Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

That's the most important thing,knowing the type of stock that you want. I started on the wrong place and 6 years in am only starting to rectify the mistake

buy the best stock you can. It’s the make or break for new entrants from what I see. Dont be satisfied with 500 kgs, try look for herds with higher milk solids but still grass based. They’re out there.
Tell your mate to put some silicone grease in the remover arms. That’s why they’re slow to come off

Have a 16 with no removers tbh on your own I could probably have left it at 12 or so units but still manageable.

have milked in rotaries both with and without acrs and will agree they are needed in a rotary but in less than 20 unit herringbones they’re definitely not a necessity or make life easier but if you’d prefer them then whatever makes you happy in a parlour am and pm for 300 days of the year.

I do kind of miss having an auto washer but I did have a few Sunday evenings where you’d arrive back to milk in the evening only to discover it hadn’t finished washing that morning.. generally a simple fix but still something you’d rather not have to deal with. It’s probably saving 15 mins a day so not a huge time saving

Have a autowash here, its grand but definitely wouldn't consider it a must have. Saves a bit of time but definitely not fool proof and over the last couple of years has given bits of trouble with valves and card went in it last year which cost €,1500 to fix. @weatherbyfoxer you going about it the right way. Way better return on stock and grass in comparison to adding extras like acrs and autowash

Autowash would be an non-negotiable for me, finish up and walk away.

ACRs are a great job. Id buy two less cows than go without either

Would it be normal enough to use water to flush the last of the milk through the lines into the tank?..The lads selling the parlour would be suggesting this as opposed to an air purge

bit dicey water in the milk tank even small drop and they will be on to you

Ffs lads, I always flush the milk through with water. Push about 20 litres through, the milk will be all out and the water will sit in the milk line between the milk pump and the tank in my parlour without ever trying to get to the tank. Keep it simple.

The manual wash on my parlour take 8 minutes to do. Set it washing, go wash the cow stands and pit and it's nearly done. Half the detergent and half the hot water used. Save the money and pay for about 150 relief milkings from it. You'll have more free time.

I have the gas. Use a fill about every 14 months. Not a big expense. Hot wash every day, recycle it cold next milking. Do that 3 days then an acid descale. TBC never exceeds 10.

Ffs all the lad wanted was some advice. Instead he get a load of guys blowing about the facilities they have. My advise would be to quit before burning more money on facilities. We had a lad on here tried starting up last year. That didn't end well. There are loads of fine dairy farms needing new operators available for lease that would be how I would go if he is mad forcows or Even go to France. The amount of fine dairy farm there looking for buyers is ridiculous.

who’s blowing 🤔🤔🤔lads simply outlying what they have and there 2 pence worth on what they think is needed or not ….its not gospel ffs

Do you know someone that has set up on a farm in France with limousin sucklers?

I do. I'm just wondering if you know the same people maybe from the tipperary connections.