Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

Jexbullcalf

Keepgrowing wrote: »

+1

I use pm as a reference point for my own business in that I'm constantly trying to improve on previous years performance

If I see someone strong in an area I arrange a visit to their farm and drill down as hard as I can to learn where I'm falling down. There's massive amounts of information out there on farms but some of us are slow to ask for info or help.

We (partnership) will always target an area for improvement each year and will travel to meet a guy we know is excelling at it. We call and tell him exactly what we want to know and if he's agreeable we then visit. This summer we visited Wales specifically to see the profitability of higher stocking rates at grass. Next summer it's the whole area of calf rearing we're after. We need to invest in and seriously up skill in this area. The guy who looks after the calves will also come along as its very important he's up to speed on this and we all going the same direction.

While I agree with you on general comparisons we really need to visit the best operators and bench mark ourselves against them.

Sorry for butting in but well said. You never stop learning in this game.
The only thing I have to add to all this is to lads young and old is the only figure you should be worried about is how much money you put in your own pocket.

Not the tax man, or paying bills or loans. At the end of the year how much money are you the brains of the operation putting away?

If it's low of nothing at all you need to see where it's going. I know farming is kind of a disease but at the end of the week it's just a job to make money.... as much as we can for the hours we put in.

Mooooo

http://www.milkbusiness.com/article/wisconsin-dairy-farmers-go-rbst-free?utm_content=buffer06258&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

pedigree 6

Mooooo wrote: »

http://www.milkbusiness.com/article/wisconsin-dairy-farmers-go-rbst-free?utm_content=buffer06258&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

I think only iphones can see the link?

Or is everyone else able to go into it?

pedigree 6

Spotted this on youtube.

If i'm being picky the floor in the parlour for the cows looks a bit too smooth.
Could leave it with a light tamped finish.

And I think he's a bit too tall for that pit.:D

Waffletraktor

pedigree 6 wrote: »

I think only iphones can see the link?

Or is everyone else able to go into it?

copy and paste into searchbar worked on chrome

pedigree 6

Waffletraktor wrote: »

copy and paste into searchbar worked on chrome

Yep that worked. Thanks.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Feeding cows seaweed could slash global greenhouse gas emissions, researchers say



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-19/environmental-concerns-cows-eating-seaweed/7946630?pfmredir=sm

Water John

That if correct and stands up in the field would be a game changer in the Ag industry.
Bonus point would be the Vegans would have one less point in their arsenal.

Keepgrowing

First row of cows dried today. Tired nice long rest

GrasstoMilk

Keepgrowing wrote: »

First row of cows dried today. Tired nice long rest

When are they due to calve?

Keepgrowing

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

When are they due to calve?

Feb

Water John

It will be an interesting experiment to see do Phil's cows that are dried off early and have a lovely long break will milk better next spring.

Mooooo

Keepgrowing wrote: »

First row of cows dried today. Tired nice long rest

Low yielding/ first lactation/ bcs?

GrasstoMilk

1.69 kgsms.
17l
Grass getting tight. cows will be going in by night fairly quick

Mooooo

Gonna take advantage of this weeks weather. Some of the wetter ground hasnt been cleaned as well this time of year ever, altho yearlings are on the wettest of ut all the time. Cows will be out day and night and will house full time Mon or Tues. Will keep a paddock for autumn calvers during the day and will dry off Jan calvers and some heifers next week as well.

Keepgrowing

Mooooo wrote: »

Low yielding/ first lactation/ bcs?

Feet also plus all high covers grazed

3 the square

How long more is the bvd test compulsory for registering calves just going ordering tags from mullinahone ??

simx

3 the square wrote: »

How long more is the bvd test compulsory for registering calves just going ordering tags from mullinahone ??

Don't think it'll ever go, keeping lads in jobs

mahoney_j

simx wrote: »

Don't think it'll ever go, keeping lads in jobs

Incorrect ,it's the Fookin smart arse farmers keeping pi calves that is keeping lads in jobs

Water John

Since their is a compo scheme in place, why can't it be compulsory? TB is not the example, brucellosis is.

farmerjj

mahoney_j wrote: »

Incorrect ,it's the Fookin smart arse farmers keeping pi calves that is keeping lads in jobs

Its the department that are at fault for not setting it up correct, PI animals should be put down compulsory and anyone who doesn't do this loses a % of there sfp until they put the animal down or lose all there sfp. Its turning into a money pit for farmers who obey the law.

3 the square

simx wrote: »

Don't think it'll ever go, keeping lads in jobs

I may as well order away so .

farmerjj

3 the square wrote: »

I may as well order away so .

Is there new type tags coming out from November on, with a chip in then, thought I read that somewhere?

Buford T. Justice XIX

farmerjj wrote: »

Is there new type tags coming out from November on, with a chip in then, thought I read that somewhere?

No, there will be no letters so no IE at the start and will have numbers replacing them.

Chips are optional at a euro each for lads using electronic ID in calf feeders or draughting systems and parlour feeders.

Freejin

Has anybody any experience of putting drainage channels on the cow stands of milking parlour? Something similar to the attached? Redoing floors here this winter and wondering would an open channel do underneath the mangers rather than spending on this type of setup? There will be a fall from the pit to under the mangers. 14 unit pit so not overly long

Buford T. Justice XIX

Freejin wrote: »

Has anybody any experience of putting drainage channels on the cow stands of milking parlour? Something similar to the attached? Redoing floors here this winter and wondering would an open channel do underneath the mangers rather than spending on this type of setup? There will be a fall from the pit to under the mangers. 14 unit pit so not overly long

We have similar here. Works well under the mangers. If you're doing it, I would say to use 6 inch pipe and manholes halfway and at the end.

We only put in 4 inch and they silt up twice a year so the manholes with a small sump makes it easier to clean out.

pedigree 6

Freejin wrote: »

Has anybody any experience of putting drainage channels on the cow stands of milking parlour? Something similar to the attached? Redoing floors here this winter and wondering would an open channel do underneath the mangers rather than spending on this type of setup? There will be a fall from the pit to under the mangers. 14 unit pit so not overly long

I have an open drain done in concrete.
I'll post pics later on.

whelan2

We have a drain under the cows legs, all crap, mastitis etc goes into it. Great job. Also means if cluster falls off its no in crap

whelan2

My dad went for the cows in his jeep at 3.50, we were on 7th row again he arrived down at 5pm . They are on ground that was cut for bales a few weeks ago, the went out the gate and then turned around and went back in . Hopefully weather plays ball for a few more days

Mooooo

http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/19-arrested-in-china-for-selling-expired-milk-powder
Whether or not itll make any odds for us or not I dunno but bound to hit consumer confidence