Dairy chit chat II

Gawddawggonnit · 24-07-2017 03:59PM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

One lad in my DG has a neighbours son come in to help with the calves, spreading fert and doing odd jobs around the yard. He's planning to get him trained to milk for next spring so he will have more time for other things, like sleep.

There's a nice number of lads looking for part time work like that and then you have the option of students for spring as well......

....**And that's before you get into paid labour or FRS workers for a few months**.

That doesn't read like a plan...if Kerry gave you that spiel you'd ask a few questions.

I went into three different hire agencies on friday trying to find some staff. Full time staff. I was told that they're advising people not to work on farms because it's hard and smelly work...and I'm not talking about *good* staff either, they're the bottom of the pile!
I've given enough examples of their abilities on here.

Another thing, I find that a cluster attendant doesn't need to be the best worker, just a good timekeeper with a pulse...wouldn't you be better employed doing more important work than a repetitive brain dead chore?

Gawddawggonnit · 24-07-2017 04:25PM

kowtow wrote: »

Interesting looking at the NZ equivalent full timers & cows... was reading something the other day about one particular farm, saying (I think) two full time employees for 440(?) cows, but crucially a "one man" cow shed - which I assume means milking - I think they said they would have liked more labour but wanted to pay down debt.

I wondered how typical that was of NZ - I always assumed the place was awash with seasonal staff / students.

Whilst the idea of random recruitment from outside the EU seemed a bit of a non-starter to me I suppose the concept of an southern / northern hemisphere band of touring calving assistants makes a bit of sense. The way that shearing gangs used to work.

The thing about part time / short season experienced labour like that is that you have to be willing to pay generously for it - it's hardly a minimum wage thing at least if you want things set up so there is a ready supply. The guys & girls doing it are willing to work hard but they want to go home with some cash in their pocket in my experience.

The experience of corporates is that it's easier and cheaper to move the company to the source of the workers.

How many Irish dairy farms now have a couple of eastern europeans working out of a caravan in the yard? I'll wager not many/none.

K.G. · 24-07-2017 06:20PM

To be honest i think ye are all talking b#ll#cks.if you cant handle the work get rid of the cows or at least cut back to what you can handle.however bad it is to be working hard its alot worse to be messing with labour because its coming to the stage where nobody wants to work on farms.

Water John · 24-07-2017 06:23PM

K G is right, if you want to start milking NZ numbers, you'll have the show the day old calves , the door.

whelan2 · 24-07-2017 06:30PM

Labour is the new milk quota

Gawddawggonnit · 24-07-2017 06:31PM

K.G. wrote: »

To be honest i think ye are all talking b#ll#cks.if you cant handle the work get rid of the cows or at least cut back to what you can handle.however bad it is to be working hard its alot worse to be messing with labour because its coming to the stage where nobody wants to work on farms.

But, but, what about harvest 2020/25??

Lol. True.

Mooooo · 24-07-2017 06:44PM

Bloods back, 16 more cows gone

mahoney_j · 24-07-2017 06:45PM

K.G. wrote: »

To be honest i think ye are all talking b#ll#cks.if you cant handle the work get rid of the cows or at least cut back to what you can handle.however bad it is to be working hard its alot worse to be messing with labour because its coming to the stage where nobody wants to work on farms.

Aghhhh but if u cut nos the lad next door will be milking more and one can't have that !!!!!

yewtree · 24-07-2017 06:50PM

K.G. wrote: »

To be honest i think ye are all talking b#ll#cks.if you cant handle the work get rid of the cows or at least cut back to what you can handle.however bad it is to be working hard its alot worse to be messing with labour because its coming to the stage where nobody wants to work on farms.

I wouldnt agree, there are lots of lads who will work, never any bother getting lads to relief work and have two lads i can call to give a hand when things get busy. Super lads and it suits them to have a bit of extra work. Its the attiude you have about labour. If lads are having trouble with labour they should look at themselves after all they are the common factor

Water John · 24-07-2017 07:10PM

Labour, simply not available in this part of the country. FRS crying out for staff.

A lad with NZ ambitions has an out farm rented a few miles from me. Sort of saw the calves last week. They were in what in effect would make a light crop of hay.
What way will they be for bulling next April?

One can't do parts of the jigsaw. One major system flaw will knock, the house of cards, financially.

Sorry to hear that Mooo.

Timmaay · 24-07-2017 07:14PM

yewtree wrote: »

I wouldnt agree, there are lots of lads who will work, never any bother getting lads to relief work and have two lads i can call to give a hand when things get busy. Super lads and it suits them to have a bit of extra work. Its the attiude you have about labour. If lads are having trouble with labour they should look at themselves after all they are the common factor

+1000, I've had 7 different lads relief milk here over the last 2 or 3 years (good few are students who have moved on since), afew ground rules in the palour (cows all marked etc), alongside very clear instructions for the pre and post milking routine, pay them fair, treat them fairly, give them the odd bonus etc. Maybe I'm lucky but I've yet to have any labour problems at all (that's hired labour, family labour a totally diff story haha)

Timmaay · 24-07-2017 07:21PM

Mooooo wrote: »

Bloods back, 16 more cows gone

Sorry to here, I remember talking to a neighbour of mine a year ago, chap was horribly overfilling his liquid contract with too many autumn calvers, me on the high moral ground was like are you mad etc, his simple reply was TB has me on my knees, I've no choice but to keep the autumn calvers now. Was a fair eye opener to me, we take passing the tb test for granted given out lucky location (sea one side, tillage 2 other sides)

Buford T. Justice XIX · 24-07-2017 07:34PM

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

That doesn't read like a plan...if Kerry gave you that spiel you'd ask a few questions.

I went into three different hire agencies on friday trying to find some staff. Full time staff. I was told that they're advising people not to work on farms because it's hard and smelly work...and I'm not talking about *good* staff either, they're the bottom of the pile!
I've given enough examples of their abilities on here.

Another thing, I find that a cluster attendant doesn't need to be the best worker, just a good timekeeper with a pulse...wouldn't you be better employed doing more important work than a repetitive brain dead chore?

A few years ago, I would have agreed with you. But I actually enjoy milking the cows now. I can switch off the brain and do the work while my head is miles away. Very relaxing, tbh:o

Mooooo wrote: »

Bloods back, 16 more cows gone

Sheeeeeeeeiiiiiitttttt:(

The only consolation I can offer is that should be the end of it, going by round here anyway.

GrasstoMilk · 24-07-2017 07:36PM

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

The experience of corporates is that it's easier and cheaper to move the company to the source of the workers.

How many Irish dairy farms now have a couple of eastern europeans working out of a caravan in the yard? I'll wager not many/none.

I know of one spot not far from me. A lot of cows being milked by them

Mooooo · 24-07-2017 08:33PM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

A few years ago, I would have agreed with you. But I actually enjoy milking the cows now. I can switch off the brain and do the work while my head is miles away. Very relaxing, tbh:o

Sheeeeeeeeiiiiiitttttt:(

The only consolation I can offer is that should be the end of it, going by round here anyway.

Hopefully that's it., was hoping it may be old cows or whatever that would go down if some were to., of course Murphy's law came in then majority 1st to 3rd lactation early spring calvers...
Of the 22 to go only 3 were to be culls and I had a few culled already and a few more to culll at end of year so may take 2 years to make it up with the switch to spring. Could be worse an outbreak of salmonella or something would be much worse., just try and get as much as I can in the valuation now. No compo for the loss of approx 50k litres they could supply this year tho, with most of the cost of those litres bourne

Water John · 24-07-2017 08:36PM

I have come across it being, the young cows before. Do you keep the bulling heifers in the same area, each year?

GrasstoMilk · 24-07-2017 09:25PM

Any boardsies heading to the IGA walk tomorrow?
Should be a good day as usuall

mahoney_j · 24-07-2017 10:52PM

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Any boardsies heading to the IGA walk tomorrow?
Should be a good day as usuall

I'm heading ,in fairness to this event it's one of best of the year ,always interesting

Mooooo · 24-07-2017 10:57PM

Water John wrote: »

I have come across it being, the young cows before. Do you keep the bulling heifers in the same area, each year?

Calves would be, last few years heifers have been at home more or less. Some in calf Heifers were outwintered this year must check if these were in that group. Used to have land rented for heifers but dropped that after quota went

Brown Podzol · 24-07-2017 11:23PM

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Any boardsies heading to the IGA walk tomorrow?
Should be a good day as usuall

I'll be there. Good few years since I've been to one, looking forward to it,

freedominacup · 24-07-2017 11:29PM

Water John wrote: »

I have come across it being, the young cows before. Do you keep the bulling heifers in the same area, each year?

Or a source that the early calvers had access to that others didn't. When we had a serious breakdown most of the damage was in the cows who were in the first few rows every milking. Water troughs were contaminated was the consensus. The first cows out got all the contamination.

darragh_haven · 24-07-2017 11:30PM

Brown Podzol wrote: »

I'll be there. Good few years since I've been to one, looking forward to it,

A neighbour here only goes every second year. He says all these things are bit like the ploughing championship, not much changes from year to year. So every second year does him.
Was intending to go myself but the day job is busy at the moment

Buford T. Justice XIX · 24-07-2017 11:47PM

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Any boardsies heading to the IGA walk tomorrow?
Should be a good day as usuall

I'm here already :pac:

pedigree 6 · 25-07-2017 12:22AM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I'm here already :pac:

Go home you're drunk!

Gawddawggonnit · 25-07-2017 07:11AM

yewtree wrote: »

If lads are having trouble with labour they should look at themselves after all they are the common factor

Yes, to a point. If you have only one or two lads there won't be any problems. When you're depending on people to be responsible and independent it's a different story. I can't be up sides everybody all the time, otherwise I may as well do it myself.

I put in a card clock in/out system to stop the blackguarding with hours. Caught a girl clocking the card for a guy yesterday and again this morning. Said nothing, yet.
Now I've to go and buy a fingerprint electronic system...or fire them??

Edit. I consider anyone that fiddles hours to be guilty of theft.

Gawddawggonnit · 25-07-2017 07:29AM

Just opened the water bill for Jan to end of June. €14,5k. Lovely.

darragh_haven · 25-07-2017 08:28AM

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Yes, to a point. If you have only one or two lads there won't be any problems. When you're depending on people to be responsible and independent it's a different story. I can't be up sides everybody all the time, otherwise I may as well do it myself.

I put in a card clock in/out system to stop the blackguarding with hours. Caught a girl clocking the card for a guy yesterday and again this morning. Said nothing, yet.
Now I've to go and buy a fingerprint electronic system...or fire them??

Edit. I consider anyone that fiddles hours to be guilty of theft.

Got a fingerprint scanner time clock for our job sites as there isn't always a foreman of our on site. The hours worked by the general labourers reduced by an hour a day on average (4 men)

Buford T. Justice XIX · 25-07-2017 08:58AM

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Go home you're drunk!

I wish I was.

Nice day for it though.

Gawddawggonnit · 25-07-2017 09:13AM

darragh_haven wrote: »

Got a fingerprint scanner time clock for our job sites as there isn't always a foreman of our on site. The hours worked by the general labourers reduced by an hour a day on average (4 men)

What did they set you back?
What about someone plugging out the system?

yewtree · 25-07-2017 09:19AM

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Yes, to a point. If you have only one or two lads there won't be any problems. When you're depending on people to be responsible and independent it's a different story. I can't be up sides everybody all the time, otherwise I may as well do it myself.

I put in a card clock in/out system to stop the blackguarding with hours. Caught a girl clocking the card for a guy yesterday and again this morning. Said nothing, yet.
Now I've to go and buy a fingerprint electronic system...or fire them??

Edit. I consider anyone that fiddles hours to be guilty of theft.

Fair point i dont have any expierence at that scale. The last while here everyone goes on about nonody wants to work and its just not my expierence. Its amazing what happens when you go out and look and treat good people well. Also as you say most of us only need 1 or 2 people so it shouldnt be that hard

Dairy chit chat II

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