Dairy herd 2019

jocksie

Lads a very broad question but what do people think is the minimum size dairy herd going forward?On an average basis with the usual smallish bills etc! With the father there during the day to do the small jobs and an off farm job as well for myself,it’s once a day milking as it stands and would need to stay that way,currently he’s tippin away with 45 cows and 10 followers.

alps

The 45 cows might be the target as a "sideline" enterprise. You will really need to give more detail, like your drawing needs from the farm, your time availability, debt level etc...

Timmaay

The price of milk will make a huge difference also, both the base price (totally outside your control), and the solids payment, 45 high solids cows paying 7c above a base price of 35c (42c/l) will leave a far better profit than say lower solids cows doing 3c above a 27c base price (30c/l), that's a 12c swing, or 40% of your milk price!

White Clover

Timmaay wrote: »

The price of milk will make a huge difference also, both the base price (totally outside your control), and the solids payment, 45 high solids cows paying 7c above a base price of 35c (42c/l) will leave a far better profit than say lower solids cows doing 3c above a 27c base price (30c/l), that's a 12c swing, or 40% of your milk price!

Would you need fairly good volume too timmaay? You need the litres first to get paid for the solids?

Timmaay

White Clover wrote: »

Would you need fairly good volume too timmaay? You need the litres first to get paid for the solids?

Yep both, I suppose Ms instead of solids % would of been a more accurate statement, but still easier to explain in terms of c/l

Donald Trump

jocksie wrote: »

Lads a very broad question but what do people think is the minimum size dairy herd going forward?On an average basis with the usual smallish bills etc! With the father there during the day to do the small jobs and an off farm job as well for myself,it’s once a day milking as it stands and would need to stay that way,currently he’s tippin away with 45 cows and 10 followers.

I don't understand.


What is this mysterious "smallish bills" concept that you speak of? :pac:

jocksie

Donald Trump wrote: »

I don't understand.


What is this mysterious "smallish bills" concept that you speak of? :pac:

Haha when i saw smallish I mean no mortgage on the land or major debt associated

jocksie

alps wrote: »

The 45 cows might be the target as a "sideline" enterprise. You will really need to give more detail, like your drawing needs from the farm, your time availability, debt level etc...

I’m working in construction at the min good wage above average I suppose,time availability i suppose would be 1.5hr in the morning,off farm mortgage 400 a month with no farm debt,I suppose a question is would a fella end up burnt out milking in the morning then off to work

farisfat

jocksie wrote: »

I’m working in construction at the min good wage above average I suppose,time availability i suppose would be 1.5hr in the morning,off farm mortgage 400 a month with no farm debt,I suppose a question is would a fella end up burnt out milking in the morning then off to work

Yes you'll burn out ,theirs alot more to dairy farming than Just milking.

jocksie

farisfat wrote: »

Yes you'll burn out ,theirs alot more to dairy farming than Just milking.

Ah yeah I’m aware of that just himself wants to tip away but the milking mite be getting to much

Timmaay

jocksie wrote: »

I’m working in construction at the min good wage above average I suppose,time availability i suppose would be 1.5hr in the morning,off farm mortgage 400 a month with no farm debt,I suppose a question is would a fella end up burnt out milking in the morning then off to work

Depends on the length of your commute and the type of work, I personally think I'd be burnt out alot faster having to getup at 6am every day to travel to Dublin and not home till 7pm, and usually Saturdays also, which is what I know some friends of mine in construction do, against dairying here.

It also depends on the farm also, the simplest dairyfarm is where you got the yard in the middle of the grazing block, easy access to sheds, compact calving, easily managed cows, calves gone early, possibly even contract rear heifers, and definitely contracting out as much machinery work as possible, you can make it all as horribly complicated in the other direction as you like and end up working 80hrs nearly every week of the yr if you want, but obviously expect to be burnt out soon.

Pinsnbushings

jocksie wrote: »

Lads a very broad question but what do people think is the minimum size dairy herd going forward?On an average basis with the usual smallish bills etc! With the father there during the day to do the small jobs and an off farm job as well for myself,it’s once a day milking as it stands and would need to stay that way,currently he’s tippin away with 45 cows and 10 followers.

Sounds like we are in a very similar situation to yourself at home op. Giving it a go at the moment but the difference with me I'm guessing is I have a regular 20 min commute to work whereas with you in construction I'm sure that varies. Making the conversion to once a day here at the moment as to be honest it's still very dependant on my father and last year took its toll on both of us so hopeful this will take some of the pressure off. How long have you been at the Oad and how are ye finding it?
Are you self employed in construction?

jocksie

Pinsnbushings wrote: »

Sounds like we are in a very similar situation to yourself at home op. Giving it a go at the moment but the difference with me I'm guessing is I have a regular 20 min commute to work whereas with you in construction I'm sure that varies. Making the conversion to once a day here at the moment as to be honest it's still very dependant on my father and last year took its toll on both of us so hopeful this will take some of the pressure off. How long have you been at the Oad and how are ye finding it?
Are you self employed in construction?

We changed over last year and it went reasonably well,I’d advise get rid of any high scc cows,we didn’t and if had it again we could they’re gone this year,it’s ideal if yur walking them any distance obvious reasons then as well,labour,costs,free time etc,not self employed at the min but maybe that is another option,are you milking many?

Pinsnbushings

jocksie wrote: »

We changed over last year and it went reasonably well,I’d advise get rid of any high scc cows,we didn’t and if had it again we could they’re gone this year,it’s ideal if yur walking them any distance obvious reasons then as well,labour,costs,free time etc,not self employed at the min but maybe that is another option,are you milking many?

Ye we were advised milk recording is a must so that's something we will do. Early days but scc under 100 so far the weather has been a huge help. Its unreal how much pressure not having that second milking takes off the system. Did ye have to cull many that didn't take to it or did ye find cows dried themselves off early or anything?
We will milk 35 all goin well this year would be maxed out at 45 I'd say on milking block. Our problem is we have more land away from the parlour than we have around it. Approached all our neighbours about land but nothing available. Like you my father has kinda had enough of milking but he is not ready to lease the farm either. We looked into a lot of the drystock options but sure they all seem to be a dead loss really and all require a good bit of work too. So we will give this a go and see how it pans out.
I'd question whether any form of farming is sustainable with a 9 to 5 job to be honest that's why I asked if you were self employed because I really think you need flexibility with hours especially in the spring.

t3tac

I milk 50 cows drive 1 hour to work 4 days a week. sell all male calves. calve to grass.
do all silage work most slurry and building and mechanical work on farm.
Its busy up at 5.30 am bed about eleven but I enjoy it kids help out have a good holiday every year.

might slow it down in a few years sell all calves milk once a day buy in replacements.
you can do it but if possible get job close to home.

Job is worth about 60 extra cows but I cannot expand and I am insured against bad year ie spread the risk.

Boss is flexible with days off for silage etc, but I have not been late for work yet.

I sold out cows in 2010 and had dry stock and sucklers got back into cows build new parlour and slatted shed over last few years most work myself keep costs down.

Never happier.

Best of luck.

Donald Trump

t3tac wrote: »

I milk 50 cows drive 1 hour to work 4 days a week. sell all male calves. calve to grass.
do all silage work most slurry and building and mechanical work on farm.
Its busy up at 5.30 am bed about eleven but I enjoy it kids help out have a good holiday every year.

might slow it down in a few years sell all calves milk once a day buy in replacements.
you can do it but if possible get job close to home.

Job is worth about 60 extra cows but I cannot expand and I am insured against bad year ie spread the risk.

Boss is flexible with days off for silage etc, but I have not been late for work yet.

I sold out cows in 2010 and had dry stock and sucklers got back into cows build new parlour and slatted shed over last few years most work myself keep costs down.

Never happier.

Best of luck.

Any chance of throwing a few Euro to us less well-offs?

t3tac

how about a few cheap bull calves

jocksie

I know most people seem to say oad is in the morning but any talk of lads doing the oad in the evening?mite work better for some regarding the job

stretch film

jocksie wrote: »

I know most people seem to say oad is in the morning but any talk of lads doing the oad in the evening?mite work better for some regarding the job

it would mean pm milkings at weekend also:(

visatorro

jocksie wrote: »

I know most people seem to say oad is in the morning but any talk of lads doing the oad in the evening?mite work better for some regarding the job

Does the morning milking on the night saver thing with esb help I wonder?