Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

mf240

Keepgrowing wrote: »

We’ve given serious consideration to a rotary but having trouble with the top line figure. A few other things to be done first I suppose.

We’ve visited several but in only 1 was there actually any labour reduction post installation. Some farms had one milker on a Sunday evening and that’s kinda whet caused us to pause as much as the investment. Have you reduced your labour bill?

Seriously considering putting another parlour along side current set up. We were due to visit a few in the uk this summer but current restrictions have put a stop to that.

As in two parlours side by side with shared collection yard and dairy. Seen that set up online somewhere.

Mooooo

Take a look at thedairydaughter (@thedairydaught1): https://twitter.com/thedairydaught1?s=09
This crowd have 2 parlours like that, hosted the UK farmers Twitter account recently

Base price

Keepgrowing wrote: »

He obviously has great regard for his clients. If our vet answered with that here it’d be his last ever call

+1
One would wonder why DAFM/private Vets bother to have two different coloured (red/blue) scratch/injectors when TB testing.

It could be a conspiracy :rolleyes:

Wildsurfer

Base price wrote: »

The exemption for TB testing of calves up to 120 days is ending on September the 1st. Reading the article, normal TB rules will apply for calves that are over 42 days old on 1/9/20 if you wish to sell them.
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/tb-test-exemption-for-calves-under-120-days-to-end-in-september-561868

This was one of the good things that arose from Covid 19, I was hoping it would remain. Takes pressure off getting calves away, suited my buyers as they had stronger calves. I'd doubt it would make a difference to TB levels would it? Pressure from vet lobby? Although I remember reading somewhere that the ICSA were calling for the 42 day test to be re instated awhile back, which I thought very unusual.

kevthegaff

Keepgrowing wrote: »

He obviously has great regard for his clients. If our vet answered with that here it’d be his last ever call

I wouldnt blame the vet, and theres a few vets and farmers in my family

Say my name

Keepgrowing wrote: »

He obviously has great regard for his clients. If our vet answered with that here it’d be his last ever call

One of the best vets there is.

Just asked him which is the good lump and the answer was a smile and farmers are not supposed to know that. So it was mise took from that, that they are changed around.
Going from past experience of seeing bigger bottom lumps going through would make you question and trixi2011 post would seem to confirm my suspicions.

Wasn't there a high profile macra farmer got caught out by injecting dirty water into the bottom lump to fail the test.
Just maybe he got caught out by the switcharoo.
Farmers shouldn't know it all. There are the gangsters out there.

Mooooo

Disagree tbh. Saying farmers shouldn't know it all with regard to such things is wrong. It would only bring out a greater level of distrust. It is our livelihoods at stake so as much info as possible should be there with regard to the whole process.

Say my name

Mooooo wrote: »

Disagree tbh. Saying farmers shouldn't know it all with regard to such things is wrong. It would only bring out a greater level of distrust. It is our livelihoods at stake so as much info as possible should be there with regard to the whole process.

You have to be able to catch out the rogue farmers.

These are the farmers as above who'd try and distort the tests. The ones who'd think of injecting slurry or even trying to bring down their chosen lump.

Acquiescence

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

I smoke €27 worth per day of cigarettes...

Is being the meanest, stingiest basterd some kind of badge for dairy farmers?

I ordered 12 rolls of paper online trying to save a bit of money last week, turned out to be absolute shiite but I'll light one smoke off the other walking the cows in with a coffee I paid 4 euro for in the morning. :rolleyes:

dar31

Keepgrowing wrote: »

We’ve given serious consideration to a rotary but having trouble with the top line figure. A few other things to be done first I suppose.

We’ve visited several but in only 1 was there actually any labour reduction post installation. Some farms had one milker on a Sunday evening and that’s kinda whet caused us to pause as much as the investment. Have you reduced your labour bill?

Seriously considering putting another parlour along side current set up. We were due to visit a few in the uk this summer but current restrictions have put a stop to that.

Milked in similar setup in nz many moons ago.
Two 24 units side by side using same gathering yard, 3 of us milking 880 cows. Two in the pits and one lad fetching cows and setting up wires, he'd then start washing yard and any other bit.
We'd have over 300 milked before the cows be locked into gatheri g yard. Great craic at it as you'd be pacing yer selves against each other.
Can't remember how long it took us to milk though.

Mooooo

Say my name wrote: »

You have to be able to catch out the rogue farmers.

These are the farmers as above who'd try and distort the tests. The ones who'd think of injecting slurry or even trying to bring down their chosen lump.

There are ways and means to catch those lads, and keeping info back isn't the way to do it. You said above experiencing big bottom lumps passing, if the dept vet had come out to check the cattle were tested correctly the vet in question would be looking at no testing at all for a while.....

Say my name

Mooooo wrote: »

There are ways and means to catch those lads, and keeping info back isn't the way to do it. You said above experiencing big bottom lumps passing, if the dept vet had come out to check the cattle were tested correctly the vet in question would be looking at no testing at all for a while.....

How do you know the dept haven't given instruction to do this to vets?

Does your vet punch in numbers as he's testing and reading?
(I'm not on about the intial tag reading and tot up).

* I couldn't give a care myself when the job gets done.

Base price

Wildsurfer wrote: »

This was one of the good things that arose from Covid 19, I was hoping it would remain. Takes pressure off getting calves away, suited my buyers as they had stronger calves. I'd doubt it would make a difference to TB levels would it? Pressure from vet lobby? Although I remember reading somewhere that the ICSA were calling for the 42 day test to be re instated awhile back, which I thought very unusual.

+1.

Mooooo

Say my name wrote: »

How do you know the dept haven't given instruction to do this to vets?

Do you know they have? Been thru the ringer with tb and any questions there I've asked, not once would something like that come up. Not a mention the increased risk of mixing up the top and bottom if asked to do it as it's a total change in routine. Would discredit the test is if it was asked to be done anyone could dispute it

Say my name

Mooooo wrote: »

Do you know they have? Been thru the ringer with tb and any questions there I've asked, not once would something like that come up. Not a mention the increased risk of mixing up the top and bottom if asked to do it as it's a total change in routine. Would discredit the test is if it was asked to be done anyone could dispute it

Ask your vet straight out the next time you see them is the avian TB jab always on top.
Or any vet that TB tests.

Panch18

Keepgrowing wrote: »

We’ve given serious consideration to a rotary but having trouble with the top line figure. A few other things to be done first I suppose.

We’ve visited several but in only 1 was there actually any labour reduction post installation. Some farms had one milker on a Sunday evening and that’s kinda whet caused us to pause as much as the investment. Have you reduced your labour bill?

Seriously considering putting another parlour along side current set up. We were due to visit a few in the uk this summer but current restrictions have put a stop to that.

Could be wrong now but did Rockwell have that set up? Or certainly they were talking about it

New rotary went in 18 months ago

Base price

Say my name wrote: »

Ask your vet straight out the next time you see them is the avian TB jab always on top.
Or any vet that TB tests.

I ain't going to phone our Vet to ask at this time of the night but maybe our Veterinary F&F mod can give an answer.

Base price

Say my name wrote: »

Ask your vet straight out the next time you see them is the avian TB jab always on top.
Or any vet that TB tests.

I ain't going to phone our Vet to ask at this time of the night but maybe our F&F Vet mod or other Vets that follow the forum can.

straight

dar31 wrote: »

Milked in similar setup in nz many moons ago.
Two 24 units side by side using same gathering yard, 3 of us milking 880 cows. Two in the pits and one lad fetching cows and setting up wires, he'd then start washing yard and any other bit.
We'd have over 300 milked before the cows be locked into gatheri g yard. Great craic at it as you'd be pacing yer selves against each other.
Can't remember how long it took us to milk though.

I wouldn't be impressed to see people race milking my cows. Not a job to be rushed imho.

whelan2

Farmer2017 wrote: »

Did herd test today. See some with bottom lumps this eve. Is this normal r should I b worried about it

How did you get on?

Say my name

Base price wrote: »

I ain't going to phone our Vet to ask at this time of the night but maybe our Veterinary F&F mod can give an answer.

It mightnt be fair to ask him or her.
It's why I wasn't going to ask that question myself.
That's the beauty of here. There's no question mandatory to answer.

jaymla627

straight wrote: »

I wouldn't be impressed to see people race milking my cows. Not a job to be rushed imho.

A good routine and fasthands could mean a difference of between 2 minutes plus a row and cows still milked perfectly between two different Milkers, worked in a place one time that was putting 640 cows through a 16 unit, me and a kiwi lady where two and a half hours quicker a.m and p.m then the other milking team of Asian workers, wasn’t unusual for them to have cups on for 3.30a.m and last cow wasnt back in paddock till 1.0pm, it often happened the last row would be heading into the paddock and you”d be going for the first group of cows for p.m milking that started at 2

straight

jaymla627 wrote: »

A good routine and fasthands could mean a difference of between 2 minutes plus a row and cows still milked perfectly between two different Milkers, worked in a place one time that was putting 640 cows through a 16 unit, me and a kiwi lady where two and a half hours quicker a.m and p.m then the other milking team of Asian workers, wasn’t unusual for them to have cups on for 3.30a.m and last cow wasnt back in paddock till 1.0pm, it often happened the last row would be heading into the paddock and you”d be going for the first group of cows for p.m milking that started at 2

I'll never milk those kind of numbers anyway but sure each to their own.

dar31

straight wrote: »

I wouldn't be impressed to see people race milking my cows. Not a job to be rushed imho.

There was no racing going on, learned to get the most out of the parlour efficently with out overworking my self in the pit, if some one on the other side was tipping along better than me I'd always make sure to see how.
It was finding a good pace.

greysides

Base price wrote: »

I ain't going to phone our Vet to ask at this time of the night but maybe our F&F Vet mod or other Vets that follow the forum can.

The convention is Avian on top and Bovine on the bottom.

Where there is good reason to do so I've heard of it being done reversed.

Basically, trust your vet or find one you do. Given the decisions that have to made I wouldn't want to be making them if my client didn't trust me. He mightn't like them but he has to trust I'm doing my best for him.

straight

I'm a big fan of david mc William's podcasts but this one really left me down. He spells out the end of irish agriculture basically. Alot of inaccuracies I think but alot of thought provoking stuff too.

https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYXZpZG1jd2lsbGlhbXMubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M&ep=14&episode=ZjZiMzcyNDBiZjA2NDEwZDg4MDUxMmUwYTU0ZGUxODU

Siamsa Sessions

straight wrote: »

I'm a big fan of david mc William's podcasts but this one really left me down. He spells out the end of irish agriculture basically. Alot of inaccuracies I think but alot of thought provoking stuff too.

https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYXZpZG1jd2lsbGlhbXMubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M&ep=14&episode=ZjZiMzcyNDBiZjA2NDEwZDg4MDUxMmUwYTU0ZGUxODU

I’d listen to him now and again and I listened to this one a few months ago. He makes the odd interesting point in it, but it’s obvious he’s very out of his depth most of the time on agriculture.

But then again, farmers aren’t his target audience so many of those listening probably assume he’s right

jaymla627

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

I’d listen to him now and again and I listened to this one a few months ago. He makes the odd interesting point in it, but it’s obvious he’s very out of his depth most of the time on agriculture.

But then again, farmers aren’t his target audience so many of those listening probably assume he’s right

Reasearch findings on the health effects of the likes of beyond meat burgers and meats on lab rats suggest the payouts Monsanto are currently forking out due to round-up cases will be pocket change compared to what the above companies will be hit with, water security is probably the most prevalent factor for world agricultural in the next few decades and Ireland bar catostrophic climate change swings in the weather, Ireland is pretty secure the same couldn’t be said for the vast majority of other large agricultural export countries especially those heavily reliant on irrigation

Farmer2017

whelan2 wrote: »

How did you get on?

Passed thank god.

straight

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

I’d listen to him now and again and I listened to this one a few months ago. He makes the odd interesting point in it, but it’s obvious he’s very out of his depth most of the time on agriculture.

But then again, farmers aren’t his target audience so many of those listening probably assume he’s right

Ya, not a clue about agriculture. It makes me wonder about more stuff he preaches about. Some truth in there too though and I think the agri industry needs to fight back against oat juice, almond juice, lab meat and the like. Also it's time to get the truth out there about farmings effect on the climate vs avocado, almonds and all that sh1t.

Keepgrowing

greysides wrote: »

The convention is Avian on top and Bovine on the bottom.

Where there is good reason to do so I've heard of it being done reversed.

Basically, trust your vet or find one you do. Given the decisions that have to made I wouldn't want to be making them if my client didn't trust me. He mightn't like them but he has to trust I'm doing my best for him.

That’s the relationship with our vet professional behaviour on both sides with trust on both sides, of its otherwise you need another vet or a good chat with yourself

Buford T. Justice XIX

straight wrote: »

Ya, not a clue about agriculture. It makes me wonder about more stuff he preaches about. Some truth in there too though and I think the agri industry needs to fight back against oat juice, almond juice, lab meat and the like. Also it's time to get the truth out there about farmings effect on the climate vs avocado, almonds and all that sh1t.

There's lots happening there that we may not hear about. Just the other day, the UN tweeted that Agriculture produced more GHGs than the fossil fuel industry. It was left up for 2 days and then taken down when even their own FAO head looked for the data behind it.

But they left the Spanish version of the same tweet up till yesterday evening at least.

It may even still be up. It's rather difficult not to see a conspiracy of using false, misleading and totally incorrect data to further an anti farming agenda.

But as the above shows, we're up against some powerful and 'trusted' organisations in this battle.

straight

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

There's lots happening there that we may not hear about. Just the other day, the UN tweeted that Agriculture produced more GHGs than the fossil fuel industry. It was left up for 2 days and then taken down when even their own FAO head looked for the data behind it.

But they left the Spanish version of the same tweet up till yesterday evening at least.

It may even still be up. It's rather difficult not to see a conspiracy of using false, misleading and totally incorrect data to further an anti farming agenda.

But as the above shows, we're up against some powerful and 'trusted' organisations in this battle.

Yes. It's an international attack and it is changing mindsets and perceptions. It's maddening to hear such untruths sometimes.

whelan2

greysides wrote: »

The convention is Avian on top and Bovine on the bottom.

Where there is good reason to do so I've heard of it being done reversed.

Basically, trust your vet or find one you do. Given the decisions that have to made I wouldn't want to be making them if my client didn't trust me. He mightn't like them but he has to trust I'm doing my best for him.

What would a good reason be?

kevthegaff

dar31 wrote: »

There was no racing going on, learned to get the most out of the parlour efficently with out overworking my self in the pit, if some one on the other side was tipping along better than me I'd always make sure to see how.
It was finding a good pace.

I pit on 2 or 3 clusters while the cows are coming in, that's 20 cows at the end of the milking. Also let out the cows early while tje last few cows are milking out. Another one is while cows coming I'm I drive ahead with the jeep and put on the first row. Simple things really spped up the routine

Buford T. Justice XIX

kevthegaff wrote: »

I pit on 2 or 3 clusters while the cows are coming in, that's 20 cows at the end of the milking. Also let out the cows early while tje last few cows are milking out. Another one is while cows coming I'm I drive ahead with the jeep and put on the first row. Simple things really spped up the routine

My OH used milk here a bit while she was off during the lockdown and she could never get her head around me leaving the cows out while the clusters were still on the last 2 or 3 cows:)

jaymla627

straight wrote: »

Yes. It's an international attack and it is changing mindsets and perceptions. It's maddening to hear such untruths sometimes.

Its hard to fathom the ridicule that we get as primary producers given the low returns achieved and work put in, if for instance the Green Party and all the tree hugging environmentalists achieve their goals, decimate farming output in Europe and lead to a reliance on imported gmo soya and corn plus 1000’s of different chemicals and preservatives to feed the European population what happens when a grain shortage occurs worldwide, our climate change renders the 3rd world countries that the 1st world will become so dependent for food on suffer droughts/crop losses and can’t actually provide the corn/soya/avocados etc, we all seen what happened when Chinese manufacturing was shut down earlier in the year and the shortage of supplies on the market, if the same thing happened food supplies what type of anarchy would take place, but we would be told it’s grand sure our GHg emmissions are lower

Panch18

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

There's lots happening there that we may not hear about. Just the other day, the UN tweeted that Agriculture produced more GHGs than the fossil fuel industry. It was left up for 2 days and then taken down when even their own FAO head looked for the data behind it.

But they left the Spanish version of the same tweet up till yesterday evening at least.

It may even still be up. It's rather difficult not to see a conspiracy of using false, misleading and totally incorrect data to further an anti farming agenda.

But as the above shows, we're up against some powerful and 'trusted' organisations in this battle.

Nowadays it doesn’t matter about being right or wrong or facts, it’s about getting your message out there first, regardless of accuracy. The damage is done then and when time comes around for the correction of the untruths people have moved on and don’t even know about the correction

greenfield21

Report on us ag...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/98901/err-274.pdf%3Fv%3D3035.8&ved=2ahUKEwj7j_i81_nqAhUyonEKHSAQDxYQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw3HncSf8PTLix8mqULlDG7n&cshid=1596273897923

yosemitesam1

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

There's lots happening there that we may not hear about. Just the other day, the UN tweeted that Agriculture produced more GHGs than the fossil fuel industry. It was left up for 2 days and then taken down when even their own FAO head looked for the data behind it.

But they left the Spanish version of the same tweet up till yesterday evening at least.

It may even still be up. It's rather difficult not to see a conspiracy of using false, misleading and totally incorrect data to further an anti farming agenda.

But as the above shows, we're up against some powerful and 'trusted' organisations in this battle.

The same could be said about other divisions of the UN also. Big business/vested interests are using it to push their agenda across more than just agriculture/food...

Water John

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

There's lots happening there that we may not hear about. Just the other day, the UN tweeted that Agriculture produced more GHGs than the fossil fuel industry. It was left up for 2 days and then taken down when even their own FAO head looked for the data behind it.

But they left the Spanish version of the same tweet up till yesterday evening at least.

It may even still be up. It's rather difficult not to see a conspiracy of using false, misleading and totally incorrect data to further an anti farming agenda.

But as the above shows, we're up against some powerful and 'trusted' organisations in this battle.

IWT that may not be about anti agri but more about fossil fuel ind pointing the finger elsewhere.

Mooooo

greysides wrote: »

The convention is Avian on top and Bovine on the bottom.

Where there is good reason to do so I've heard of it being done reversed.

Basically, trust your vet or find one you do. Given the decisions that have to made I wouldn't want to be making them if my client didn't trust me. He mightn't like them but he has to trust I'm doing my best for him.

I stand corrected so. Stills seems strange tbh given the non 100% nature of the test iykwim.
I trust my vets, last breakdown 2 years ago was bloods took the numbers and department vets did 2 of the skin tests.

Siamsa Sessions

As part of my dairy homework I look up parlours on YouTube and often the results are big rotary ones and expensive Dairymaster conversions. Nothing wrong with them - good luck to anyone who goes in that direction.

But taking on debt isn’t an option for me so it was nice to come across this 6-unit parlour that’s milking 46 cows in Mayo

https://youtu.be/uj7_dauoINk

Wildsurfer

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

As part of my dairy homework I look up parlours on YouTube and often the results are big rotary ones and expensive Dairymaster conversions. Nothing wrong with them - good luck to anyone who goes in that direction.

But taking on debt isn’t an option for me so it was nice to come across this 6-unit parlour that’s milking 46 cows in Mayo

https://youtu.be/uj7_dauoINk

But it's still 8 rows to milk, I'd say you'd pick up a lot of nice 12 units second hand for small money

Say my name

Castlekeeper wrote: »

Can't see the attraction in pumping out nitrogen to create a surplus that has to be baled.
Anyone could see the way growth rates are going the last few weeks and adjust accordingly, skip every second field or shut the spreader down to 12-14 units and a lot of money and hassle would be spared at what should be one of the cushiest times of year for a dairy farmer.

3rd round of grazing with now zero bag nitrogen spread and I haven't fallen into bankruptcy! :pac: Regrowths are still good to get me into the fourth round. So the ship is still sailing.
The weather is perfect for it.
Eyes are being opened to what is possible.
No protected urea here.

Say my name

Say my name wrote: »

3rd round of grazing with now zero bag nitrogen spread and I haven't fallen into bankruptcy! :pac: Regrowths are still good to get me into the fourth round. So the ship is still sailing.
The weather is perfect for it.
Eyes are being opened to what is possible.
No protected urea here.

Pic.



Question should always be asked how do the organic guys do it..

Wildsurfer

Question should always be asked how do the organic guys do it..[/quote]

Far lower stocking rates probably...

Castlekeeper

straight wrote: »

Ya, not a clue about agriculture. It makes me wonder about more stuff he preaches about. Some truth in there too though and I think the agri industry needs to fight back against oat juice, almond juice, lab meat and the like. Also it's time to get the truth out there about farmings effect on the climate vs avocado, almonds and all that sh1t.

A lot of such people see no issue in opining about which the know little.

Castlekeeper

Say my name wrote: »

Pic.



Question should always be asked how do the organic guys do it..

Great going, tbh probably not all organic farmers growing grass like that, a lot of what your doing is at not common practice in any field

How many days?

Castlekeeper

jaymla627 wrote: »

A good routine and fasthands could mean a difference of between 2 minutes plus a row and cows still milked perfectly between two different Milkers, worked in a place one time that was putting 640 cows through a 16 unit, me and a kiwi lady where two and a half hours quicker a.m and p.m then the other milking team of Asian workers, wasn’t unusual for them to have cups on for 3.30a.m and last cow wasnt back in paddock till 1.0pm, it often happened the last row would be heading into the paddock and you”d be going for the first group of cows for p.m milking that started at 2

Sounds like a good working relationship, ye must have been keeping your distance