The solution that puts you in control of your biggest expense

VAS introduces FeedComp, a new software to bring consistency, cost control and real-time insights to dairy feed management.

Feed accounts for up to 70% of a dairy’s operating costs,¹ making precision and consistency in feed management essential for profitability. That’s why VAS is introducing FeedComp, a new, modern, mobile-first feed management solution built to help dairies capture more from every load.

“Cows thrive on consistency,” says Melissa Freitas, farm performance consultant team leader at VAS. “If rations aren’t delivered accurately, it affects cow health, reproduction and ultimately milk production. By design, FeedComp makes it easy to stay consistent and spot issues before they turn into losses.”

Protecting your bottom line

Accurate feeding has a profound impact that extends far beyond the feed bunk. Even small mistakes or inconsistencies in feed management can add up to tens of thousands of dollars each year, often going unnoticed. And that’s just one part of the equation. Fluctuating ingredient inventories, shifting pen counts and daily variances in feeding all create opportunities for inconsistencies. Those small misalignments can quickly ripple across the entire farm.

FeedComp helps dairy farms take control of those moving parts by simplifying feed management and improving financial outcomes.

Unlock these key benefits with FeedComp:

• Inventory tracking helps avoid shortages and last-minute ingredient purchases
• Automatic pen count updates ensure you’re always mixing feed for the right number of cows in each pen
• Real-time adjustments allow you and your nutritionist to easily fine-tune your ration
• Accessible reporting tracks feeder performance and accuracy
• Integrated herd and feed data enables traceability and more insights across entire farm

Built with farmers in mind

FeedComp was built to match the pace of daily farm life with a setup that requires only two pieces of technology: a Bluetooth-enabled scale head and a phone or tablet. The mobile app works seamlessly with DairyComp and offers online and offline functionality, ensuring farmers can manage feeding programs even when connectivity is spotty. With this flexibility, you can check and update pen counts, track ration changes and review reports from anywhere, in the tractor, the barn or at the kitchen table.

Role-based permissions mean you can grant access to your nutritionists, veterinarians and on-farm consultants for easier collaboration and aligned decision-making. Permissions also help reduce errors and maintain clean records, while feeder report cards encourage accountability and consistency. That means you can spot mistakes in real time, coach employees on the fly and confirm when rations are delivered accurately

“Farmers want tools that work the way they do. They want simplicity, intuitive design and accessibility,” says Yianna Rhodes, farm operations product manager at VAS. “FeedComp gives you real-time visibility into what’s being fed and how well it’s being executed, whether you’re on the farm or away on vacation.”

FeedComp in action at Reuter Farms

For Minnesota dairy farmer Phil Reuter, moving to a mobile app has streamlined feed management on his family’s farm.

“FeedComp brought more consistency and efficiency to our ever-changing variables like pen counts, dry matter intake and ingredient changes,” says Reuter.

Before adopting FeedComp, Reuter relied on spreadsheets to track rations. Ration adjustments and pen count changes often meant tedious math and inconsistent results. Now, with pen counts automatically updating from DairyComp and the ability to make real-time adjustments to his ration to ensure he was meeting his dry matter goals, the process is faster and easier for him and his team.

For example, during a haylage shortage, he was able to quickly substitute dry grass hay into the ration on his phone, saving time and avoiding costly errors.

“My dad isn’t super tech-savvy, but he picked up how to use FeedComp after one walk-through,” adds Reuter. “It’s simple, it’s fast and it helps keep us accurate.”

Connecting the whole farm

Feed management is one part of your farm’s big picture, which is why FeedComp is more than a standalone app. It’s part of VAS PULSE Platform, an integrated platform that connects feed, inventory and herd data from VAS’ suite of products. With FeedComp, farmers can view income over feed cost (IOFC) reporting, tying ration costs directly to milk production for smarter financial decisions. This connection empowers dairies to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive planning with insights that inform daily feeding decisions and long-term strategy.

“Our goal is for farmers to feel confident in their decisions,” says Rhodes. “Confidence that feeders are on target, cows are getting what they need and feed costs are under control.”

FeedComp will be officially unveiled at World Dairy Expo 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Promotional pricing will be available through the end of the year.

Join VAS experts at the VAS Knowledge Nook on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 11:30 a.m. in the Exhibition Hall to learn more about FeedComp. See demonstrations, ask questions and hear directly from your peers who are already using the system at the VAS booth (EH 4331).

To learn more and request a demo, visit VAS.com.

VAS is the global market leader in connected farm management systems. For over 40 years, VAS has been the operating system of choice for the most innovative dairies. VAS’ software and information solutions help collect and connect a farm’s data – from herd management to feed performance, tracking and more. These insights are a source of truth, empowering producers and their trusted advisors to make profit-driven and sustainable management decisions. At the forefront of thought leadership within the dairy industry, VAS is trusted by the producers we serve and the greater dairy community.

¹ U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2024). Milk cost of production estimates. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/milk-cost-of-production-estimates