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

whelan2

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Road a little bit rough but 100 times better than what we had

Did you buy in filling ? If so how much was it will post a few pics of a job we are at at the minute later on

freedominacup

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Robot with rotary if they perfect it will be the best system.
Then you can manage the grazing any way you want.
With the lely,delaval, etc there is a lot of work still managing strip wires and still herding some cows.
I admire anyone for putting them in, it's not easy being the first to try any new technology.

This is my problem with robots. It's not new tech, they're not the first trying it. Tom Clinton for one had three robots working twenty years ago and the "tech" hasn't improved since. I'd be greatly concerned if I bought what's available today that it would be rendered obsolete overnight. A robot to operate in a conventional parlour system has to be only as far away as the manufacturers want it to be I.e. the second it suits their purposes or one of them blinks they'll be readily available. The only thing I can see holding them back is the fact that they are coining it from the machines currently available.

jaymla627

freedominacup wrote: »

This is my problem with robots. It's not new tech, they're not the first trying it. Tom Clinton for one had three robots working twenty years ago and the "tech" hasn't improved since. I'd be greatly concerned if I bought what's available today that it would be rendered obsolete overnight. A robot to operate in a conventional parlour system has to be only as far away as the manufacturers want it to be I.e. the second it suits their purposes or one of them blinks they'll be readily available. The only thing I can see holding them back is the fact that they are coining it from the machines currently available.

westfalias system is pretty far ahead of its competitors wouldn't you think with the one arm servicing multiple boxes, I really see no advantage with robots unless your cows are knocking out well north of 8000 litres on a 305 lactation, that's they're whole selling point in getting the extra 2,000-3,000 thousand litres out of ladies like these not trying to cobble them into grass based systems with yields of 5,500-6,000 litres, lelys spin about increased milk in grass - based herds is banking on the fact the farmer in question is on 10-14 milk times our even longer, if alot of lads where to go 11-13 milk times and stick to it they would easily gain a couple of 100 litres a lactation, lely especially is doing a apple branding job with robots massive pr/spin being done the whole time to sell you a product for 100k plus that's more them likely being made for a fraction of that I'd say their profit margin per robot are massive

Greengrass1

whelan2 wrote: »

Did you buy in filling ? If so how much was it will post a few pics of a job we are at at the minute later on

Yep bought in. 4 inch to down there.
7e a tonne + vat delivered
We're going to top off that 700 m stretch next yr if milk price improves won't be doing a thing otherwise

jaymla627

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Yep bought in. 4 inch to down there.
7e a tonne + vat delivered
We're going to top off that 700 m stretch next yr if milk price improves won't be doing a thing otherwise

Looking at the material you used, you really want to sourcing some shale to cap it off and roll it in will bind the whole road together, you'll lose half the material you have down with rain over the winter the way she ks looking at the minute

freedominacup

jaymla627 wrote: »

Looking at the material you used, you really want to sourcing some shale to cap it off and roll it in will bind the whole road together, you'll lose half the material you have down with rain over the winter the way she ks looking at the minute

A bit of a lack of "down" in that mix gg. You can see the track the cows are following going from the parlour. I wonder would the €150 odd a 120 roller would cost you to hire for a day be worth spending. Tracking with a digger would not be close to the same job.

Cow Porter

jaymla627 wrote: »

westfalias system is pretty far ahead of its competitors wouldn't you think with the one arm servicing multiple boxes, I really see no advantage with robots unless your cows are knocking out well north of 8000 litres on a 305 lactation, that's they're whole selling point in getting the extra 2,000-3,000 thousand litres out of ladies like these not trying to cobble them into grass based systems with yields of 5,500-6,000 litres, lelys spin about increased milk in grass - based herds is banking on the fact the farmer in question is on 10-14 milk times our even longer, if alot of lads where to go 11-13 milk times and stick to it they would easily gain a couple of 100 litres a lactation, lely especially is doing a apple branding job with robots massive pr/spin being done the whole time to sell you a product for 100k plus that's more them likely being made for a fraction of that I'd say their profit margin per robot are massive

I think the gea westfalia plan now is to use the box from the proQ if an famer wants an individual box. probably end up pushing this more than the multi box then

trixi2011

If you have the right sub soil puts a great cap on roadways

Greengrass1

freedominacup wrote: »

A bit of a lack of "down" in that mix gg. You can see the track the cows are following going from the parlour. I wonder would the €150 odd a 120 roller would cost you to hire for a day be worth spending. Tracking with a digger would not be close to the same job.

Haven't the time to do it now. I'm off to cork tonight for the weekend. Weather could be changed by next wk.
Have a shed to sheet down too and get ready for heifers when I'm back on monday

keep going

Brown Podzol wrote: »

You thinking of upping stocking rate? I'm at 3.75 this year and could have handled more but this was an exceptional grass year. Don't know if I'd go to 6 but I probably go over four next year.

Tried 3.3 this year and I am pulling back to 2.9 next year for 2 reasons.one my management and the soil fertility and perennial grass percentages are not up to the mark and number two , im not sure how profitable it will be next year to be a higher proportion of our milk off ration

Milked out

trixi2011 wrote: »

If you have the right sub soil puts a great cap on roadways

How does it hold up in wet weather with machinery and cows? Any of it on a slope?

trixi2011

Milked out wrote: »

How does it hold up in wet weather with machinery and cows? Any of it on a slope?

Not 2 bad in wet weather water runs off it , does wash away on slopes so prob not the best for them. Track in the pic is in 4 years and has had zero maintaince since being laid

kowtow

jaymla627 wrote:

westfalias system is pretty far ahead of its competitors wouldn't you think with the one arm servicing multiple boxes, I really see no advantage with robots unless your cows are knocking out well north of 8000 litres on a 305 lactation, that's they're whole selling point in getting the extra 2,000-3,000 thousand litres out of ladies like these not trying to cobble them into grass based systems with yields of 5,500-6,000 litres, lelys spin about increased milk in grass - based herds is banking on the fact the farmer in question is on 10-14 milk times our even longer, if alot of lads where to go 11-13 milk times and stick to it they would easily gain a couple of 100 litres a lactation, lely especially is doing a apple branding job with robots massive pr/spin being done the whole time to sell you a product for 100k plus that's more them likely being made for a fraction of that I'd say their profit margin per robot are massive

Agreed totally. .. if you want robots build a beautiful shed, go indoors, and use the extra time to maximise grass by zero grazing.

Timmaay

Looking at the fantastic back end we have had again this year, and that springs lately I'd always struggle getting cows out to grass full time before March due to weather (dry enough farm here but some very poor ground), anyways would it make sense to push the calving back to mid feb? I've gone from 20 Jan to 1st Feb this year coming, I'm seriously thinking about going another week at least for 2017.

Milked out

Timmaay wrote: »

Looking at the fantastic back end we have had again this year, and that springs lately I'd always struggle getting cows out to grass full time before March due to weather (dry enough farm here but some very poor ground), anyways would it make sense to push the calving back to mid feb? I've gone from 20 Jan to 1st Feb this year coming, I'm seriously thinking about going another week at least for 2017.

Any issues with peak supply % ? Once you feel you can get em in calf and have em coming good and fast in feb the only thing to do is have a cut off it and see how u go. If things changed weather wise one year and u had to house early in autumn would you manage heavy covers in feb with the extra few weeks growth?

Deepsouthwest

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Road a little bit rough but 100 times better than what we had

Here's a wet spot I dug out during the week and filled with roughish/rocky filling that we were digging out for a slatted tank at the same time. Two birds, one stone, love it!

Greengrass1

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Here's a wet spot I dug out during the week and filled with roughish/rocky filling that we were digging out for a slatted tank at the same time. Two birds, one stone, love it!

That's the best filling you could ever get.
It went together well for you

Greengrass1

http://www.donedeal.ie/view/10703388

Low cost cow accommodation

Dawggone

Greengrass1 wrote: »

http://www.donedeal.ie/view/10703388

Low cost cow accommodation

Excellent. And no need for cubicles. Why didn't I think of that?

Edit.
Do ye think those mats would work in loose housing for milking cows? Scrape off and lime every day?

frazzledhome

Dawggone wrote: »

Excellent. And no need for cubicles. Why didn't I think of that?

Edit.
Do ye think those mats would work in loose housing for milking cows? Scrape off and lime every day?

Might be a step too far, even for me

Greengrass1

Dawggone wrote: »

Excellent. And no need for cubicles. Why didn't I think of that?

Edit.
Do ye think those mats would work in loose housing for milking cows? Scrape off and lime every day?

That's what I waa thinking they could be done with.
Seen them used in Wales for dry cows.

Dawggone

frazzledhome wrote: »

Might be a step too far, even for me

Why?
I've a good sized shed on an out farm that has large areas of concrete with no cubicles as the herd from calves to milkers were never outside iykwim.
There are only 155 cubicles on it but it could hold double that easily. Cheap fix, nail down those mats, scrape daily, and a 10ton Bredal with lime. Crazy?

Dawggone

Greengrass1 wrote: »

That's what I waa thinking they could be done with.
Seen them used in Wales for dry cows.

Too dodgy for milkers?

kevthegaff

This time of the year but not sure would it cause problems in spring, scc wise! For dry cows it looks the job, dick of fixing scrapers!

Greengrass1

Dawggone wrote: »

Too dodgy for milkers?

I think it would be alot better than straw if stocked right. High dm diet the dung wouldn't be flowing out if them

kowtow

Dawggone wrote: »

Why?
I've a good sized shed on an out farm that has large areas of concrete with no cubicles as the herd from calves to milkers were never outside iykwim.
There are only 155 cubicles on it but it could hold double that easily. Cheap fix, nail down those mats, scrape daily, and a 10ton Bredal with lime. Crazy?

Would an auto scraper rip them to shreds?

And are they more or less slippy than grooved concrete? (especially after a couple of years).

Does anyone have any idea of price / m2? A standard cubicle mat is about 15-20€ I suppose, 4in concrete material only at €7 odd.

trixi2011

Greengrass1 wrote: »

That's what I waa thinking they could be done with.
Seen them used in Wales for dry cows.

know a place in wales that puts them down in the collecting yard of milking parlour to winter cows is it the same place ?

Timmaay

Chap in Kilkenny who does something similar, except he has a tank underneath. Very very effective, moving forward I'd seriously consider doing simular.

pedigree 6

trixi2011 wrote: »

know a place in wales that puts them down in the collecting yard of milking parlour to winter cows is it the same place ?

Flood wash system with slope to collecting tank and pump water back to water tanks at top of slope. I wonder would it work? Although you'd be hoping you wouldn't have a winter like 09/10 but that was a freak event.

browned

trixi2011 wrote: »

know a place in wales that puts them down in the collecting yard of milking parlour to winter cows is it the same place ?

Would he calve them there as well?