Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Early start.
Coolfresian wrote: » Anyone getting high averages of butterfat lately? 4.75 here last test. Never had that before, doing 27 litres a day. Protein is at 3.5.
Timmaay wrote: » Did the scc rocket also by any chance? It can throw the solids results apparently.
Mooooo wrote: Seems to have settled at 3.8 here, 6kg and fulltime grass for last week. Protein 3.53
Mf310 wrote: » Any tips on getting cows into a parlour without you having to go out for them ... cow flow should be very good as its a new build and cows walk straight in to parlour from a slatted tank and straight out but even still every row i have to get out and try get them up and then gp into pit and push them up just pure stubornness
freedominacup wrote: » What is the cost per acre to establish those crops? How many cuts from the ryegrass crimson mix? At what yield? I assume the other mix is one cut only?
Muckit wrote: » Is the harvester part of the cuma and the tractors and trailers yours and neighbours?
Reggie. wrote: » Spot a dirty deere there. Thought he had better taste
MF290 wrote: » What make of header is that picking up 2 rows?
Reggie. wrote: » No raking? Rake do too much damage to clover?
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Dirty? I beg your pardon...I only bought that on Tuesday, and ‘twas spotless then! You should see the Deere I was driving...seconded to drawing yesterday from feeder work...covered in white dust inside and out.
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Ryegrass and crimson clover costs €33/ha (ryegrass is hss). Target 4-5t/haDM at 17-18% protein. Peas, wheat, vetch etc costs ~ €25/ha. Target 2-3tdm/ha at 19-22% protein. Both are over wintered cover crops before spring crops.
freedominacup wrote: » Seed cost or establishment cost? Sorry about all the questions. How much does it reduce the N requirement for following crop by?
Buford T. Justice V wrote: » Are the different cover crops used for different spring crops or for following different harvested crops? Or is it dependent on soil types?
Dakota Dan wrote: » If your yard is rectangular you could put up two sliding door rails at each side with a bar across the width on runners. Then have chains dropping from the bar around a foot apart, have a light rope to pull the bar towards the parlour operated from a reel in the pit. What most people do is put a very light shock in the chains to move the cows when they get used to the shock they will eventually move without the need of a shock.
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Seed cost. Establishment cost is never the same for two consecutive years. If there’s plenty of soil moisture then direct drill. If not, which is more the norm, scratch the ground, fill fert spinner with seed, and roll in afterwards. Last year was tricky with prolonged drought and difficult for cc to establish...seriously wet winter and spring was also a challenge. No N used on following spring crops. Except 50kg/ha of 18-46 as a maize starter, no artificial fert used at all.
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » I’m constantly experimenting Chief. Principal reason for cc is for following spring crops. The mix is to condition the soil and return nutrients. Seeing as we ensile the cc the resulting fym is spread on the ground to further enrich the soil...it works. No artificial fert used. There’s Dept of Ag trials here for different cc mixes. There’s a new crimson clover that’s looking really interesting. With a mix of 4kg/ha of triticale it was the outstanding plot this spring. The clover is unnamed yet but if it’s commercially available I’ll be using a lot of it this year.
freedominacup wrote: » Is it a runner in Irish conditions? Would there be a crop worth harvesting following early Aug sowing date by mid April?
Buford T. Justice V wrote: » Fym ploughed in and main crop drilled straight in? I'm assuming you would have to have a constant proportion of animal output for the cropping area? Seeing as the use of artificial fertiliser is so restrictive, is it possible to grow crops without having a large amount of FYM to use every year? Jaysus, we need a tillage thread pronto:o
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Ploughing is verboten...it’s up there with feeding ration to dairy cows. NO NO NO!! Fym is min tilled into soil, then planted.My nitrate use is a function of stocking rate and soil sampling to a depth of 90cm (Eventually will happen in Éire). Likewise P&K. Straw is rarely sold per se. It’s always a ‘straw for muck exchange’. Straw is taken from a field and the resulting fym is returned, and spread, on that same field. Simples. Either use a large amount of fym or artificial fert. Not both. (Like ye guys!).
Buford T. Justice V wrote: » Already here for farms in derogation. No great problem with it tbh other than rates were too low to build indexes for P. Some movement on that finally with the last derogation but still a way to go, I think.
Gawddawggonnit wrote: » Yes it’s in place in the Eu...but loads of ‘blackguarding’ going on. Look to Holland. As it stands these are directives, but with all the scutting going on within individual countries, those directives could become regulations. Time will tell where it pans out, but it’s difficult for me having to keep to the letter of the directive, and other countries acting like the Wild West.Old ground....
