Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

Birdnuts · 11-08-2023 09:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966221#Comment_120966221

Slowing Chinese economy and increased local dairy production there seem to be the biggest factor

Bass Reeves · 11-08-2023 10:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120963495#Comment_120963495

The fact about workers in co-ops or merchants is they are workers, they did not get any of the windfall profits last year so they do not take wage cuts when the systems are less profitable.

You have a choice you can go and working a co-op or a factory and have a regular wage. Most staff in these places are on 15-16 euro/ hour max. Being self employed has its advantages and disadvantages.

Was listening to I think the Newstalk 4 pm show this evening. There was a serious discussion about the expansion of free GP services and doctors availability.

What comes across Isa lot of younger doctors want 9-5 jobs but they want the 2-300k per year the older GP's earned as well with out have to deal with the business elements involved.

I think some dairy farmers are falling into the same trap

green daries · 11-08-2023 10:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120964008#Comment_120964008

Nitrogen

straight · 11-08-2023 11:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967811#Comment_120967811

Windfall profits?

Bass Reeves · 12-08-2023 07:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967954#Comment_120967954

Yes it the term where substantial profits are made once off. Energy companies made WFP last year as well. Beef did exceptionally well as well. Mistake many made was thinking it was a new norm.

Many beef farmers went and bought expensive cattle in January to slaughter early in the year and broke even at best due to a combination of Spring weather ( having to keep them houses and finish inside) and price dropping fast end of May due to over supply created by there expectations.

Dairying profits last year even with extra cost involved was substantial and outside the 5-7 year average.

Mistake often made with WFP's is thinking there are a new norm

Siamsa Sessions · 12-08-2023 03:01PM

Question for anyone calving in autumn and selling the calves: at what stage do you sell the calves? Is it mostly mid to late October?

I’m going to try 20 autumn calves in the shed this year, if I can get reasonable ones.

Would prefer AA or HE bulls or heifers, but open to FR bulls too - if anyone might be selling them around the south-east of the country 😀

whelan2 · 12-08-2023 04:45PM

We're starting calving next week until the end of October. A bit earlier this year as I am carrying over cows that I normally wouldn't. Will be glad of the milk

Siamsa Sessions · 12-08-2023 05:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970041#Comment_120970041

Thanks. I’m just trying to get someway organised here as I’ve never had autumn calves before

White Clover · 12-08-2023 05:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970252#Comment_120970252

Would you chance a few store lambs this year? They're not hard to buy at present.

12-08-2023 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970252#Comment_120970252

Has the recent milk price drop cooled your interest in getting into cows possibly?

Siamsa Sessions · 12-08-2023 07:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970269#Comment_120970269

Not a hope. I’ve gone full 180 on sheep now and can’t stand the sight of them 😂

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970505#Comment_120970505

No, if anything it’s made it seem more attractive for the 60-ish cow, entry level plan I have in mind. Might not be any more or less feasible but the higher figures for inputs and outputs last year were putting me off.

12-08-2023 08:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120969694#Comment_120969694

Problem with autumn calves is that the cows/ mothers are very holstein. If your buying fr bull calves you'd want to lev them as bulls and fatten them out the house. Stick to the aa but the problem with the aa in autumn is its mainly off heifers so there going to be weedy.

This is all just off my own experience.

Mooooo · 12-08-2023 09:58PM

Biggest advantage of autumn calves is making use of grass the first year really, if you can do a good job of em till they go out they should fly

Donald Trump · 13-08-2023 06:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120965761#Comment_120965761

Nitrates?

Do you mean hectare?

green daries · 13-08-2023 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970041#Comment_120970041

Ya I'd have to agree re the milk whelan ......its been a poor year production wise. Will be glad of extra production......if I can manage to squeeze a bit of profit our of it 🤔🤔😁😁🤞🤞

kevthegaff · 13-08-2023 07:14PM

If cull prices are crap is it worth milking on

whelan2 · 14-08-2023 05:09PM

First autumn calver calved. Served 29/11. Herd app due date 7/9. In calf to fr6547. 258 days gestation

IMG-20230814-WA0008.jpeg

10th calver

jaymla627 · 14-08-2023 05:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973969#Comment_120973969

Cull cows are still making reasonable enough money have ten booked in here for Thursday once fat scores are okay will get 3.80 a kilo, depending on how these ones kill out I'll go with another 10 the next week, getting rid of older cows/lower yielders etc, I'd say canner cows will be gave away in the backend alright.....

Re milking on Chinese whispers Dec price will be lucky to be above 30 cent a litre, theirs no margin if that occurs unless meal prices drop back to match it which seems unlikely

Mooooo · 14-08-2023 11:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973969#Comment_120973969

Given the number of empties I have will prob milk on. Breeding went poor this year for me. I would ideally dry off and replace with better stock but funds won't allow I'd say.

Depends on feed and keeping lactose up really. If on silage and 6kgs they'd be eating only slightly more than a dry cow silage wise, so cost of meal/ parlour running and time to come off the price recieved. Solids up but lactose lower than last year so would prob need a good autumn to lead in to have em going well. Have enough good silage once they don't get housed very early

ginger22 · 15-08-2023 07:31AM

Seems strange that lads are thinking about milking on this winter when the milk price wont even cover the cost of ration. Last year when it was profitable lads couldn't dry them off quickly enough.

But shure keep contributing to the world surplus of dairy.

whelan2 · 15-08-2023 07:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979734#Comment_120979734

Milking on with no winter bonus especially in a low price year is questionable. Although if you've a good few empties you dont really have many options

blackdog1 · 15-08-2023 08:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979734#Comment_120979734

Price of wheat is low. Buy wheat crimp it and feed it. Very low cost feed. Should up 10c a kilo under milk price. I'm personally thinking of driving on this winter especially with milk bonus if I can get maize under 250 and wheat at 200

kevthegaff · 15-08-2023 08:31AM

Lads will have big tax bills to clear, I have a good few bulling so might do it. Find u mind de cows better when ur bringing em in every day also

mahoney_j · 15-08-2023 08:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979734#Comment_120979734

I’m milking thru ….lots of things to consider if doing it …..you need cows that will put a reasonable level of milk and solids in tank …top quality forage a must etc ….I’ll milk oad from 01 December until mid jan when cows start calving outside of physically milking the 2/3 rows of cows negligible extra Work..cows can be milked to 50/60 days pre calving and culls will be in good shape by spring …and you’ll still have got few extra months milk ..the uncertainty is milk price and where it’ll be …cash flow will be a help over winter too

alps · 15-08-2023 08:35AM

Maybe we'll see a production redu tion scheme like we had in 2016. Fell right into the lap of Irish farmers at the time. Cards could fall right for it again this year.

mahoney_j · 15-08-2023 08:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979915#Comment_120979915

I’m sure icos and coops would be up in arms if that was suggested ….coops are fairly well loaded up debt wise now and a lot are offering bonuses for winter months

jaymla627 · 15-08-2023 09:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979936#Comment_120979936

I'd say if it's a European wide scheme they can politely f**k off getting involved, it's rather disturbing the noises they are making on what are farmer owned co-ops that are unable to pay a milk price that covers their suppliers cost of production, only sole concern been about still getting x amount of liters in to cover their own arses.

When you see how European pig prices rebounded after the eu backed herd culling scheme, last year its a no-brainer to be looking for something similar to be brought-in to cut production eu wide and help simulate a milk shortage that should help boast prices

ginger22 · 15-08-2023 10:16AM

Well we always milk through the winter but we would be prepared with 80 DMD silage, whole crop wheat, maize and other pitted by-products.

The thing I find strange is lads who do not normally milk through and who are not properly prepared that are considering it this year.

Bangoverthebar · 15-08-2023 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120980342#Comment_120980342

I did that last year, a turned over plenty but was tight on silage and got an eye opener.

Mooooo · 15-08-2023 02:13PM

Everyone's situation is different, lads just have to do what suits their own one.

Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

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