Extreme bullshit 😒 I've no idea where its going to end at this stage 😤
Lads dreaming of "freedom to farm" may as well dream on, as it isn't going to happen, you are going to be regulated in Europe on way or another so you may as well take the subsidy while it is going. Anyway as regards dairying Europe is a nett exporter, so prices are going to be set by "world market prices" which is the dumping ground for surplus product.
Fortunately the EU stepped into Ireland and Holland to try and stop the state funded pollution. And yes, Eu regs will continue into the future.
Dairying in Ireland had profited hugely from imported cheap crappy grains, along with being able to export milk powders etc into S.America…whilst sweeping that reality under the huge greenwashing carpet.
Unfortunately it’s the meat and tillage industry that has to bear the brunt of this.
This reads like an infomercial for mercosur…
https://circabc.europa.eu/rest/download/75452f6d-5635-42f1-9da9-18c268b791e1?ticket=
Thank god they stepped in to stop that ‘state funded pollution’ we should really be doing better seeing as every farm here all have 100s of acres available to them to produce their own feed for their cattle and stock at 1 cow for every 5 acres like out in the continent….
😂
Heard a similar type argument from an Irish apologist for the tax haven…sure we never went and conquered and pillaged other countries so we’re quite entitled to our piece of the action!
Great stuff indeed.
Well you can’t pontificate to Irish farmers when the model is quite different to what is done nearly everywhere else in the EU.
The farmers farming under restrictions are a lot of the time implementing ten fold of the protection measures for the environment etc and they are punished the most.
But we should just suck it up here and get in line in little old Ireland eh
Sure dawg ye were never small farmers here so you have no experience from that perspective and when you did farm here you farmed in the best times ever to farm here the 80s. Cheap land, cheap labour , cheap inputs, little to no regulations and you had fair big scale aswell, am I wrong ?
easy for you to have an opinion on it all when you never faced the same pressures as someone trying to get himself up from a few acres around the house
yer still farming more acres in Ireland than the majority of tillage farmers here aswell as farming in France ?
Well in fairness the "imported crappy grains" would make up only a very small proportion of the feed going into Irish cows, the majority would be grass and silage. And I think the "state funded pollution" is just a populist jibe from you Dawg. Thought you were bigger than that.
Is there any particular good or bad time to freeze brand heifers?
About right now instead of reading the back biting going on here at the minute.
Y
Now is a good time as you will have a nice clear number come breeding time.
If I didn't know better your post sounds like you advocating grass based dairy and less concentrate feed milk.in a previous life I had an insight into a irish milling operation and I remember that irish grain was never included in pig or poultry feed but was used for bovine feed as it s quality wasn't consistent enough due to irish weather conditions
Might not do it today (!) but could try organise it in the coming week or two. I need to bring them in to weight them anyway so could kill two jobs with one FRS visit.
Thanks lads
They tend to come better when done when inside on silage as opposed to out on grass
Do ye think they are a better job done before breeding? I’d be concerned that some of their arses mightn’t have a big enough black patch to fit 4 numbers!?
Normally do ours before they calve down…
What kind of stock? Have used smaller irons on crossbreds
Your bog standard FR Ho cross.
Remember years ago a lad started freeze branding around here. His ad was simple
Big,
Bold and permanent
If done when yearlings / maidens the numbers can grow with em a bit I find. A lot handier for breeding too. It does mean a 2 or 3 man job depending on crush facilities as more awkward to keep em still
We farm in a free market. I hear tillage farmers lobbying hard to force us to use irish grains. It cant happen as it would be anti competitive.
Milk is a low margin product for supermarkets. Imported feed helps keep it cheap.
Until supermarkets think people would pay more for something like “Irish grain-fed milk”, then the boats of soya will continue to sail across the Atlantic.
What is a Supermarkets profit margin on milk?
We put pallets at both sides of front of crush to stop any side to side movement.
1 ton of imported grain supports 2000litres
1 ton of native grain supports 1750litres
ill just drop the mix there
We freezebrand ours at 9 or 10 months. The number grows with the animal. I.e the white is thicker iykwim...
Ballpark figures
Tesco 1l milk = 105c
Farmgate price = 45c
Processor = 20c
Packaging/carton = 10c
Transport & storage = 5c
Staff costs = 5c
Refrigeration, lights, maintenance, etc = 5c
I’m only throwing figures out here but the basic point is that milk in the supermarket is a staple, like bread or veg. Supermarkets don’t charge a premium on it and are unlikely to change that approach
Really is that one true...had heard that years ago but didn't know as I haven't branded for decades
Almost 3 times the margin the farmers get...
Contact time and fresh dry ice prob most important but I think the oil in the skin/ hair, "the shine", when at grass impedes it a bit.
Was told it's to do with the sun / daylight that they dont come out as well in the summer
