Dairy chit chat II

Water John

Besides the burn out factor. If the calves get a disease outbreak, it would be hell on earth.
I remember reading Katherine O'Leary last year saying it took all four of them to cope with a disease outbreak. That's a herd of about 120/130 cows at the time.
Not for or against close calving but don't make it out to be easy.

whelan2

Water John wrote: »

Besides the burn out factor. If the calves get a disease outbreak, it would be hell on earth.
I remember reading Katherine O'Leary last year saying it took all four of them to cope with a disease outbreak. That's a herd of about 120/130 cows at the time.
Not for or against close calving but don't make it out to be easy.

That's it though. You are relying on everything to go perfect. What if someone gets ill during the hectic period? All's well when things go right. No need to kill yourself to get perfect figures on paper

yewtree

whelan2 wrote: »

That's it though. You are relying on everything to go perfect. What if someone gets ill during the hectic period? All's well when things go right. No need to kill yourself to get perfect figures on paper

Don't think its right to say lads are killing themselves to get paper figures, there are lots of benefits with high calving rates.it's not easy breeding and calving at the sametime or watching cows for 5 months.
From my own expierence the later calves were always the most trouble as there is a disease build up in sheds the less April calves the better.

whelan2

yewtree wrote: »

Don't think its right to say lads are killing themselves to get paper figures, there are lots of benefits with high calving rates.it's not easy breeding and calving at the sametime or watching cows for 5 months.
From my own expierence the later calves were always the most trouble as there is a disease build up in sheds the less April calves the better.

The one system doesn't suit all. What works for you mightnt work for me. Have 2 calving groups here and it works for me. I will never win any awards but that doesn't bother me.

Mooooo

It's not about a paper figures tho my supply is down this year cos I left calving slip, waiting on. 20 animals to calve that should have calved 6 to 8 weeks ago. If milking all year round it may not affect as much in terms of supply but with spring is a must really in terms of sales and milking less of silage in dec

charolais0153

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made

stanflt

charolais0153 wrote: »

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made

3150

charolais0153

stanflt wrote: »

3150

2700

freedominacup

charolais0153 wrote: »

2700

What am I missing? I thanked stans post because I thought he was joking.

yewtree

charolais0153 wrote: »

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made

How did the sale go? I persume this was sale outside shrule? I was going to go bit got held up at home.

C0N0R

charolais0153 wrote: »

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made

What sort of money were heifer calves making?

charolais0153

C0N0R wrote: »

What sort of money were heifer calves making?

Heifer calves weren't sold. Maiden heifers were in and around a thoudand

charolais0153

yewtree wrote: »

How did the sale go? I persume this was sale outside shrule? I was going to go bit got held up at home.

It went well . that was the sale near shrule alright

Sillycave

charolais0153 wrote: »

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made]

You getting into dairying Charolais?

Have cows here that are very loose with fresh grass, what would be s solution to this?
Also would this have any effect on cow performance or is the only downside that they destroy the pal out and me

yewtree

charolais0153 wrote: »

It went well . that was the sale near shrule alright

Delighted to hear that a really nice family who have spent a lifetime breeding dairy cows.ðŸ‘

Mooooo

Sillycave wrote: »

charolais0153 wrote: »

Was at a herd dispersal today. This cow was the highest price. She was a red and white freisian. What do ye think she made]

You getting into dairying Charolais?

Have cows here that are very loose with fresh grass, what would be s solution to this?
Also would this have any effect on cow performance or is the only downside that they destroy the pal out and me

What ration you feeding? Feeding a 14% off the shelf nut here and cows are ok on that front some a bit loose but not bad at the same time. Following cows now with fert to bring up to 110units out

Buford T. Justice XIX

I slept out this morning again, sixth day in a row:o

But the cows were waiting for me in the yard so only a half hour behind time.

And a beautiful, slow, stress free milking, girls pumping milk so no hurry to put on the next cluster.

Sometimes, this job is enjoyable:)

whelan2

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I slept out this morning again, sixth day in a row:o

But the cows were waiting for me in the yard so only a half hour behind time.

And a beautiful, slow, stress free milking, girls pumping milk so no hurry to put on the next cluster.

Sometimes, this job is enjoyable:)

Back to reality tomorrow with school back on

charolais0153

Sillycave wrote: »

You getting into dairying Charolais?

If you have a hundred acres of decent land with a parlour on it that you want to rent to me for half nothing I'll do it but otherwise no

Sillycave

Mooooo wrote: »

Sillycave wrote: »

What ration you feeding? Feeding a 14% off the shelf nut here and cows are ok on that front some a bit loose but not bad at the same time. Following cows now with fert to bring up to 110units out

Feeding 16% off the shelf nut...cows on second grazing paddocks
Does it have impact on performance or going back in calf?

Buford T. Justice XIX

whelan2 wrote: »

Back to reality tomorrow with school back on

My excuse was I had strep throat for a week and didn't sleep much so catching up now.

Timmaay

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1435778153147183&id=854702607921410

Landmass the size of Portugal used for feed!!

Mooooo

Sillycave wrote: »

Mooooo wrote: »

Feeding 16% off the shelf nut...cows on second grazing paddocks
Does it have impact on performance or going back in calf?

I guess acidosis is the thing to watch for but the dung would be bubbly so to speak I think. You could prob drop the p in the nut and if it's persisting by next load get a nut with a bit more fibre in it maybe beet pulp or the like

pedigree 6

Timmaay wrote: »

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1435778153147183&id=854702607921410

Landmass the size of Portugal used for feed!!

Some amount of sh1te in the one place.

Can't understand the need for all the eggs in the one basket.
It's just Chinese willy waving to be the biggest.
More of a risk of a disease outbreak affecting the whole lot than if they were divided into smaller groups.
Just look at what happened here in the 90's and 00's with some people putting all livestock under the one roof.
It doesn't work.

You wouldn't see Coolmore having the racing stable operating from one yard.
Instead they have smaller yards with zero contact between each of them.

Keepgrowing

On compact calving and working alone I feel some are becoming slaves to the prescribed system. Even when all is going well it's hard going. Every gate would need to be hanging, human and herd health needs to be 100%.

Some guys insist on being heroes attempting to do it all themselves. Easy calvings sires are a must and this puts Xbreds in the mix very much especially with heifers. We never see the cows between 10.30-11pm and 5.30am. Lost 1 calf due to this. We do have cameras but they're switched off as we were getting no proper sleep and were wrecked every day.

All calves on adlib milk in groups of 20 from 3 days old. After a few weeks when madness abates they go outside on OAD.

Labour is now the limiting factor and help is needed. If you can't get someone for the yard work get a contractor to feed, slurry, fert, dehorning, fencing etc. Another thing is have as few groups of animals as possible and that downer cow that takes 40 minutes every day needs the knacker. Focus can't be lost or you'll get overwhelmed.

If 90% don't calve in 6 weeks it's no biggie a lot of what guys claim needs to be taken with copious amount of salt.

Fixture

Keepgrowing wrote: »

On compact calving and working alone I feel some are becoming slaves to the prescribed system. Even when all is going well it's hard going. Every gate would need to be hanging, human and herd health needs to be 100%.

Some guys insist on being heroes attempting to do it all themselves. Easy calvings sires are a must and this puts Xbreds in the mix very much especially with heifers. We never see the cows between 10.30-11pm and 5.30am. Lost 1 calf due to this. We do have cameras but they're switched off as we were getting no proper sleep and were wrecked every day.

All calves on adlib milk in groups of 20 from 3 days old. After a few weeks when madness abates they go outside on OAD.

Labour is now the limiting factor and help is needed. If you can't get someone for the yard work get a contractor to feed, slurry, fert, dehorning, fencing etc. Another thing is have as few groups of animals as possible and that downer cow that takes 40 minutes every day needs the knacker. Focus can't be lost or you'll get overwhelmed.

If 90% don't calve in 6 weeks it's no biggie a lot of what guys claim needs to be taken with copious amount of salt.

Well said. Plus considering leaving AI to the professionals!

visatorro

Bull with milkers this morning. All cows bolused last week and in good nick. Hopefully it won't get too cold, there was mention of feeding silage this evening, I pretended I didn't hear anything!!

GrasstoMilk

8 cows had the backs raw on each other tonight. Half tempted to start breeding in AM but going to hold off till Saturday.

K.G.

Keepgrowing wrote: »

On compact calving and working alone I feel some are becoming slaves to the prescribed system. Even when all is going well it's hard going. Every gate would need to be hanging, human and herd health needs to be 100%.

Some guys insist on being heroes attempting to do it all themselves. Easy calvings sires are a must and this puts Xbreds in the mix very much especially with heifers. We never see the cows between 10.30-11pm and 5.30am. Lost 1 calf due to this. We do have cameras but they're switched off as we were getting no proper sleep and were wrecked every day.

All calves on adlib milk in groups of 20 from 3 days old. After a few weeks when madness abates they go outside on OAD.

Labour is now the limiting factor and help is needed. If you can't get someone for the yard work get a contractor to feed, slurry, fert, dehorning, fencing etc. Another thing is have as few groups of animals as possible and that downer cow that takes 40 minutes every day needs the knacker. Focus can't be lost or you'll get overwhelmed.

If 90% don't calve in 6 weeks it's no biggie a lot of what guys claim needs to be taken with copious amount of salt.

And get rid of those calves quick.dont be too greedy with the price and move them on

Signpost

Does anyone know of an iPhone app or other cheap way to do up a map of the farm with accurate areas? I've always worked off an old map I had of the farm and took 10% off the measurements but had a guy in with GPS for a job and some fields are a mile out. Would love to be able to map it as they are fenced etc but couldn't justify paying a company 7 euro an acre for a pocket map... Surely something that you can drive around with and then it gives you back a map of it