freedominacup wrote: » Cow that calved yesterday evening down with milk fever this morning. Two bottles into the vein and thankfully she was up in five minutes. I need a kick in the hole though. She's a good cow but inclined to be troublesome around calving. Mornings like this the wholecrop comes into it's own. I threw a strong buffer feed into the feeder before milking. The buffer is just finished now as the rain is stopping. They'll mosy off now and won't miss a beat performance wise or plough any paddock. If there was only grass silage available they'd be blowing for road straightaway or if they were made stay in and eat it performance would suffer big time. It's a good feed when fully housed but on the shoulders of the season it's very valuable.
Cow Porter wrote: » Have you used maize as a buffer? How do they compare, giving up on maize this year as stocking rate dropping for a bit due to extra land so have plenty forage and more so cos it's working out well over 55 a tone and waste on top of that, doing diets this year and it was same cost to include maize or just add barley, wheat, maize meal blend to mix, extra soya in maize mix was killing it to even bring it to 14% crude protein , way I see it now is your just paying for the feed before the winter vs paying through the winter by adding barley wheat and maize meal. (where are prices for these heading though) Opened maize when they went to grass to buffer but wonder if I didn't have it would dry silage and something like soya hulls and barley do the trick?? Maize just costing too much at this stage and doing extremely well to get 18-20 ton crop Crows are the real nuisance in a yard tho, **** made of grass silage pit here cos they think it's maize underneath after netting the maize pit
Cow Porter wrote: » Have you used maize as a buffer? How do they compare, giving up on maize this year as stocking rate dropping for a bit due to extra land so have plenty forage and more so cos it's working out well over 55 a tone and waste on top of that, doing diets this year and it was same cost to include maize or just add barley, wheat, maize meal blend to mix, extra soya in maize mix was killing it to even bring it to 14% crude protein , way I see it now is your just paying for the feed before the winter vs paying through the winter by adding barley wheat and maize meal. (where are prices for these heading though) Opened maize when they went to grass to buffer but wonder if I didn't have it would dry silage and something like soya hulls and barley do the trick?? Maize just costing too much at this stage and doing extremely well to get 18-20 ton crop G Crows are the real nuisance in a yard tho, **** made of grass silage pit here cos they think it's maize underneath after netting the maize pit
Greengrass1 wrote: » Cows usually go out here fairly quick full time most yrs. will have to change tack next yr more cows. will more than likely have to stay in at night for a good while. I'll hopefully have a good bank of quality silage and just feed that. can't afford to buy or grow maize :D
mahoney_j wrote: » Look at wholecrop gg considering where u are and one cruical bit of advice don't go loading on a heap of cows just to say your carrying extra nos.from what we can gather u need more slurry storage,cubicles milk tank etc.chasing nos is a dangerous game a bit more dangerous than chasing production if u ask me.with ur sr moving up you'll need space to buffer cows and space for drys to accommodate poor spells of weather early and late in year.slow steady growth is my advice and sort above issues along way.if you've lots of stock u could offload some to part finance it
Cow Porter wrote: » How much a ton is wholecrop worth and how much a ton would you grow it for given all work contract out.http://www.teagasc.ie/calc/FeedStuffs.asp
Greengrass1 wrote: » No your right but tbh I'm not chasing numbers things are just free wheeling 110 to serve this yr between spring and autumn I could go and not serve a few cows that are getting old or that are getting wrecked looking that would cut a few out of it alright Myself dad and advisor were chatting this morning and a big lagoon sounds like best option. 60 cubicles in shed across from it- we can do them ourselves easy enough. And put rest in when ever. Loads of shed space here for dry cows. Tbh I'd prefer sort that first than a parlour.
keep going wrote: » No manure out here due to weather and busy and starting to panic. Lads that have it out are ye getting a response
Brown Podzol wrote: » Did it that way myself, and when I had the parlour sorted I said I should have done the parlour first. Seemed a bit like why a lunatic keeps banging his head against the wall, for the intense relief he gets when he stops.:D
Timmaay wrote: » When will ya hit the 110? That's 19 rows in a 6 unit, doable with hired milkers but if you do all the milking yourself you'll have no life.
whelan2 wrote: » water is all leaking out of the bottom of the water heater i have in dairy, its not that old and only put a new element in it before christmas:mad: what water heater do ye use?
Greengrass1 wrote: » Grass only starting now I reckon. Have much ed grazed? 500 on first 3 paddocks I grazed
Greengrass1 wrote: » Doubt I'll milk 110 next yr if I milk 90-95 ill be doing well. Id stick it for a yr it'll be a decision between slurry storage and some cubicles or the parlour. I want slurry storage and some cubicles dad is more inclined to go for parlour
Timmaay wrote: » 15/16 rows so, if it was say you the am your dad at night perfectly fine but if your always in the pit like me, give the parlour a 2nd thought ha. Barebones frazz style will do fine ha.
Deepsouthwest wrote: » I'd agree with that, if the pit and stall work is there for another 6, then for the sake of a few quid I'd throw them in straightaway. It won't break the bank
Greengrass1 wrote: » Can't be added on to. Pipes are too small as well as pump. If they weren't I'd push it up no problem but it has to be a whole new job. 27k 2 yrs ago when we priced it feeders nit Inc in that. I'll be putting 13 through it this yr. grant is there too which has to be used by august
frazzledhome wrote: » Stay going with what you have. Get compliant, get boots on the ground and get cash flowing. Get a local young lad to do Sun pm milking €50, he'll be delighted and you'll get out of the place from 8am sun am till 6 on Mon am. Lifestyle is some thing you can only consider when you can afford it. Lifestyle can be very expensive.
frazzledhome wrote: » Lifestyle can be very expensive.
Dawggone wrote: » Very true. Having said that I'd give anything to be in Cheltenham.....!!
darragh_haven wrote: » I have no knowledge or interest in horses..... but in Cheltenham I am. there is a difference between lifestyle and having a life.
