Dairy chit chat II

mahoney_j

silly wrote: »

To those home for 6pm - Is this what is happening currently - even with calving? My husband milks at about 7.30 and 5.30 but he still isn't in the door until about 9 and still has to go back out again after eating for about an hour. He has about 24 calves now I think and 50 cows. Is this normal? He is doing everything he can now to avoid the dreaded scour - which he has had problems with the last number of years.

With regards to the milk percentage - at the moment he is on a set price of 30c on 15% of his milk - until Aug - The new offer is 10% at 30c so if he takes it up he will have 25% on set price until Aug. The rep said there will probably be another offer at the end of the yr after the current offer runs out. So he might just wait for that instead of having the 25% on set price.

I'm in yard at 6.30 ,quick checkbof calving pens ,tube and rag any calves born during night be milking by 7/7.15.start milking at 4.15 in pm and still out of yard most evenings by 6 .back in yard at 9.30 for 30 minutes for night check .affer that I don't go near yard till 6.30 am.alarm clock set for 3 am and I log onto camera in calving pen /cow shed for a look .if all looks ok back to sleep

Mehaffey1

Do I win Valentine's Day then?

whelan2

silly wrote: »

To those home for 6pm - Is this what is happening currently - even with calving? My husband milks at about 7.30 and 5.30 but he still isn't in the door until about 9 and still has to go back out again after eating for about an hour. He has about 24 calves now I think and 50 cows. Is this normal? He is doing everything he can now to avoid the dreaded scour - which he has had problems with the last number of years.

With regards to the milk percentage - at the moment he is on a set price of 30c on 15% of his milk - until Aug - The new offer is 10% at 30c so if he takes it up he will have 25% on set price until Aug. The rep said there will probably be another offer at the end of the yr after the current offer runs out. So he might just wait for that instead of having the 25% on set price.

Back in for 6pm 90% of the time. Kids have football training/gym etc on 5 weekdays. Will go back out before bed-around 9- for a look around. Thats it until 6 in the morning. Calving pens are out the back of the house and oh has a look out the window at them for me during the night.

Timmaay

dar31 wrote: »

No set start time here,just a set time to be finished by.
Plan to be in the house for 6 hoping to be done for 5.30 this summer once new parlour is running.

Your still hoping to get the parlour in this summer ha?

Fixture

Timmaay wrote: »

Your still hoping to get the parlour in this summer ha?

Always aim for 7.15 and 5.15 here. Neighbour would be only turning on the parlour as we're finishing up - incidentally his father was the same. Each to their own I suppose but I hate finishing too late - long enough day as it is.

I remember visiting a top class operation years ago with a big old antique clock in the yard - 6pm was their strict target for being back in the house!

There is lots of irish and international research out there on the effect of milking times. Without digging them out I'd say conclusion is no impact on performance unless you're dealing with very high yielders.

dar31

Timmaay wrote: »

Your still hoping to get the parlour in this summer ha?

I'm keeping optimistic, hoping 3 weeks will get me a long ways there. The anoying thing is it sitting in crates in the shed for nearly a month.
Waiting on fitters to install it

trixi2011

Bit different than the rest of ye off for cows in the morning at 4.30 cups on at 5 and go for cows again at 1.30/1.45 in the evening cups on for 2 . Try and be out the door by 5.30 in the summer bit latter these days with calving .

Keepgrowing

trixi2011 wrote: »

Bit different than the rest of ye off for cows in the morning at 4.30 cups on at 5 and go for cows again at 1.30/1.45 in the evening cups on for 2 . Try and be out the door by 5.30 in the summer bit latter these days with calving .

ATM I get to yard at 5.30 am tube and tag calves born during the night. I then get cows frum paddock. I then move fresh calves cows to penno group. Milker arrives as 6.15, I head for coffee and register calves. At day light move wire for cows. We all go for tea at 10 am

All jobs done by 12 midday. Afternoon for foot bathing, trimming etc. Get cows in at 3.30 for milking all finished at 5.30 pm

Home till cow check at 8 and again at 11pm, bed then.

Half day Sat with cows milked tad but only milked OAD on Sunday till Mid March.

Summer is milking at 6.15 am and 3.45 pm to trying to finish by 5.30. We have a neighbour who contract milks and his father doesn't start milking till 6pm. It drives him cracked as he'd be finished ours half an hour at that stage

C0N0R

Out the door at six am back in the door at six pm. Cows milked at 6am 12pm 6pm and 12am!

Guy I did my work placement for with college used to start milking at 9am and then in the evening at 7:30, used to drive me cracked any evening I had to stay to milk

Mooooo

Those that milk oad on sun any issue with scc? Do ye only do it if out on grass. Keepgrowing do autumn calvers do alright on it?

silly

I don't understand how ye are all home so early, when my oh leaves the house at 7/7.30 doesn't get in until 9 and then back out again for a few hours...He is never there for dinner time/bath time/bed time with the kids only during the winter.

mahoney_j

silly wrote: »

I don't understand how ye are all home so early, when my oh leaves the house at 7/7.30 doesn't get in until 9 and then back out again for a few hours...He is never there for dinner time/bath time/bed time with the kids only during the winter.

Without wanting to insult your husband as I'm sure he works damn hard it's pure habit ,I'd sit down with him or even give a day with him and see how the day goes ,you'll be amazed how much time (intentionally or unintentionally (is lost through day

silly

mahoney_j wrote: »

Without wanting to insult your husband as I'm sure he works damn hard it's pure habit ,I'd sit down with him or even give a day with him and see how the day goes ,you'll be amazed how much time (intentionally or unintentionally (is lost through day

He seems to be so busy though! Like any time he needs something from the Vet, I take the kids and go for him as he said he doesn't have time to go himself. Even though its only 15 mins from his house at most.

Buford T. Justice XIX

silly wrote: »

I don't understand how ye are all home so early, when my oh leaves the house at 7/7.30 doesn't get in until 9 and then back out again for a few hours...He is never there for dinner time/bath time/bed time with the kids only during the winter.

Milking at 8 and 5 and target is usually to leave the house at 7.20 and back in at 6.45. Spring throws those targets in the bin, though.

How well setup are your yards and roadways? I was similar when I got married but spent a lot of money in the yard in the time since to make it a one man job as far as possible and there is a lot more to be spent there yet.

Things like extra milking units and a few gates in the sheds can make a big difference. A step up in investment would be to simplify the winter feeding by increasing the feed spaces and their location can free up a lot of time too. Good calf housing as well (have a bit to do here yet).

silly

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Milking at 8 and 5 and target is usually to leave the house at 7.20 and back in at 6.45. Spring throws those targets in the bin, though.

How well setup are your yards and roadways? I was similar when I got married but spent a lot of money in the yard in the time since to make it a one man job as far as possible and there is a lot more to be spent there yet.

Things like extra milking units and a few gates in the sheds can make a big difference. A step up in investment would be to simplify the winter feeding by increasing the feed spaces and their location can free up a lot of time too. Good calf housing as well (have a bit to do here yet).

He has been doing improvements the last 2 years alright. Built a new large shed, with one section for calves if they get sick to move them away from healthy calves. He has built a new "labour ward" (as i call it) too, which can fit 6/8 instead of 4/6 cows. He will be putting in a new milking parlour at the end of this year, he currently has 6 units.

Not sure about roadways etc, we live right next to the farm. I don't even know what time he comes in most nights as I am asleep well before he gets in.

Buford T. Justice XIX

silly wrote: »

He has been doing improvements the last 2 years alright. Built a new large shed, with one section for calves if they get sick to move them away from healthy calves. He has built a new "labour ward" (as i call it) too, which can fit 6/8 instead of 4/6 cows. He will be putting in a new milking parlour at the end of this year, he currently has 6 units.

Not sure about roadways etc, we live right next to the farm. I don't even know what time he comes in most nights as I am asleep well before he gets in.

It's good that he is taking steps to reduce his workload. I know from my own experience that a heavy burden is placed on the OH while the farm is developed.

Sometimes the farm becomes the whole focus while you're stuck in the middle trying to pull in both directions with no thanks from either side. Keep thinking positively is all the advice I can give you, hopefully things will improve soon for both of you.

blackdog1

silly wrote:

He has been doing improvements the last 2 years alright. Built a new large shed, with one section for calves if they get sick to move them away from healthy calves. He has built a new "labour ward" (as i call it) too, which can fit 6/8 instead of 4/6 cows. He will be putting in a new milking parlour at the end of this year, he currently has 6 units.

silly wrote:

Not sure about roadways etc, we live right next to the farm. I don't even know what time he comes in most nights as I am asleep well before he gets in.

Do you get any relief milker or help at all? I think managing sick calves a well as all the other jobs would kill a man. From dealing with sick calves here, they add hours onto your day from cleaning disinfecting pens, dosing them. Not to mention the mental stress. Does he feed powder milk? What calf disease is he getting? Crypto? Rota?

silly

blackdog1 wrote: »

Do you get any relief milker or help at all? I think managing sick calves a well as all the other jobs would kill a man. From dealing with sick calves here, they add hours onto your day from cleaning disinfecting pens, dosing them. Not to mention the mental stress. Does he feed powder milk? What calf disease is he getting? Crypto? Rota?

We only get a relief milker if we have a wedding or something to go to. He even milked the cows the morning we got married....

I think its mostly scour with the calves. He gives them the Colostrum for the first few days and then the powder.
They are not sick yet, he said Its always around the 1st March that it starts.

He has had 3 sets of twins this year too and alot of bullocks.

Will try and keep postitive - but honestly its like being a single mother these last few years - I hate this time of year.

Mooooo

It's the fact that he is on his own is the biggest thing I'd say. Having someone even just to feed the calves can be a big time saving as when your milking/ calving/ feeding / calf rearing it all adds up. Some lads have parents or siblings to give a hand others dont. The new parlour would be a big help 6 units would be very slow going. It's easy to say get someone in but if development has to be paid as well sometimes it may just not be possible. I guess when the rush of calving eases off its a case of sitting down and go thru the books and see if it's possible to hire in someone for spring next year.

White Clover

Mooooo wrote: »

It's the fact that he is on his own is the biggest thing I'd say. Having someone even just to feed the calves can be a big time saving as when your milking/ calving/ feeding / calf rearing it all adds up. Some lads have parents or siblings to give a hand others dont. The new parlour would be a big help 6 units would be very slow going. It's easy to say get someone in but if development has to be paid as well sometimes it may just not be possible. I guess when the rush of calving eases off its a case of sitting down and go thru the books and see if it's possible to hire in someone for spring next year.

It would be easier to automate as much of the work as possible. Ie auto feeder for calves, good parlour and housing. All easier got than Labour.

Mooooo

White Clover wrote: »

It would be easier to automate as much of the work as possible. Ie auto feeder for calves, good parlour and housing. All easier got than Labour.

Agree but it's getting to that stage unfortunately means the worst of both as money and time goes towards building etc, so when it's busiest it can be hard to get someone in . Hopefully the parlour will be a big help for them in time saving. Getting over last year's milk price may also be a factor

Keepgrowing

silly wrote: »

I don't understand how ye are all home so early, when my oh leaves the house at 7/7.30 doesn't get in until 9 and then back out again for a few hours...He is never there for dinner time/bath time/bed time with the kids only during the winter.

When my kids were at that stage I wasn't home too early either tbh. We had 3 in nappies at one stage.

kowtow

Keepgrowing wrote: »

When my kids were at that stage I wasn't home too early either tbh. We had 3 in nappies at one stage.

Yeh.. I think everyone is different in that respect.

The OH was never one to go out to work until the moment she had a baby, once she did we didn't see her for dust. Neither of us really relished spending too much time with small children.

As things turned out from seven or eight upwards they were with us virtually all the time .. now we even have to work with the pair of them.

It's karma, I tell you, karma.

mickey1985

Just curious did many of Dairygold suppliers sign the fixed milk price contract. I signed at 5%.

Buford T. Justice XIX

I'm seeing a lot of articles in the last few weeks about an impending farm bust about to happen in the USA. I wonder what it would mean for us?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-next-american-farm-bust-is-upon-us/ar-AAmJPpt

http://thefederalist.com/2017/02/13/farm-bust-help-renew-american-agriculture/

kowtow

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I'm seeing a lot of articles in the last few weeks about an impending farm bust about to happen in the USA. I wonder what it would mean for us?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-next-american-farm-bust-is-upon-us/ar-AAmJPpt

http://thefederalist.com/2017/02/13/farm-bust-help-renew-american-agriculture/

From the article

‘No one just grain farms anymore,’ said Deb Stout, whose sons Mason and Spencer farm the family’s 2,000 acres in Sterling, Kan., 120 miles east of Ransom. Spencer also works as a mechanic, and Mason is a substitute mailman. ‘Having a side job seems like the only way to make it work,’ she said.

Striking, isn't it, that same conversation which happens here almost week in week out. Striking too that, although there is a ten times bigger farm involved, with lower land prices the capital at risk would likely be in the same order as that of an Irish farm.

Something has to change.

yosemitesam1

kowtow wrote: »

From the article



Striking, isn't it, that same conversation which happens here almost week in week out. Striking too that, although there is a ten times bigger farm involved, with lower land prices the capital at risk would likely be in the same order as that of an Irish farm.

Something has to change.

Do you think it will change much in the next few years? Seems to be too much focus on expansion to try and get ahead but only really digging into a bigger hole.

Waffletraktor

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Do you think it will change much in the next few years? Seems to be too much focus on expansion to try and get ahead but only really digging into a bigger hole.

They just kept adding to the already over supply of corn no one wanted and have run out of storage on the grain belts. Though china has recently decided not to pay it farmers to produce as much as possible but to demand from now on unlike the last few years.
A grain trader was there recently, looked at on 50k ton pile of wheat that went rotten as the asphalt slab on the airfield drained into a bowl underneath it and couldn't filter away to the drainage system. Wheat will for a 6" crust or waste and will store perfectly after if can get the water away and prevent heating normally.

Timmaay

Waffletraktor wrote: »

They just kept adding to the already over supply of corn no one wanted and have run out of storage on the grain belts. Though china has recently decided not to pay it farmers to produce as much as possible but to demand from now on unlike the last few years.
A grain trader was there recently, looked at on 50k ton pile of wheat that went rotten as the asphalt slab on the airfield drained into a bowl underneath it and couldn't filter away to the drainage system. Wheat will for a 6" crust or waste and will store perfectly after if can get the water away and prevent heating normally.

Meanwhile Russia has discovered it has 1000s of HAs lying largely idle that can grow cheap corn...

Waffletraktor

Timmaay wrote: »

Meanwhile Russia has discovered it has 1000s of HAs lying largely idle that can grow cheap corn...

Russian are not fudged doing cheap feed grains(non gm soya and bread wheat), beside this proper winter has knocked 2 previous big harvest firmly on the head.
Beside golden rule of grain trading is ignore the black sea until it's on a boat.Alot of the extra feed production is being turned into higher value products now, taking milk and meat markets.