of the blocks was 1.20 kg/head/day (s.e.m. 0.1 l) with a range of 0.72-1.65. Consumption of the supplement continued throughout the entire 24 h of the day; however, 35% of the visits occurred in the 3 h preceding sunset.
Citation
Tait, R M. and Fisher, L J., "Computer Recording of the Variation in Intake of Supplements Provided to Grazing CattleR" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session18/15
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Computer Recording of the Variation in Intake of Supplements Provided to Grazing CattleR
A computer system has been developed to record the consumption of' supplements provided free choice to grazing cattle. The system is based on electronic animal identification and one or more weatherproof electronic scales located in simple feed stations connected by telephone cable to a computer at a distance of up to 1 km. The software program identifies and records individual animals, • time and duration of visits, and the quantity of supplement consumed. The system has been tested in the field using 40 kg molasses-based feed blocks with up to 20 steers per feed station in paddocks of approximately 4 • ha. During the tests all animals consumed the supplement and did so on a daily basis. Average consumption of the blocks was 1.20 kg/head/day (s.e.m. 0.1 l) with a range of 0.72-1.65. Consumption of the supplement continued throughout the entire 24 h of the day; however, 35% of the visits occurred in the 3 h preceding sunset.
