** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IMPROVED SUSTAINABILITY IS A PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE US DAIRY INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS IN THE MANNER THAT CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING. WE ARE PROPOSING UTILIZING VIDEO AND DATA SYSTEMS AS TOOLS CENTERED AROUND FEED TO INCREASE DAIRY EFFICIENCY AS AN APPROACH TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY. AS FEED COSTS REPRESENT THE LARGEST COST FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS, OUR APPROACH IS TO MONITOR FEED CONSISTENCY AND INTAKE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR PRODUCERS THAT WILL REDUCE FEED COST, IMPROVE CONSISTENCY, AND ALLOW FOR MEASUREMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL INTAKE OF COWS HOUSED IN GROUPS. OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO PROVIDE DAIRY FARMERS WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT ENHANCES THEIR DAILY PRACTICE BYMEASURING THE FEED CONSISTENCY AND INTAKE EFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS, THUS IMPROVING FEED EFFICIENCY ON THE FARMS.OUR GOAL IS TO ACCURATELY ESTIMATE PER ANIMAL DRY MATTER INTAKE WITHIN 5% OF ACTUAL INTAKE OF COWS IN GROUP HOUSING AND TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS TO ASSESS FEED CONSISTENCY OF TOTAL MIXED RATIONS. FEED INTAKE MEASUREMENTS WILL BE INTEGRATED WITH DAILY MILK PRODUCTION INFORMATION TO PRODUCE DAILY FEED EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENTS ON A PER ANIMAL BASIS. THIS PROPOSAL EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS EARLY IN THE PROCESS TO OPTIMIZE THE DESIGN OF THE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES AND ALSO DEVELOP A PRODUCT THAT HAS THE GREATEST LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION. LEVERAGING RESOURCES AT OUR HOME UNIVERSITY AND UTILIZING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH THAT IS PRODUCER FOCUSED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE KEY ASPECTS OF FEED CONSISTENCY AND EFFICIENCY LEADING TO IMPROVED DAIRY SUSTAINABILITY.