Push-Up Frequency and Feed Intake

Cows eat more when feed is within easy reach. Pushing it up is a small job that can make a real difference in intake and milk.

Key points

Feed beyond reach is not eaten
Regular push-ups help keep feed available and bring cows to the bunk
Write down the schedule and assign responsibility
Follow manufacturer and OSHA safety guidance around feed pushing equipment
Check intake and refusals before and after changing your routine

Why feed gets out of reach

As cows eat, they pull feed toward themselves and sweep it away from the barrier. After a while the remaining feed sits beyond the point a cow can reach comfortably. Cows will stretch for it for a bit, then give up.

Feed that is out of reach is feed that is not eaten. It also tends to be the feed they would otherwise be eating late in the day or overnight.

How push-ups support intake

Frequent push-ups bring feed back within reach, and they also bring cows to the bunk. Fresh movement and the sight and smell of feed draw cows to eat. Many farms notice more cows at the bunk right after a push-up.

For cows eating a total mixed ration, steadier access can mean more small meals through the day rather than a few large ones. That can be easier on the rumen. Ask your nutritionist what intake pattern you should be aiming for.

Train every person who pushes up feed on both the routine and the safety rules. A short walk-through on the first day, with the operator watching how cows move around the equipment, prevents most close calls.

Setting a routine

There is no single schedule that fits every farm. Barn layout, group size, labor and feeding method all play a part. A simple approach is to push up right after feeding and again at regular times through the day and into the evening.

Write the schedule down and give someone clear responsibility for each push-up. A routine that depends on whoever remembers it tends to slip.

Push up soon after fresh feed is delivered
Add push-ups at set times through the day
Include an evening or overnight push-up if your system allows
Record who did each one

Equipment and safety

Feed pushers can be a skid steer, a tractor, a small dedicated vehicle or an automatic system. Whatever you use, follow the manufacturer's instructions and your farm's safety rules. Keep people and animals out of the path of moving equipment, and train every operator.

Watch for cows crowding behind a moving machine. Move slowly and calmly. For automated pushers, follow the maker's guidance on maintenance and lockout when servicing, and consult OSHA and extension safety material.

Check the feed alley surface and barrier for damage that could catch feed or snag cows. A smooth, clean surface makes pushing easier and keeps feed from being trampled into the floor.

What to check at the bunk

Walk the bunk before and after a push-up. Look at how much feed is within reach, how much sits beyond it and how much refusal is left. Check that the feed is not packed hard or heating at the bottom.

Stand where cows stand and ask whether you could reach everything. If you cannot, the cow cannot either.

Matching the routine to your herd

Fresh cows, high-producing groups and heifers may respond differently. Cows that have just calved are often still building intake, so easy access to feed matters a great deal for them.

Look at when your bunk is emptiest and when cows queue up. If the gap comes late at night or before the first morning feeding, ask whether a push-up or a small change in feeding time could fill it.

Review the routine after any change in labor, barn layout, ration or group size. A schedule that worked last year may not suit the herd you have now, so ask your nutritionist to help you recheck it.

Common mistakes

Pushing up only once or twice, and always at the same convenient time for the person, is common. Another mistake is pushing feed so hard that it piles against the barrier and becomes difficult to eat from. Skipping weekends or nights because of short staffing is another.

Also remember that more push-ups help only if there is feed to push. Keep feed delivery and refusal records so you can see the whole picture.

When to get help: Ask your nutritionist to help judge whether intake and bunk time suit your herd. Call your veterinarian if cows are going off feed or showing signs of illness rather than trying to fix it with more push-ups.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

More in Nutrition, Feeding & Water

← Feed Bunk Management and Cow Sorting Feed Additives for Dairy Cows →