Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

ok so have you a aAa score for pivotal

I bet he’s not compatible with any of your cows

-5 for frame is disastrous in so so many ways- leads to poor feed efficiency lower intakes reduced production and much lighter stock who are worthless as culls

yet genomic says he’s great

The irish bulls are usually 20 percent friesian 80 percent holstein there not a pure breed so variation and low predctio occurs no other country uses much or any of our bull cus there all crap no one inspects the daughters for type its a joke

ticks lot of boxes alright

At the risk of comments about the herd!!

Various types for sale in a herd clearance this wednesday in New Ross mart.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/phFW4n71ELrDDGWU/

whats the minumin amount of time to leave a maize pit closed for before starting to feed it ?

It's half expected that the hubris from 2015 has died down and people realise it's as good as it gets. And other half from actors in media, new regulations from dept, council, cost of upgrades, cost of compliance, etc. Even no acknowledgement from actors in media of the climate debate and dairy grass soils holding more carbon than other farming methods that are promoted by same actors. All has bearing. Even looking on at others get payments per acre and those in get none can sicken people. When they know they are doing everything right.

I had to laugh at a tillage farmers son on the milk round complain about collections. He was run off his feet he said three years ago. His boss dropped the rounds and went back to general haulage. A new company took over with foreign drivers. I asked a driver this year were they busy with collections. No was the reply very quiet. Need more milk.

Hoe do u find managing scc

Just to probe a bit what is the work that is the biggest struggle, is it a combination of all the little jobs or is it the springtime. I would imagine the spring is tough. People underestimate the time that goes into calves in the first week. Big difference from suckler as once they are sucking they are generally on the go then. Getting to grass, strip wires, cleaning sheds etc. summer with breeding and grassland management.

It's good to ramble and let it out as it having few other eyes on it could help. It's the little jobs that eat time and trying to build simplify them is key

Just wondering would it pay to use the contractor or pit for the initial burst of silage while breeding is on. This is when you are burnt out from the spring. Even looking to a local beef farmer for even 1-2 days a week or even 2-3 hours a day for 6 weeks for the February to early April spell. Trying to keep all the irons in the fire will catch you. This could help hugely and provide a bit an extra support network to you and the crew at home during the day.

Im only looking in as an ex dairy farmer with a gra still there for cows, but a good job and a young family is holding me back

Thanks for the support, don't get me wrong I'm not burnt out or anything, took on a few extra projects over the past 4 to 5 years which stretched me a bit.

Ye the plan would be to go back to pit for first cut this year, however it's a bit small so will really only cater half my silage requirements. My contractor won't draw the bales, so for the time being we will draw them.

I suppose down the road getting in some labour might work, but those people are very scarce. The ambition I suppose was to access more land and increase scale enough to leave the job, don't really see that happening. We have a good setup at present and profitable but it is probably finite.

Andre has never been with calves in the local marts and been sent home with his tail between his legs.

Not joking. It's easy give advice when you are not getting the full experience of farming. I've seen them sent home too that there's no point bringing the calves in.

That advice is from 2014 just he's never moved on.

That guy is using a lot of beef on the herd by the sounds of it. The right beef bulls on jex there is no issue selling them from what I see. I’ve a few good mates with very jex herds, they look after the calves really well and no issue selling them