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Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

Timmaay

24/6/16

Recently we saw three posters close their accounts over disagreements in the dairy threads. While there is a lot of frustration and discontent with current milk prices and the processing industry, the recent tendency for dairy threads to become tit-for-tat arguments isn’t tolerable for those not involved.

All farming sectors go through difficult periods and during such times there may need to be changes in how threads are moderated.

Dairy threads are going to be more closely monitored and subject to stricter moderation for a while.

To that end we won’t tolerate baiting of posters, constantly reviving old arguments, posters with agendas or crusading for a cause.

Whether it’s discussion of the business or politics of the dairy or other sectors, we expect civility and tolerance toward each other and other opinions as diversity of opinion is needed as a source of different ways of looking at a situation.

"The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress." - Joseph Joubert

Also please be aware that what you may post as light-hearted banter can be read totally differently by someone adversely affected by the subject matter and evoke a reaction you hadn’t intended.

The ‘Off-Season’ forum, and its anonymous posting, is available for anyone to chat about their situation.

The Mod Team.

10 away from the 10000 posts! Frazz I think it's fair to say this thread has been a success!

Indeed it was! First thread can be found here- http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056872221

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visatorro

kowtow wrote: »

We've been once a day this year and have to say there was no problem transitioning.

Heifers look a bit weak in their first year but I have well fed 3rd calvers doing 15-20 litres still. Scc 161 and would be much lower if it wasn't for one culprit.

I'm going back to twice next year partly because I like the rhythm and partly because I want to see what the girls can do with all the stops pulled out.. and I suppose if I'm honest because I just reckon a cow likes to be milked twice ..

Bear in mind my results are skewed by a small herd but if you pay attention to detail I reckon it could be a very interesting system, potentially even spread across two farms although you'd need to look hard at ROI for the land.

Like many things in dairy from ACRs to robots and ZG I reckon success depends on why you do it, rather than whether you do it. If you think milking is a chore to be rushed or minimised for as many cows as you can stuff in then I'm not sure you're in the right game in the first place.... on the other hand if you see these things as one way to free time for stuff you have been dying to do anyway to increase quality, production, grass then you could be on the right track.

Define well fed 3Rd calvers?
Your saying 17,5 hi solids milk. There in lies the problem with it, if she was milked twice she would surely be pushing the 30 litres. I know you're at cheese but if I haven't litres in the tank, I'm at nothing.

darragh_haven

Two guys near me (one an ex-boardsie) are full time OAD. The ex-boardsie is just finished his first year of OAD and is going good, but up to 30% of the herd do not convert to the system. Replacement heifers will take their place. It'll take 3 years to fully convert.
Your not writing off the 3 year conversion period, you just have slightly less income for the period. Altho, he is pumping out the same MS/Ha. With 11% more cows than twice a day. All on the same milking platform
The other guy is at it 5 years at OAD. Never visited him, but have heard very good reports from any of my neighbours that ever done farm walks there

darragh_haven

http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/86020027/milking-shed-runs-12-hours-for-onceaday-herds

Interesting article about a OAD system in NZ. Furthest point in the farm is 7km from the parlour. The scale doesn't interest me, its the system.

Mooooo

visatorro wrote: »

Define well fed 3Rd calvers?
Your saying 17,5 hi solids milk. There in lies the problem with it, if she was milked twice she would surely be pushing the 30 litres. I know you're at cheese but if I haven't litres in the tank, I'm at nothing.

You must have some cows if a cow calved in spring is still doing 30 litres. This time of year doing 17L would be above average for a twice a day herd

whelan2

Mooooo wrote: »

You must have some cows if a cow calved in spring is still doing 30 litres. This time of year doing 17L would be above average for a twice a day herd

Dont worry I am sure you'll have a few lads coming on to say their spring calved cows are still giving 40 litres on twice a day.@6%fat and 5% pr

kowtow

Mooooo wrote: »

You must have some cows if a cow calved in spring is still doing 30 litres. This time of year doing 17L would be above average for a twice a day herd

We milk recorded on 3rd October and the 305 day yield was 5700kg from memory, and that includes about 30% small framed 2nd calf heifers. For another 30-40% it is the 2nd or third lactation but the first year in the parlour.

Girl in the picture below (Sept 27th) is a March calver from memory although I will check when I get back as have to run to Carlow.

Now some days she'd be more generous with milk than the previous day - and that day she obviously surprised me a bit hence the photo. But I think the cows that are high producers probably keep a lot of that production on OAD if you can keep them healthy and clean with low scc which might be more of a challenge in a bigger herd.

As I said above though, I'd be more comfortable twice a day and I have a feeling the cows would too - although I have no scientific basis whatsoever for that except that when we have calves in with cows they seem to have two definite natural feeding periods in the day.

Jexbullcalf

If you have a few more like her lying around let me know!!!

kowtow

Jexbullcalf wrote: »

If you have a few more like her lying around let me know!!!

Ah she was one of the bunch of reject heifers standing on this farm with a few screw bulls when I bought the place...

She has a very badly behaved daughter who produced about 17 and now down to 10/12 litres this year, after a really horrific twin calving & DA. Have moderate hopes for her in the future.

Be interesting to see what if anything they produce now that they are in calf to AI for the first time, rather than the local Lothario.

Buford T. Justice XIX

A bit on trial work in NZ on premowing and grazing trial.

http://www.dairynz.co.nz/about-us/research/key-projects/pre-grazing-and-mowing-trial/?_cldee=bmpob29nc0BnbWFpbC5jb20%3D&recipientid=contact-a3c17531679de11190de005056ba0008-a8633e4fe0fb44dda5f99dbf821c335c&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Regional+e-newsletter+-+Canterbury%2FNorth+Otago&esid=8c69377f-b29f-e611-bd66-005056ba000b&urlid=15

It won't accept my email for updates so if someone can get accepted, you might fire it up here when it comes.

Buford T. Justice XIX

darragh_haven wrote: »

http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/86020027/milking-shed-runs-12-hours-for-onceaday-herds

Interesting article about a OAD system in NZ. Furthest point in the farm is 7km from the parlour. The scale doesn't interest me, its the system.

Did you follow on that conversation and click into to next article on him?:eek::eek:

visatorro

Mooooo wrote: »

You must have some cows if a cow calved in spring is still doing 30 litres. This time of year doing 17L would be above average for a twice a day herd

Jesus I've no cows giving 17 litres never mind thirty. In my head I was thinking springtime!

Kowtow mentioned a heifer starting off at 17 now at around 10, this is probably what my not very milky herd would produce.

kowtow

visatorro wrote:

Kowtow mentioned a heifer starting off at 17 now at around 10, this is probably what my not very milky herd would produce.

I haven't addressed the delicate subject of nuts!

We feed really generously. Never less than 2 or 3 kg in the parlour and often plenty more especially for the ones who can hit the right spot on the feeder. This will change next year so be interesting to see if they drop back. I'd rather they produced a bit more protein in the future.

Also they've always had a long long dry period for various reasons.. this year I think it was 4 months. Whether that makes a difference i dont know.

darragh_haven

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Did you follow on that conversation and click into to next article on him?:eek::eek:

No. I couldn't find a link... what was the jist

Buford T. Justice XIX

darragh_haven wrote: »

No. I couldn't find a link... what was the jist

PM sent.

Midfield9

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

PM sent.

Can i have that link too if u don't mind thanks

kevthegaff

Midfield9 wrote:

Can i have that link too if u don't mind thanks

Me too thanks!

Buford T. Justice XIX

Midfield9 wrote: »

Can i have that link too if u don't mind thanks

kevthegaff wrote: »

Me too thanks!

NO!

carrollsno1

Well lads just a quick question did any of ever cut back tge number of clusters in the parlour in late lactation heard of lads going back to 16 from 24 for a one man operation but would that suits a herd over 200 cows I don't know at the moment I'm finding it diffidifficult to keep into 24 on my own thanks for the help lads

Buford T. Justice XIX

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Well lads just a quick question did any of ever cut back tge number of clusters in the parlour in late lactation heard of lads going back to 16 from 24 for a one man operation but would that suits a herd over 200 cows I don't know at the moment I'm finding it diffidifficult to keep into 24 on my own thanks for the help lads

ACRs

:pac:

Yeah, a neighbour used to cut back from 16 to 12 when the cows went in as he was worried about overmilking. Milking took the same length, I think, as he was still getting through the cows as quickly with less cows and more rows.

A lot more crap in the parlour though with more rounds.

Buford T. Justice XIX

http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/dairy/glanbia-coop-completes-payment-of-special-dividend-to-shareholders-35185656.html

Glanbia co-op completes payment of Special Dividend to shareholders

visatorro

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Well lads just a quick question did any of ever cut back tge number of clusters in the parlour in late lactation heard of lads going back to 16 from 24 for a one man operation but would that suits a herd over 200 cows I don't know at the moment I'm finding it diffidifficult to keep into 24 on my own thanks for the help lads

Cows always overmilked here. No major problems I think. It's not as if your putting on a row and tipping down the shop for biscuits. Feck the loss about them. It's about the farmer you know. They won't heel over in the parlour if cluster is left on for a few minutes imv anyway

whelan2

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/dairy/glanbia-coop-completes-payment-of-special-dividend-to-shareholders-35185656.html

Glanbia co-op completes payment of Special Dividend to shareholders

Thanks Henry

pedigree 6

Special scheme to roll out more anaerobic digestors on dutch dairy farms spearheaded by freisland campina.
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/02/netherlands-europe-dairy-industry-agriculture-biogas-cows-manure-poo-power

pedigree 6

visatorro wrote: »

Cows always overmilked here. No major problems I think. It's not as if your putting on a row and tipping down the shop for biscuits. Feck the loss about them. It's about the farmer you know. They won't heel over in the parlour if cluster is left on for a few minutes imv anyway

Would you have many cases of mastitis per year and what would your cell count be?

yewtree

A brennan has a couple of suggestions in the journal regarding updating profit monitor. Two main bits are costing family labour and putting heifer rearing in as a full cost. Long over due to cost labour in pm. Would also be worthwhile including land charget aswell

visatorro

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Would you have many cases of mastitis per year and what would your cell count be?

Two cases this year. Row here about treatment. Older generation refuses to use mastitis tubes and just uses peppermint. Mainly afraid of relief milker letting them into the tank. That's my own problem and wouldn't be common on most farms!! Scc between 150-250, normally hovers around 200.

pedigree 6

yewtree wrote: »

A brennan has a couple of suggestions in the journal regarding updating profit monitor. Two main bits are costing family labour and putting heifer rearing in as a full cost. Long over due to cost labour in pm. Would also be worthwhile including land charget aswell

He's after getting a fair bit of pressure on that subject from farmers on other social media platforms including from some posters on here.
To risk bringing a mountain down on top of me, but what difference does it make?
Is it just the notion of printing an "average" dairy farmers income in the paper and to get the full picture?
Or maybe so new entrants can get a full understanding of what they're getting themselves into?

I really don't care what is printed in the paper. It doesn't affect what i'm doing or earning on the farm or does it? What's it all about?

Mooooo

Have heard of coop reps quoting the top 10% on cop's based off profit monitors with regard to what lads can take, facilitator afaik now includes avg ind wage on to costs to correct em

mf240

pedigree 6 wrote: »

He's after getting a fair bit of pressure on that subject from farmers on other social media platforms including from some posters on here.
To risk bringing a mountain down on top of me, but what difference does it make?
Is it just the notion of printing an "average" dairy farmers income in the paper and to get the full picture?
Or maybe so new entrants can get a full understanding of what they're getting themselves into?

I really don't care what is printed in the paper. It doesn't affect what i'm doing or earning on the farm or does it? What's it all about?

Never admit to making money. Roll out a sad story to anyone that will listen. It's just one big tradegy

yewtree

pedigree 6 wrote: »

He's after getting a fair bit of pressure on that subject from farmers on other social media platforms including from some posters on here.
To risk bringing a mountain down on top of me, but what difference does it make?
Is it just the notion of printing an "average" dairy farmers income in the paper and to get the full picture?
Or maybe so new entrants can get a full understanding of what they're getting themselves into?

I really don't care what is printed in the paper. It doesn't affect what i'm doing or earning on the farm or does it? What's it all about?

I think it's worth while to make the pm as accurate as possible. I am interested because I use it and think it should be improved.
Your right it will not affect you directly in terms of income.