Feed Management & Bunk Software Category Guide
Part of Nutrition and Feed
What Is Feed Management & Bunk Software?
Feed management and bunk software are digital tools that track feed mixing, delivery, refusals, and inventory. They help ensure cows receive consistent, accurate rations while providing data on feed costs, efficiency, and shrink.
Why Feed Management Matters
With feed representing half of operating costs, even small improvements in accuracy and efficiency create significant savings. Consistent, accurate feeding also improves cow health and production by reducing day-to-day variation in what cows actually consume.
Key Benefits
- Mixing accuracy: Ensure ingredients are added in correct amounts and order
- Delivery tracking: Know exactly what was delivered to each pen
- Inventory control: Track usage and anticipate reorder needs
- Refusal monitoring: Optimize feeding amounts based on actual consumption
- Cost tracking: Calculate feed cost per pen, per cow, or per cwt of milk
Common Features
Mixer Integration
Software connects to mixer scales, guiding operators through ingredient loading in proper sequence and amounts. Alerts warn when targets are missed.
Delivery Records
Automatic logging of what was delivered where, including actual vs. target comparisons and time stamps.
Refusal & Pushup Tracking
Record leftover feed to calculate actual intake and adjust feeding amounts to minimize waste while ensuring adequate availability.
Inventory Management
Track ingredient usage against inventory, flag low stock, and project consumption based on feeding schedules.
Reporting & Analytics
Dashboards showing feed cost per cow, ingredient usage trends, mixing accuracy scores, and efficiency metrics.
Platform Types
Integrated TMR Systems
Software built into mixer wagons or connected directly to scale systems (e.g., EZfeed, FeedWatch, TMR Tracker).
Standalone Software
Programs that import scale data and provide analysis and reporting functions.
Enterprise Solutions
Comprehensive platforms that integrate feeding with herd management, financials, and other farm systems.
Do You Need Feed Management Software?
Consider these tools if:
- Mixing consistency is a challenge with multiple feeders
- You want better visibility into feed costs
- Inventory management and shrink are concerns
- You're troubleshooting production or health issues potentially related to feeding
- You want data to negotiate with suppliers
These may be less critical if:
- You have simple feeding programs with one consistent feeder
- Your scale system already provides adequate tracking
- Cost tracking is handled through other financial systems
Cost Considerations
Basic scale integration software may be included with mixer purchases. Standalone programs cost $50-200/month. Enterprise solutions may cost more but integrate with other farm systems. ROI comes from reduced shrink, better accuracy, and improved decision-making.