Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

I worked in a place like his, guy milking 200 plus topless cubicles and an 885xl case with loader used for all the feeding everything else contracted out. The only take away I took from it was fine when everything goes right with contractors but waiting for fertilizer to be spread is a killer way more than waiting for a guy to spread slurry for you.

Also if you get to that number in cows and were established 5+ years as the guy I was working for was and can’t afford to have a middle of the road 20/25 year old 100ish hp 4wd drive tractor in the yard for feeding and odd jobs with some bit of comfort what’s it all for??

No doubt that is a big issue and the industrial spruce forestry sector has alot of blood on its hands in terms of damage done to much of our rivers, uplands and biodiversity in general. Again DAFM does not inspire confidence in policing this area https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/department-underestimated-carbon-emissions-from-peatland-plantations-794112

You are taking me wrong. I said he looks like a mighty man. I don't know a bit about the fellow. And teagasc are putting him out there as a role model.

We have to question his method of farming, unless you're a sheep

I'm farming here rent free. I do every job on the farm except cut the silage and I'm not a making massive money.

I'm asking is there more to the story, because at his cost per litre I can't see how a normal homosapien like myself could make a profit.

Another thing is that, is it wise spending money on the basis of what uncles will let you. Many a man got a bad land thru high expectations

I’d be thinking along your lines there tegasc do this and flog the shite out of what they see as progressive farmers …throw out a shiny version of the story ….shiny cost of production minus a few bits of course and then your negative and a begrudger if you poke holes in it ….that’s a lot of what bugs the shite out of me with tegasc and farmers journal ….just like a big clique in there own bubble

they don’t like differing views or been called out on things or methods …there way (usually the kiwi way)is best …….we are largely where we are today with nitrates /dero /calves etc because of that model

Are you grass measuring, have you high 6 week calving , are you feeding too much meal for ms produced ? All these are looked down on by a lot but they have a serious impact on profit.

ive friends share milking and they’re making v good money. Loyal to no one for purchases. Ruthless in that regard and you’d be amazed what can be saved. One of them got his dry cow tubes a euro a cow cheaper than me for v similar tubes.

I thought I was doing well but being loyal to me usual lad cost me. It adds up across the year

i used to be like that wanting a contractor to do everything... but funny enuf after having a chat with the lads that spread our slurry with the umbilical system in spring i had a slight change of heart... buy a tractor and fair enuf it costs money to buy but its still there in 5-10yrs time and will be worth a ball of money once it has been looked after... once a contractor is paid the money is gone and when slurry builds up again get contractor in and again when paid money is gone... if youve a tractor and tank you have an asset worth something and spread some slurry with it... and when slurry is spread tractor and tank is there for the next time ya want it... but look everyones situation is different.. if your working off farm then obviously a contractor is a no-brainer... so each to their own...

Of course it happens

made near enough as much money per cow as me last year and supplied 50 kgs less ms per cow. Runs a simpler system but has all his land around parlour which has a lot of advantages

buys 75% of his silage. Bought for less or same as what it costs me. Any silage he makes is for milking off.

doesn’t feed as much meal, 400 kgs less meal per cow cost nearly 25 kgs ms last year. Doesn’t get hung up on meal either. As long ads the price is right and it’s a half decent spec he’ll buy

It smacks of a kiwi setup In the late 90s early 00s that is the tagasc line on goings but sure he's happy

Biggest problem with contractors they cant be with everyone at same time

Try to run a simple system here, have a young family. Get the contractor to do everything here, bar fertiliser and light feld work and feeding out.

If you properly account for the costs of your own gear there is no saving doing it yourself. Also adds massively to workload