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Lely Center\nMid-Atlantic installed the first Vector system in the United States in 2014 and\ncan speak firsthand to its benefits. We have seen it transform over the years\nand continually become more accurate and advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a nutshell, the Vector is Lely\u2019s automatic feeding robot. With the options to feed out of silos or on a fixed rail system with a feed kitchen, its flexibility allows for many different barn layouts. The MFR (Mixing Feeding Robot) has a skirt like a Juno on the bottom which allows it to push feed up each time it travels the alleys, measuring how much feed is present at the feed bunk. A laser measures the peaks and valleys of the feed present at each predetermined feed fence, allowing it to get an average feed height. Once the feed height falls below a preset limit (determined by the dairyman), it will signal the Vector to mix a feed. Two bunks out at once? No problem. The Vector will feed the bunk with highest priority first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, where do the savings come into play? Labor, fuel, and feed refusals. Not to mention improved gut health resulting in increased components with less feed additives and overall healthier cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vector\nreduces a farm\u2019s need for a TMR Mixer. If a farm faces a situation where the\nmixer wagon broke and needs to be replaced, the Vector is a no brainer. Even\nwithout needing a new mixer wagon, the fuel saved (an average of 1,452 gallons\nof diesel per year) by using a Vector is immense when stacked against the\nelectric usage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition,\nfarmers rarely need to clean out their bunks for feed refusals. The Vector is a\n\u201cfeed to need\u201d robot. In the heat of the summer when intakes are down, the\nVector is more active at night when it\u2019s cooler. It is completely tailored to\nyour cows\u2019 varying intakes. You may be\ninclined to argue that you don\u2019t waste your feed refusals, that you feed them\nto your heifers or even your dry cows. We both know that\u2019s not the best feed\nfor the future of your herd. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Reduce\nwaste and allow yourself to feed a precise ration to the other groups of\nanimals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nconsistency of the Vector is also impactful on your cow\u2019s rumen bugs. We know\ncows crave consistency, and their rumen does, too. Time and time again we have\nseen an increase in milk production after the installation of the Vector as\nwell as increased components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farms have\nalso reported seeing decreased cases of Ketosis and culling due to metabolic\nissues. One Canadian farm reported an increase in butterfat of .2 after having\nreduced bypass fat by 140 grams per cow per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having said that, we still see a fast return\non investment even when we assume no change in production. Changing the art of\nfeeding cows with the Vector is having a huge impact on farm labor situations\nas well. It is fun to push the numbers on a one Vector and MFR system; but what\nis really mind blowing is to see the ROI for XL Dairies that magnify their\nsavings and require more than one system. We have run the numbers and have seen\npayoffs as low as 1.5 years!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, the\nLely Vector is the absolute hidden gem of the product line. Personally, I can\nadmit, the first time I heard about the Vector I thought to myself, \u201cThat\u2019s too\ngood to be true… that\u2019s just too much.\u201d The more I have learned about it, the\nmore I\u2019m convinced. If I were a dairy producer, I\u2019d be considering a Vector\nlong before I even thought about a Lely Astronaut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have more\nquestions about the Vector? Want to pencil out the ROI for your herd? Give us a\ncall today: 717-656-3007. <\/p>\n\n\n\n