Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

No I do not look down on them MJ, it's just each to his own. If I had no young lad interested in farming I might do it myself, howeverits a limited business and if you want to work within those limits that grand. I prefer to work.on the edge. Both of my lads interested in farming they see it as a good business along with a good job

If I had cattle out on a 2 acre paddock in March for a fortnight. There would be mud a foot deep and ploughing would be the only thing to straighten out. The middle of April was being adventurous to end the near 200 days inside for the stronger ones.

That a chain harrow alone would get it broken for seeding and looking that well after this spring, never mind livestock on it in March is just beyond what I know of land, but then again the first time i read about lads rolling a field as a part of regular management. Mind blown incredible.

The phrase "different country" is more and more true. It can be true for many lads I know to say that beef since September 22 has been horrific money wise and for others to say things are looking up.

Going to 170 is going to be a big change for alot of us. Any investments being made here now are based on losing derogation. Alot of lads will farm without the BISS for a while I'd say as its a small payment for alot of people.

UCD lyons farm gives alot of hope and is very interesting what they are doing. Heard from finbar mulligan recently and he made the most sense I heard in a long time about feeding a cow adequately in spring especially. He mentioned bad advice about under feeding and a few other things.

Reading your question, you talk about cows, and you're father and your not mad about the office but you have not said what you want? Do you want to milk seven days a week, do you want to work and have dry cattle, do you want to lease,

Have you a partner or family. If you do want to milk and work it's possible but hard. Be truthful to yourself. What do you want

Ya No longer acceptable but at times needs must. It 5++ years since I had to do something like that

Stocked at 2.33 I thought. They are proving that the smaller dairy farm can sill be viable whereas teagasc and the farmers journal have written off the smaller guy for years in my opinion.

Ya, that's why they are set at that. They had to drop stocking rate when derogation was cut. I just like the idea of less cows and more milk. There isn't too many places on Ireland that you can get advice like they give and a working example. 1.5 ton isn't that much feed when you get up around 600 kgMs.

Their cows are eating 24 kg DM whereas teagasc and co barely allocate 18.

There was a dairy sale in Carnew a few days ago most stock bought by dealers at killing price. A 45 litre yielding cow made 1100. It's not an everyday occurance either way.

Big factor there is that is serious land in Lyons Estate to start with, grow a lot of grass and free drainage

Ah sure if I was being honest I'm not 100% sure on either option.

Office job is a pain in the hole, but 45 hours a week. Milking be the best job in the world if it was those hours, but facing into twice daily milking for 10 months isn't great with young kids and a house half built.

Suppose my opinion might change when the house is built and kids are a bit older.

Not the figures I was shown. Closer to 600. The first few years were low alright.

Team of bulls is the biggest cop out and should be seen as a red flag. Should confidently be able to pick a handful of the top bulls that fit your philosophy to cover you for inbreeding and calving ease.

Definitely, you have to be a good farmer, when all you have is heavy ground. The wetter ground around here is only starting to grow grass now. You have to push the first rotation out to the 10th of May this year. I'd gladly put up with a couple of weeks of drought.

Another big difference is whether ground is north or south facing. Makes a big difference in spring