Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

straight · 05-08-2023 02:27PM

Moonsyst is another bolus one. I've time to consider anyway. Will be giving a serious look at the dairy show.

straight · 05-08-2023 02:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942864#Comment_120942864

Was going really well. But I see the bull serving a few after 60 days recently. Embryo loss I guess or else just the bull being bored. Hopefully the latter because there was no cow bothering to rise on them. Also I'd say the bull took a week off about 5 weeks ago. Alot of cows (about 10%) were served here about 2 weeks ago. Things seem to have settled down now again. Leaving the bull in a week longer as I intend milking a few extra next year.

older by the day · 05-08-2023 08:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942001#Comment_120942001

Plenty of fellows milking at 10am at the weekend or every other day of the week. If you konked it tonight do you think the cows care who or what time they are milked tomorrow?

The only advantage of being self employed is some flexibility with time. A watch is only jewelry around here. An hour don't matter a shittte. Have a good lie in with herself in the morning. Do it twice if you can LOL

whelan2 · 05-08-2023 08:54PM

I go back to bed - alone- for an hour or 2 on a sunday if no football on. I also get up for 40 minutes peace before I go out to milk each morning. Dishwasher, washing machine on. Do bank payments etc with a cup of tea before I go out. Leave breakfast stuff ready for kids.

GrasstoMilk · 06-08-2023 06:43AM

Any idea how long whole crop needs to be ensiled before it can be fed out ?

pitted 2 weeks ago tomorrow

alps · 06-08-2023 07:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942453#Comment_120942453

Once cows are down to 16 litres. They'll take a hit on yield otherwise. Non scientific research😃

mahoney_j · 06-08-2023 07:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120945175#Comment_120945175

If u used an additive some of them ok to feed from 10 days ….even at that I’d prefer at least 3 weeks to ferment

GrasstoMilk · 06-08-2023 08:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120945257#Comment_120945257

Yeah used ecosyl liquid on it

Castlekeeper · 07-08-2023 08:29AM

No difference at all, if there's anything going on/wrong at all you'd lose a hour anyway. Make sure they've plenty grass and you could let them for 2 or 3 without a bother, suit yourself. A top classgood local farmer used to get the kids to school every day before the cows, milk away again at 5.30ish, he had a shorter day and got a lot more done than most. Plus time with the family.

In reply to Siamsa Sessions

Castlekeeper · 07-08-2023 09:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120926005#Comment_120926005

15 years OAD experience, 5 years full time now, I don't know anyone but who milks first thing in the morning so I don't know that one. On grazing , they might eat 5% less, but generally meal levels are 1-2 kgs less so it works out the same.

You can change frome once to twice a day at will, even in mid season, but, to use an analogy I read once, you have a strong brake and a weak accelerator!

Most breeds of cows will do, there's more difference within them between breeds.

Alot of the present OAD info came from NZ and into that cohort of farmers so there's plenty info on the jersey X, which have much the same pros and cons as on TAD. They're a bit more prone to mastitis and SCC due to low udders and milk leakage, like a lot of NZ stock, if milked inside in the spring.

Be a little careful of low litres and high % as it can result in SCC issues at lactation end simply due to concentration. That said it will only magnify what's already there rather than cause a problem.

Current breed index evaluations count for little as you will see yourself once you start, if you divide your cows between high, middle, and low, they could all change a rank and OAD indexes aren't based on milk recording OAD cows afaik.

Personally I've found British Friesians had the lowest adaption rate, and have had poorish results with Kiwi Xs, and high solids high EBI Fr. I'm very happy with some NR x and MOx but you've a bit of working our yourself as you go, you'll learn a lot from your own cows.

In general I look for a low maintenance high health herd to keep costs down to compensate for the reduced income but I know a man who milked 40+l Hols cows for a year before he retired and was very happy when they were milking 30+l on OAD, I'm not sure how long they'd last though.

Best of luck.

mahoney_j · 07-08-2023 08:49PM

Cow down with milk fever this morning ….and got call from contract rearer that he noticed 2 calves with blood in there dung ….both calves injected and full bunch treated for cocci…..cow for mag ,calcium and phosphorous injection and popped straight up

2 unusual things for august

Grueller · 07-08-2023 08:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120950584#Comment_120950584

I had cruel hardship here last week. 9 cases of coccidiosis over 7 days in the calves out of the few sucklers I have left. Getting them in every day was some pain in the hoop.

Base price · 08-08-2023 02:02AM

Just wondering, do any of ye dose your calves with Bovicox, Coxaclear or similar before you turn them out to grass.

We always dose the bought in dairy/beef calves that we rear with Bovicox (3mls/10kgs) at turnout and seldom have an issue with Coccidiosis. Over the years we'd get the odd case and we put the sick calf/weanling into a dry bedded shed along with a comerade and followed our Vet's advice. Dose both again with Bovicox along with injections of Sulphamet / Co-Trimoxaloze and in severe cases Buscopan. We offer them quality hay with electrolytes in a bucket/drinker.

mahoney_j · 08-08-2023 07:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951209#Comment_120951209

I asked my vet and he said no …..I’ve never had it here and contract rearer never had it either ….will def do it next year

orm0nd · 08-08-2023 07:36AM

if calves are getting meal , bird sh1t in the troughs is lethal

whelan2 · 08-08-2023 08:09AM

We had 2 cases last week calves all done for coccidiosis at turn out. These would be last year's autumn calves.

Bass Reeves · 08-08-2023 08:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951381#Comment_120951381

I heard somewhere before it's not the bird sh!t that is the issue. It's crows feet. They will scratch through the feed to pick at it. It's what they bring in on there feet is the problem.

orm0nd · 08-08-2023 09:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951497#Comment_120951497

One way or the other they're bad news anyhow.

Water troughs another area not enough attention given to.

All troughs should have a drain plug and flushed out regularly.

I also think one can overdo this dosing against this and that and using strong disinfectants.

Great believer of building up self immunity.

straight · 08-08-2023 12:35PM

Kerry have another fixed price scheme open. 33 to 34 cent for march to Oct next year.

ginger22 · 08-08-2023 01:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952401#Comment_120952401

If it drops to that for next year it will be easy to collect the milk. A lot of lads will be gone broke.

farmertipp · 08-08-2023 01:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952553#Comment_120952553

you might not have to wait till next yr for that to happen

08-08-2023 02:24PM

You couldn’t sign up to such a bad price.

dmakc · 08-08-2023 02:30PM

Think I recall reading last Winter when things were at their height they set 32c fixed price?

awaywithyou · 08-08-2023 02:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952553#Comment_120952553

No fear of you going broke

ginger22 · 08-08-2023 02:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953084#Comment_120953084

Ha ha

mahoney_j · 08-08-2023 02:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953046#Comment_120953046

In a normal world in normal times that would be a fixed price that u would strongly consider ….further corrections in current milk pricing on way over next few months

jaymla627 · 08-08-2023 04:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952553#Comment_120952553

It's slightly amusing seeing the co-ops come out with this....

Screenshot_20230808_170025_Chrome.jpg

They're won't be even the need for a reduction scheme if milk sticks in at low 30's our lower into this winter next spring/summer, unless their going to get some loan scheme going from sbci money to keep lads going for next year