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Seeking Advise - New to farming.

  • 06-04-2013 4:14pm
    #1
    Hilux13
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 ✭


    Hi first time poster and looking for advise.

    I recently inherited a dairy farm in 3 plots of 40 acres each plus 20 acres of natural woodland.
    The farm was poorly maintained and neglected over a period of 15 years or so and i am looking to maybe diversify for the first few years until money levels and stock are up to a standard where bigger decisions can be tackled.

    i am currently milking 30 cows and have 10 sucklers with dairy replacement heifers reared and all other animals sold at mart at 18 months or so.

    basically im looking to set up the farm so that it can generate a modest income and if i can have a lifestyle from it instead of a 12 hour slog that it seems to have become lately.

    all advice is appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    Dont be daft
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭Dont be daft


    If it was me I'd sit down and identify which of your systems is making money.

    The way I see it your running three systems, sucklers-dairy-calf to store. It's a lot of balls to juggle.

    If it was me I'd bring dairy numbers up to the max on your best block of land and look at using the next block for silage and replacements then use the 3rd block for a dairy bull beef or contract rearing system.

    Also, and I'm not being smart here, you should look at your own work routine. 12hrs is a lot of time to spend on 40 cows and their progeny.
    Maybe there's room to improve, even small things like gates in the right places, a rigid day to day routine or a few upgrades in the parlour. They can all lead to massive time savings.
    From someone who has a very fragmented system I know only to well that a lad can end up giving more time driving around than in the field if he's not careful.

    Also I wouldn't touch that woodland till you see what greening incentives and measures the new CAP is going to come out with.


  • #3
    matTNT
    Closed Accounts Posts: 351 ✭✭matTNT


    Yeah I agree with the other poster, have a routine for the farm and stick to it, with 40 cows you should expect a 7/8 until 5/6 job and then in the spring you might work longer than that. It all depends on the location of your fields if they are well located around the milking parlour all the better for you.

    To maxmise profits from your Dairy cows I advise you join ICBF and get EBIs for all of your cows. I would use good high EBI bulls on your best stock then use a beef breed on those who are below par, this way you keep them in the herd but only your best genetics last. If you want to know more on breeding feel free to mail me. (I'm assuming you don't as your new)


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