spring block calving or all year??

Farfield

Hi, lookin some opinions on all year round milking or go with spring block calving. Our new parlour kicks off probably next week with 25 ish heifers and want to build up to probably a maximum 60ish cows, rear the calves till a year old and sell in mart ready to go to grass - using brit friesian cows and not too intensive. My question is if you were in my position would you try to keep to spring calving, or go with say 40 spring calving and 20 autumn calving and float it out over the year? Might not have an option the way the processors are pushing things!!

bogman_bass

go for spring calving. The co-ops just arent paying enough to warrent winter milk. Its a different game altogher and is best suited to large herds of high yeilding holsteins

6480

Farfield wrote: »

Hi, lookin some opinions on all year round milking or go with spring block calving. Our new parlour kicks off probably next week with 25 ish heifers and want to build up to probably a maximum 60ish cows, rear the calves till a year old and sell in mart ready to go to grass - using brit friesian cows and not too intensive. My question is if you were in my position would you try to keep to spring calving, or go with say 40 spring calving and 20 autumn calving and float it out over the year? Might not have an option the way the processors are pushing things!!

are u new to milking

Farfield

Yes 6480 new t it, though our folks used to milk until about 15 years ago so whole farm has v good lanes, drinkers, yards, sheds etc.