B.FLT.1016 - Evaluation of automated bunk management - Host Site 2

Summary

Cattle performance in a feedlot setting is driven primarily by their feed intake. The amount of feed allocated to a pen of cattle is managed to optimise productivity and health while reducing feed waste. Feed intake is managed by bunk callers and requires accurate estimation of the quantity of feed remaining in a bunk following a 24-hour feeding period and consideration of several environmental, cattle and management factors to determine feed allocation for the next 24-hour period.

Bunk calling is a complex process. The caller has to consider the diet and its fermentability, the historical feed intake, pen size, health status and environmental conditions while modulating rumen pH and driving production. This is a considerable amount of information to evaluate quickly, and poor decisions can result in acidosis, feed wastage, a loss of potential gains from lower than optimum feed intake and reduced profitability to the feedlot. Poor decisions can be compounded during times of staff turnover, when training new staff and even during shift changes.

The development and commercialisation of a lidar-based bunk scanner by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Manabotix Pty. Ltd. which can accurately determine the amount of feed remaining in a bunk, has enabled the expansion of a framework to automate bunk management. This world-first achievement enables automation of bunk management utilising scanning data to assist the human decision making process.

The goal of this project was to host a concurrent MLA Project (B.FLT.1012) to determine the effect of semi-automation and full-automation of bunk management on feedlot cattle performance, health and carcase characteristics. 

The project was terminated due to host site unavailability during to COVID-19 restrictions.

Objectives

1. Host MLA Project B.FLT.1012 to determine the effect of semi and full automation of bunk management on feedlot cattle health and performance.

Key findings

• The project was terminated due to host site unavailability during to COVID-19 restrictions.
• The bunk scanner for the research trial was purchased by the site for direct commercial implementation. 

Benefits to industry

Research at an alternative host site during MLA Project B.FLT.1012 demonstrated for the first time in the world that automation of bunk management can be achieved to the level of a highly trained bunk caller. Automation will likely bring improved consistency to cattle performance once commercially implemented.

MLA action

MLA has presented results of MLA Project B.FLT.1012 at ALFA Smart Beef and Beef Ex conferences. 

Future research

MLA has presented results of MLA Project B.FLT.1012 at ALFA Smart Beef and Beef Ex conferences.