Dairy chit chat II

RightTurnClyde

kevthegaff wrote: »

Friend was telling me about an injection for heifers incalf that increases blood cells so quicker recovery from calving, better fertility scc. 25 euro a heifer sounded dodgy

Was at a talk given by the company that manufactures it. €25 is the intro price. It will cost 2 x €20. And the idea is to use it across the whole herd. Or at least the heifers and the older cows. They were practically guaranteeing an additional 3L/cow/day for the first 21 days after calving. But the big sell was health of the animals post calving so that they'd be set up for breeding season. One injection 7 days before calving and another 7 days after.
It uses biology that is being presently used in humans that are getting chemo. It works in humans to build up immunity.
I talked to my vet afterwards and his opinion is that antibiotics will be so heavily policed within 5 years that this type of preventative medication will be the way things are going. It's proven and works for humans, but cost is the issue for animals. They're hoping animal numbers will dilute the treatment costs in the future.
( I've a flyer for the product in the jeep, I'll post pics of it later)

briangriffin

Just wondering about urea levels looking at ours here we have gone from 25 to 40 since we let the cows out a few days ago they are on grass only and about 5 kg of an 18% nut. Cows are in reasonable condition few heifers dropped around the condition score 2 mark but are putting it back on now. Silage is very short just wondering should I drop the protein percentage in the nut or buy some bales of silage to try and redress the problem? Cows acheiving bout 24 litres at 4.09 BF and 3.25 protein. protein had fallen to 3.08 averaging 3.14 for march so far

Cheers

Timmaay

briangriffin wrote: »

Just wondering about urea levels looking at ours here we have gone from 25 to 40 since we let the cows out a few days ago they are on grass only and about 5 kg of an 18% nut. Cows are in reasonable condition few heifers dropped around the condition score 2 mark but are putting it back on now. Silage is very short just wondering should I drop the protein percentage in the nut or buy some bales of silage to try and redress the problem? Cows acheiving bout 24 litres at 4.09 BF and 3.25 protein. protein had fallen to 3.08 averaging 3.14 for march so far

Cheers

5kg of an 18% is a waste on grass, the cows are basically pissing out that extra protein in the form of urea. 12% would be perfect at the minute for full time at good grass, I'm on 50 50 mix of barley (11%p?) and a 14% nut with 2kg feed rate Cal mag etc. The other thing, your milk protein of 3.14 is low enough, that would suggest a lack of energy in the diet. What sort of grass is in front of the cows now?

GrasstoMilk

Have a few autumn born friesan bulls that we never sold.
What are they worth? 250? There 6 months old now

stanflt

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Have a few autumn born friesan bulls that we never sold.
What are they worth? 250? There 6 months old now

80-85 I'll pay cash

visatorro

Timmaay wrote: »

Would a batt latch help much? Boot the cows out to grass the morning, have the silage in the passage ready to be eaten and the batt latch set to open once they have grazed out their patch. Or is it a case of its not worth the extra time and effort when your working full time?

Lack of roadways would be a problem. Extra effort is an issue alright! I don't think Iv much left to give!!

visatorro

Timmaay wrote: »

5kg of an 18% is a waste on grass, the cows are basically pissing out that extra protein in the form of urea. 12% would be perfect at the minute for full time at good grass, I'm on 50 50 mix of barley (11%p?) and a 14% nut with 2kg feed rate Cal mag etc. The other thing, your milk protein of 3.14 is low enough, that would suggest a lack of energy in the diet. What sort of grass is in front of the cows now?

How much is that mix working out at Tim?

GrasstoMilk

stanflt wrote: »

80-85 I'll pay cash

Your worse than the bloody jobber looking for them :P

briangriffin

Timmaay wrote: »

5kg of an 18% is a waste on grass, the cows are basically pissing out that extra protein in the form of urea. 12% would be perfect at the minute for full time at good grass, I'm on 50 50 mix of barley (11%p?) and a 14% nut with 2kg feed rate Cal mag etc. The other thing, your milk protein of 3.14 is low enough, that would suggest a lack of energy in the diet. What sort of grass is in front of the cows now?

Going into heavy covers at the moment, lots of grass on the farm. Was thinking 18 % was too high will lower it next time, lets say there is a lack of energy in the cows diet whats the best way of getting that balanced while full time at grass?

jaymla627

briangriffin wrote: »

Going into heavy covers at the moment, lots of grass on the farm. Was thinking 18 % was too high will lower it next time, lets say there is a lack of energy in the cows diet whats the best way of getting that balanced while full time at grass?

Good quality 14% nut with maize/sugar beet pulp as the main ingrediants will do the trick

Timmaay

jaymla627 wrote: »

Good quality 14% nut with maize/sugar beet pulp as the main ingrediants will do the trick

That's the bones of it, get a nut with an "as fed ulf" of at least 0.95. And preferably with a good source of fibre in it for when the flush of fresh low fibre grass comes, will help keep the parlour pit tidy...

Timmaay

visatorro wrote: »

How much is that mix working out at Tim?

250 for the nut, I can't remember was the barley 170 or 190, I got a feeling it was 190 blown in.

mahoney_j

Timmaay wrote: »

250 for the nut, I can't remember was the barley 170 or 190, I got a feeling it was 190 blown in.

Very steep I'm paying small bit more for rolls rice 16 % with 2% mega fat and a ufl of 1.03 something

kevthegaff

Was gona go with urea tomorrow/ Tues, would frost on wed affect it?

freedominacup

kevthegaff wrote: »

Was gona go with urea tomorrow/ Tues, would frost on wed affect it?

No.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Well sheeeite!

stanflt

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Well sheeeite!

I could send you down an artic load of bales if your stuck- 25 incl delivery

Buford T. Justice XIX

stanflt wrote: »

I could send you down an artic load of bales if your stuck- 25 incl delivery

Thanks stan, still have 150 mixed bales here, just pi$$ed off at the number of times the top of my pit scaled this year.

Never happened before, 4 times this year even after stepping the cutting face so there is a slope towards the back of the pit rather than having a vertical face.

Anyone any idea what I'm doing wrong or is the silage just too dry?

pedigree 6

Plain old rolling the pit enough and with enough weight?

I was at an open day and the farmer had a track digger to roll the pit.
Looking at the pit face in the winter it was the tightest most compact face I've ever seen.

ted_182

BTJ do you use tine grab or shear grab?

On another note what do folks do with heifer calves born with two tits behind the main four or even one right next to a main one?

Also iv noticed fr2249 calves have tiny horns even after four weeks, i have one heifer that seems to be polled, anyone else finding simalar?

Buford T. Justice XIX

ted_182 wrote: »

BTJ do you use tine grab or shear grab?

On another note what do folks do with heifer calves born with two tits behind the main four or even one right next to a main one?

Also iv noticed fr2249 calves have tiny horns even after four weeks, i have one heifer that seems to be polled, anyone else finding simalar?

All shear grab, maybe in need of a bit of an edge again.

On the teats, I get the vet to cut them off when they are young as I don't like doing it myself.

blackdog1

ted_182 wrote:

On another note what do folks do with heifer calves born with two tits behind the main four or even one right next to a main one?

Yea I've seen guys just cut them with a clean disinfected scissors. Best ask your vet.

Signpost

I always take them near enough as soon as there born with a disinfected scissors and a quick shot of aluminum spray after. Neighbour here just gives them a quick pull and they come off and never has an issue, thats a bit cruel in my eyes but def works for him.

cjpm

Had a heifer with a blind teat last year.

She had another calf this year and now there is milk in that quarter, teat looks perfect, however the teat is a little bit tough and the milking machine will not milk her out.

I have to milk her by hand in that quarter. Any tips to get her milking in that quarter very much appreciated.

ozil10

Cow calved last week and one teat is blocked.
Only way to leave milk down is stick plastic insert up there otherwise quarter wont milk out with the cluster on.
no blackspot on the outside of the teat unless its on the inside?
Anybody encounter this before and what solution did they find worked
Cheers

whelan2

ozil10 wrote: »

Cow calved last week and one teat is blocked.
Only way to leave milk down is stick plastic insert up there otherwise quarter wont milk out with the cluster on.
no blackspot on the outside of the teat unless its on the inside?
Anybody encounter this before and what solution did they find worked
Cheers

Anytime I used those inserts the cow always ended up with mastitis. Is there a pea or something inside in the spin?

ozil10

whelan2 wrote: »

Anytime I used those inserts the cow always ended up with mastitis. Is there a pea or something inside in the spin?

ya that's the fear using those inserts
no pea up there that I can feel anyways
been looking it up there and few people use a teat tumour remover to expand and widen the channel

pedigree 6

That awkward time when you should be milking but just as you're about to start, the milk lorry comes in.

So now I have to wait on the washer to finish before I can start.:(

Anyone know any good songs to pass the time?

Waffletraktor

pedigree 6 wrote: »

That awkward time when you should be milking but just as you're about to start, the milk lorry comes in.

So now I have to wait on the washer to finish before I can start.:(

Anyone know any good songs to pass the time?

Plotting how to get away with murder if they repeat it?

whelan2

pedigree 6 wrote: »

That awkward time when you should be milking but just as you're about to start, the milk lorry comes in.

So now I have to wait on the washer to finish before I can start.:(

Anyone know any good songs to pass the time?

If its a one off ,I'd just let it rinse and start milking