Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

Farmer2017 · 18-08-2020 10:36AM

Hi all. Anyone able to shred some light on running costs of a robot vs a parlour.

Mooooo · 18-08-2020 11:27AM

Don't know if anyone here has robots? If you could find someone in or near your area to chat to, without any salesman present, would be the best bet. They work for some and not for others it seems. The capital cost for their output seems too high also to me, for the price of a robot you could well have a parlour in that will have cow's milked in under an hour, no matter the size of the herd....

Siamsa Sessions · 18-08-2020 12:27PM

Apologies if this is a sensitive or controversial topic, but how do x-breds compare with Holsteins or British Friesians?

Which might be best for this scenario?

* 35-cow herd for 2 years, then rising to 70 (once I take back what's currently leased out)
* all calves sold and buy in replacements til own numbers rise
* 10-acres of the paddocks would be heavy-ish ground
* low debt and continue working 15-hours/week off-farm (that is, no big drawings from farm account til numbers rise I give up the off-farm job)

Lots of other factors too but they'd be the main ones

straight · 18-08-2020 12:33PM

Covid in Glanbia.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/9-to-10-cases-of-covid-19-diagnosed-at-glanbia-facility-sources/

straight · 18-08-2020 12:37PM

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Apologies if this is a sensitive or controversial topic, but how do x-breds compare with Holsteins or British Friesians?

Which might be best for this scenario?

* 35-cow herd for 2 years, then rising to 70 (once I take back what's currently leased out)
* all calves sold and buy in replacements til own numbers rise
* 10-acres of the paddocks would be heavy-ish ground
* low debt and continue working 15-hours/week off-farm (that is, no big drawings from farm account til numbers rise I give up the off-farm job)

Lots of other factors too but they'd be the main ones

I've a small herd of 70ish so I prefer holstein/fr cross myself. The xbreds seem to be more suited to the numbers guys. Basically there's a cow for everyone and you just have to find the one for you.

Siamsa Sessions · 18-08-2020 01:09PM

straight wrote: »

I've a small herd of 70ish so I prefer holstein/fr cross myself. The xbreds seem to be more suited to the numbers guys. Basically there's a cow for everyone and you just have to find the one for you.

Sound - thanks for that. I'm guessing there's a variation within cows of the same breed too. At this stage, I'm just trying to figure out anything that probably wouldn't suit.

I was thinking xbred initially for a simple system but am moving back towards the "undecided" category now, which is probably no bad thing given how much I have to figure out yet.

Grueller · 18-08-2020 01:40PM

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Apologies if this is a sensitive or controversial topic, but how do x-breds compare with Holsteins or British Friesians?

Which might be best for this scenario?

* 35-cow herd for 2 years, then rising to 70 (once I take back what's currently leased out)
* all calves sold and buy in replacements til own numbers rise
* 10-acres of the paddocks would be heavy-ish ground
* low debt and continue working 15-hours/week off-farm (that is, no big drawings from farm account til numbers rise I give up the off-farm job)

Lots of other factors too but they'd be the main ones

You are in a similar situation to myself. I will carry 60ish. I am going with the hol/fr cross because I just think at small numbers you need the litres. Just my opinion.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 18-08-2020 02:05PM

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Apologies if this is a sensitive or controversial topic, but how do x-breds compare with Holsteins or British Friesians?

Which might be best for this scenario?

* 35-cow herd for 2 years, then rising to 70 (once I take back what's currently leased out)
* all calves sold and buy in replacements til own numbers rise
* 10-acres of the paddocks would be heavy-ish ground
* low debt and continue working 15-hours/week off-farm (that is, no big drawings from farm account til numbers rise I give up the off-farm job)

Lots of other factors too but they'd be the main ones

Tbh, there's little difference overall between both types, as far as I can tell.
The Xbred is probably simpler to manage in that they mostly look after themselves, have little foot problems, calve easily and go back in calf fairly quickly, higher solids% but lower litres, the benefits of hybrid vigour showing up in the cows. The down side is a smaller, cheaper cow when culled and lower prices for bull calves but probably balanced out by milking longer and lasting longer in the herd.

The Hol/Fr cross will have lower fats and proteins but more litres to balance that out. Bigger animal when culled so more for the cull cow and bull calf. Great choice of bulls for AI if you go that road but I reckon you might be going beef bulls/AI for a while so maybe not an issue as yet. Heavier cows so you might be causing a bit more damage to swards at the shoulders but it probably won't be a huge issue overall.

Both have advantages and disadvantages, depends on what way you want to work in the future and what you prefer seeing when you look out your own window. It's always easy to just use whatever breed you prefer down the line when yop get more established.

Timmaay · 18-08-2020 02:27PM

I've a mix of every cow type here, I've plenty of exceptional jex and some sh1te jex, some great HOs that survive my reasonably low input system and go back incalf every year without fail, and a fair few br fr who are a range of everything, from the mud fat lower solids but absolutely zero maintenance ones to more milky. At the end of the day I barely give a 2nd thought to the breed, I try to breed a 500kg cow who will do 500kgms, and without heading much above 600kg/hd bought in nuts, what colour or breed doesn't matter.

Birdnuts · 18-08-2020 03:25PM

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Apologies if this is a sensitive or controversial topic, but how do x-breds compare with Holsteins or British Friesians?

Which might be best for this scenario?

* 35-cow herd for 2 years, then rising to 70 (once I take back what's currently leased out)
* all calves sold and buy in replacements til own numbers rise
* 10-acres of the paddocks would be heavy-ish ground
* low debt and continue working 15-hours/week off-farm (that is, no big drawings from farm account til numbers rise I give up the off-farm job)

Lots of other factors too but they'd be the main ones

Compared to the the other 2 options BF crosses seem to be more popular with experienced beef farmers as they finish better in terms of grade etc.

cosatron · 18-08-2020 04:35PM

Birdnuts wrote: »

Compared to the the other 2 options BF crosses seem to be more popular with experienced beef farmers as they finish better in terms of grade etc.

i wouldn't agree with there, a holstein bollock is a fierce under rated animal. we sent a load to factory yesterday and they killed out 400kg O3+ and we got more money for him than the Hereford which killed 323kg at U3+. We are shocked this animal killed out a U, both animals got the same feeding and same looking after and were in the same group all under 30months. to be honest i don't know what the experienced beef farmers are at

:D

Mooooo · 18-08-2020 05:13PM

If buying in check the whole herd performance and management and ideally buy from those willing to allow you to pick out of the bunch of heifers. Low scc with decent solids delivered. They may cost more but starting out a new herd is important. Many who sell stock every year may have return customers and don't advertise so your local vet or advisor may point you in the right direction. Crossbreds can be fine but with the way things are going on the beef side perhaps stick to the hol/fr. Calves won't make or break you so wouldn't count on them terms of making a big profit but in terms of having a market at all safer to go hol/fr particularly if you aim to sell all calves in the first few years.

einn32 · 18-08-2020 05:55PM

Farmer2017 wrote: »

Hi all. Anyone able to shred some light on running costs of a robot vs a parlour.

The farming forum.co.uk has a great robotic milking section. Lot of them are running robots years. I don't know the difference in running costs. There might be research somewhere on it.

whelan2 · 18-08-2020 06:57PM

Land type too, big heavy holstein pr or montebelliarde type cows late in the year or early spring wont help the ground

stanflt · 18-08-2020 09:46PM

whelan2 wrote: »

Land type too, big heavy holstein pr or montebelliarde type cows late in the year or early spring wont help the ground

For the last few years we’ve been breeding smaller cows with extremely higher milk sub index- these cows aren’t preforming as well as historical cows and the milk and fertility index definitely isn’t working- cows are becoming less responsive to feeding and therefor becoming less efficient- feel really let down by ICBF as they keep ignoring my questions

Reggie. · 18-08-2020 10:02PM

stanflt wrote: »

For the last few years we’ve been breeding smaller cows with extremely higher milk sub index- these cows aren’t preforming as well as historical cows and the milk and fertility index definitely isn’t working- cows are becoming less responsive to feeding and therefor becoming less efficient- feel really let down by ICBF as they keep ignoring my questions

Ah now I see

GrasstoMilk · 18-08-2020 10:05PM

Mooooo wrote: »

If buying in check the whole herd performance and management and ideally buy from those willing to allow you to pick out of the bunch of heifers. Low scc with decent solids delivered. They may cost more but starting out a new herd is important. Many who sell stock every year may have return customers and don't advertise so your local vet or advisor may point you in the right direction. Crossbreds can be fine but with the way things are going on the beef side perhaps stick to the hol/fr. Calves won't make or break you so wouldn't count on them terms of making a big profit but in terms of having a market at all safer to go hol/fr particularly if you aim to sell all calves in the first few years.

I wouldnt give someone the pick of my heifers.
What I do is only breed what cows/heifers I want a fr heifer from.
That way the poorer cows only have beef, I pick what I want out of that and the rest is sold.
They are still good stock but not my best stock

OffalyMedic · 18-08-2020 10:12PM

GrasstoMilk wrote:

I wouldnt give someone the pick of my heifers. What I do is only breed what cows/heifers I want a fr heifer from. That way the poorer cows only have beef, I pick what I want out of that and the rest is sold. They are still good stock but not my best stock

Remember my grandad telling me a story of the time he was buying heifers
Farmer: These are my BEST heifers and I'll give you the pick of the lot
Grandad: Are you not keeping any replacements for yourself?
Farmer: Jaysus of course I am. I'll keep the best of the best

I laughed

Mooooo · 18-08-2020 10:15PM

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

I wouldnt give someone the pick of my heifers.
What I do is only breed what cows/heifers I want a fr heifer from.
That way the poorer cows only have beef, I pick what I want out of that and the rest is sold.
They are still good stock but not my best stock

Fair enough, most would be the same that's why I said if possible. Some more established herds in terms of numbers would but would be rare in fairness. A lot of lads only reaching peak numbers now so a lot of stock on farms that would have been carried to get numbers up as well so may be selling the lower performers or whatever

Mf310 · 18-08-2020 10:18PM

Question about soil sampling lads , want to do a good deal of liming here this autumn place hasnt been limed in years and it being intensive dairy ground the last 2 years id like to see if lime would benefit it . Anyway was going to get around to sampling this week and sending them off for testing but I see a post from Germinal saying to wait 3-6months after last NpK application? Last application wouldv been 3 weeks ago and next application will be next week so guessing I may just soil sample before next week or should I actually leave it until January to sample?

jaymla627 · 19-08-2020 07:35AM

stanflt wrote: »

For the last few years we’ve been breeding smaller cows with extremely higher milk sub index- these cows aren’t preforming as well as historical cows and the milk and fertility index definitely isn’t working- cows are becoming less responsive to feeding and therefor becoming less efficient- feel really let down by ICBF as they keep ignoring my questions

You leaning more towards semex our wws bulls now

Siamsa Sessions · 19-08-2020 08:15AM

Thanks for all the replies re cow breed/type. I've made notes of the different points raised in a diary I'm keeping.

Hope you're all managing in this wet and miserable weather. We might be all farming ducks if the rest of the week is as bad they're saying.

Can you get xbred ducks, I wonder???

Wildsurfer · 19-08-2020 08:46AM

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies re cow breed/type. I've made notes of the different points raised in a diary I'm keeping.

Hope you're all managing in this wet and miserable weather. We might be all farming ducks if the rest of the week is as bad they're saying.

Can you get xbred ducks, I wonder???

Cows with webbed feet would be the ultimate xbred

Buford T. Justice XIX · 19-08-2020 09:21AM

Mf310 wrote: »

Question about soil sampling lads , want to do a good deal of liming here this autumn place hasnt been limed in years and it being intensive dairy ground the last 2 years id like to see if lime would benefit it . Anyway was going to get around to sampling this week and sending them off for testing but I see a post from Germinal saying to wait 3-6months after last NpK application? Last application wouldv been 3 weeks ago and next application will be next week so guessing I may just soil sample before next week or should I actually leave it until January to sample?

All you'll get accurate results on now in the pH, you need to let a few months go since the last application of P or K or it will show up as being higher than it actually is.

C4d78 · 19-08-2020 04:17PM

Quick question on tractor generator.
Haven’t used it in a while. They’re used to be a mark on clock to show how high to go with revs.
Rubbed off now.
Three clocks A, V, and hrz.
Anyone know how high needle should go on any of the clocks so as not to do damage.
Thanks.

Grueller · 19-08-2020 04:25PM

C4d78 wrote: »

Quick question on tractor generator.
Haven’t used it in a while. They’re used to be a mark on clock to show how high to go with revs.
Rubbed off now.
Three clocks A, V, and hrz.
Anyone know how high needle should go on any of the clocks so as not to do damage.
Thanks.

Get the Hertz to 50hz and the amps and voltage will look after themselves. That is for a single phase generator, not sure if it's the same for a 3 phase or not.

alps · 19-08-2020 07:08PM

C4d78 wrote: »

Quick question on tractor generator.
Haven’t used it in a while. They’re used to be a mark on clock to show how high to go with revs.
Rubbed off now.
Three clocks A, V, and hrz.
Anyone know how high needle should go on any of the clocks so as not to do damage.
Thanks.

If you could get your hands on a simple voltmeter or might be more accurate..

If you have no clocks working, bring your revs on the generator to 540(assuming that's where it should be driven) and adjust up or down slightly from that as to what the voltmeter is reading.

Say my name · 19-08-2020 07:54PM

Buckit anyways.

Milk urea gone to 43.
16 % nut being fed. No clover and no nitrogen spread in over 4 grazing rounds ago.

Hopefully the rain and bad weather will fix it.

I had a feeling I was in trouble. Dungs were getting loose and one cow looked like she had a pain in her stomach and had slightly puffy legs. She's on the mend now though.

Biology is nitrogen. Feed the biology. You'll get the nitrogen.

alps · 19-08-2020 07:57PM

Say my name wrote: »

Buckit anyways.

Milk urea gone to 43.
16 % nut being fed. No clover and no nitrogen spread in over 4 grazing rounds ago.

Hopefully the rain and bad weather will fix it.

I had a feeling I was in trouble. Dungs were getting loose and one cow looked like she had a pain in her stomach and had slightly puffy legs. She's on the mend now though.

Biology is nitrogen. Feed the biology. You'll get the nitrogen.

Could you be grazing tighter? Are you leaving roughage behind?

mf240 · 19-08-2020 08:06PM

stanflt wrote: »

For the last few years we’ve been breeding smaller cows with extremely higher milk sub index- these cows aren’t preforming as well as historical cows and the milk and fertility index definitely isn’t working- cows are becoming less responsive to feeding and therefor becoming less efficient- feel really let down by ICBF as they keep ignoring my questions

No wonder your selling them

:D

Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

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