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Dairy Farming General

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  • #9362
    C0N0R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,959 ✭✭✭C0N0R


    How much milk would people be figuring grass is worth atm?


  • #9363
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    They should come bulling before 72 hrs so?
    what ai bull you using on them? kya?


  • #9364
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,705 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    C0N0R wrote: »
    How much milk would people be figuring grass is worth atm?

    About 24/25 Ltrs I reckon.lots of variables like grass quality and genetic potential of cow etc .fty here set at 2 kg for 26 kg milk and 0.35 kg for every kg milk over that to max of 7 kg.


  • #9365
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,705 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    C0N0R wrote: »
    How much milk would people be figuring grass is worth atm?

    About 24/25 Ltrs I reckon.lots of variables like grass quality and genetic potential of cow etc .fty here set at 2 kg for 26 kg milk and 0.35 kg for every kg milk over that to max of 7 kg.


  • #9366
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    whelan2 wrote: »
    what ai bull you using on them? kya?

    Yep him. Using another 2 aswell RGZ I think he us and ZTP
    kya calves are like buttons when born and turn into hungry little ****ers. There eating some amount of meal now


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  • #9367
    Milked out
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭Milked out


    mahoney_j wrote: »
    About 24/25 Ltrs I reckon.lots of variables like grass quality and genetic potential of cow etc .fty here set at 2 kg for 26 kg milk and 0.35 kg for every kg milk over that to max of 7 kg.


    I'd agree with you mj, seem to be a decent number holding at 23 or 24 with little or no meal.
    http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/how-to-control-the-costs-of-milk-production/
    cafre seem to think different tho, possibly to not grazing a right stage maybe?


  • #9368
    Milked out
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭Milked out


    See a full crossbred herd for sale in Antrim, hol, montebellairde and swedish red 3 way crosses. Wonder how they would sell. Also 40 autumn calvers in cork but seasons are a bit confused by him in that there starting calving in the next week, a case of the bull being left with the spring herd for most of the year I spose, if not tis a waste of the best growing part of the year to have the cows dry in April may or June. Anyone hazard a guess at what price oct calving cows may be available for, will milk prices subdue the market a bit?


  • #9369
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Milked out wrote: »
    See a full crossbred herd for sale in Antrim, hol, montebellairde and swedish red 3 way crosses. Wonder how they would sell. Also 40 autumn calvers in cork but seasons are a bit confused by him in that there starting calving in the next week, a case of the bull being left with the spring herd for most of the year I spose, if not tis a waste of the best growing part of the year to have the cows dry in April may or June. Anyone hazard a guess at what price oct calving cows may be available for, will milk prices subdue the market a bit?

    Reckon we'll sell half our winter milkers next yr and just milk what put contract us for. We'll still have alot of the spring milkers milkiing on until mid dec
    Much prefer spring milk


  • #9370
    Milked out
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭Milked out


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    Reckon we'll sell half our winter milkers next yr and just milk what put contract us for. We'll still have alot of the spring milkers milkiing on until mid dec
    Much prefer spring milk

    I'll have 10 or 11 culls Def to go b4 winter some dry a few still milking, possibly a few more depending on what ends up not in calf so mite clear out and bring in a few fresh cows for the autumn instead of milking more stale cows for winter. Depends on funds and what's out there though as well at end of summer.
    Carry overs are costing more esp when space is tighter as well as they just put more pressure on fresh calvers and of course lower return on the feed they are getting. I'll c but it might just fast forward the plan of getting rid of them


  • #9371
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Milked out wrote: »
    I'll have 10 or 11 culls Def to go b4 winter some dry a few still milking, possibly a few more depending on what ends up not in calf so mite clear out and bring in a few fresh cows for the autumn instead of milking more stale cows for winter. Depends on funds and what's out there though as well at end of summer.
    Carry overs are costing more esp when space is tighter as well as they just put more pressure on fresh calvers and of course lower return on the feed they are getting. I'll c but it might just fast forward the plan of getting rid of them

    38 to serve here this dec and there's no way I'll have facilities to milk that many winter milkers not to mention the demand in the spring. 2 have bags gone wrong like a quarter slipped after mastitis 3 tester etc. Hardly a market for them sort of cows?
    If im going to be able to start selling stock I want to make a name as having decent stuff not the scrap iykwim.
    having no carryover here has really pushed on alot of things. Still not at the stage yet though where I can pick ciws I don't want a heifer from


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  • #9372
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Milked out wrote: »
    See a full crossbred herd for sale in Antrim, hol, montebellairde and swedish red 3 way crosses. Wonder how they would sell. Also 40 autumn calvers in cork but seasons are a bit confused by him in that there starting calving in the next week, a case of the bull being left with the spring herd for most of the year I spose, if not tis a waste of the best growing part of the year to have the cows dry in April may or June. Anyone hazard a guess at what price oct calving cows may be available for, will milk prices subdue the market a bit?
    supposed to be a mass exodus from dairying up the north, a good few big sales in the piepline a good few have made no silage as they will have no stock for the winter. Wonder what price would those stock go for, considering the sterling rate would they be good value?


  • #9373
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,125 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    whelan2 wrote: »
    supposed to be a mass exodus from dairying up the north, a good few big sales in the piepline a good few have made no silage as they will have no stock for the winter. Wonder what price would those stock go for, considering the sterling rate would they be good value?

    Reckon their will he value to be had but will probably be hard to find suitable cows unless your looking for 9000 litre racehorses,


  • #9374
    mf240
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,890 ✭✭✭mf240


    Milked out wrote: »
    See a full crossbred herd for sale in Antrim, hol, montebellairde and swedish red 3 way crosses. Wonder how they would sell. Also 40 autumn calvers in cork but seasons are a bit confused by him in that there starting calving in the next week, a case of the bull being left with the spring herd for most of the year I spose, if not tis a waste of the best growing part of the year to have the cows dry in April may or June. Anyone hazard a guess at what price oct calving cows may be available for, will milk prices subdue the market a bit?

    Seen that add , some nice looking cows pictured. Calving all year seems to be the norm in the north. With the euro /sterling rate at the moment theyed end up expensive enough.


  • #9375
    kowtow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭kowtow


    Does anyone happen to have an Atlantic water heater in the parlour?

    Have a new 100 litre one and the manual is nonsensical.

    1. The green flashing light stays flashing even when all power to the dairy is cut... ??? Is it supposed to do anything other than flash ever?

    2. How long should it take to heat and to what temperature? Not convinced that it is producing 100 litres at 85 degrees + and seems to take all night to get up to temp?

    Maybe we are missing something stupid? About to put in the permanent piping etc. around it so any hints would be most welcome.


  • #9376
    Cow Porter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 472 ✭✭Cow Porter


    kowtow wrote: »
    Does anyone happen to have an Atlantic water heater in the parlour?

    Have a new 100 litre one and the manual is nonsensical.

    1. The green flashing light stays flashing even when all power to the dairy is cut... ??? Is it supposed to do anything other than flash ever?

    2. How long should it take to heat and to what temperature? Not convinced that it is producing 100 litres at 85 degrees + and seems to take all night to get up to temp?

    Maybe we are missing something stupid? About to put in the permanent piping etc. around it so any hints would be most welcome.

    Just plugged mine out and yes still flashing after 5 mins.
    Was wired for 3 phase so electrician put in connectors for single phase.
    Not sure how long it takes to heat, be 3 or 4 hours anyway I'd say.
    It holds 100 litres but the water can only come out by cold water going in, so it's never 100 litres of hot water coming out of the tap. No controllable thermostat here either which would be handy to know.

    Milking machine uses a vented water heater. Fills during the day, heats that amount of water @ night and dumps that amount of hot water out in am and it's all 85 degrees


  • #9377
    Milked out
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭Milked out


    whelan2 wrote: »
    supposed to be a mass exodus from dairying up the north, a good few big sales in the piepline a good few have made no silage as they will have no stock for the winter. Wonder what price would those stock go for, considering the sterling rate would they be good value?

    As the lads said above a lot of those ladies would be geared too highly for milk at the expense of fert and the exchange rate would come against then as well. I guess if buying it's lads that have stock to sell every year would be safest bet as it could show a low replacement rate which would suggest long lasting cows in the herd and reputation would most likely be known as well.


  • #9378
    darragh_haven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭darragh_haven


    whelan2 wrote: »
    supposed to be a mass exodus from dairying up the north, a good few big sales in the piepline a good few have made no silage as they will have no stock for the winter. Wonder what price would those stock go for, considering the sterling rate would they be good value?

    I'm work up north alot of the time and there are about twice as many herds as usual being sold off. But then again, the herd size is increasing very quickly too.
    As a few have said here before. The types of cows for sale would be a great Base for an xbred herd.


  • #9379
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    first evening back milking after holidays, flies where fookers, pour on ready to go on them in the morning


  • #9380
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Does anyone build up a paddock with a big cover of grass say 4k to keep the autumn dry ciws on from dry off to calving instead of having then running around behind cows which I hate.
    have paddock below yard with 1k on it that needs reseeding so not worried if it gets messed. .first ciws due to be dried mid august so 5 wks it should be near 4k?


  • #9381
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    Does anyone build up a paddock with a big cover of grass say 4k to keep the autumn dry ciws on from dry off to calving instead of having then running around behind cows which I hate.
    have paddock below yard with 1k on it that needs reseeding so not worried if it gets messed. .first ciws due to be dried mid august so 5 wks it should be near 4k?
    mine are on a field that needs topping,have been there 2 weeks and will move next week, will be moved to the bare calving paddock about 10days before calving, is giving them a cover of 4k not asking for trouble


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  • #9382
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    whelan2 wrote: »
    mine are on a field that needs topping,have been there 2 weeks and will move next week, will be moved to the bare calving paddock about 10days before calving, is giving them a cover of 4k not asking for trouble

    It'll be like hay basicly. Thats how they do it in johnstown castle. On that till there on the point of calving and then there briught into the shed to calve
    Don't see how it'd be a problem better than them eating regrowths that are full of N off the paddocks and ill be reducing what grass I grow and taking longer to build up grass fir the fall
    You've dried them up very early no?
    only giving ours 6 wks. They in very good condition


  • #9383
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    It'll be like hay basicly. Don't see how it'd be a problem better than them eating regrowths that are full of N off the paddocks.

    You've dried them up very early no?
    only giving ours 6 wks. They in very good condition
    dried 4 carry over cows off a few weeks ago, fat as fools ,put them with 10 autumn calving heifers, would they eat the 4k cover though, would you not be better off baling the paddock?


  • #9384
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    whelan2 wrote: »
    dried 4 carry over cows off a few weeks ago, fat as fools ,put them with 10 autumn calving heifers, would they eat the 4k cover though, would you not be better off baling the paddock?

    Strop graze them on it. Saw it in johnstown last yr. Good way if doing it I thought


  • #9385
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,752 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    Strop graze them on it. Saw it in johnstown last yr. Good way if doing it I thought
    whats strop grazing:D


  • #9386
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    whelan2 wrote: »
    whats strop grazing:D

    It's all the rage now


  • #9387
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,705 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    Just totting up months supply figures and going to send in just short of 1000 Ltrs less this month compared to May (same ammount of collections ).cows held peak extremely well this year solids figures will also be up on June 14 ,should hit 3.58 average p for month but only 3.53 fat


  • #9388
    Blackgrass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 735 ✭✭✭Blackgrass


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    It's all the rage now

    What do you not give the girls their meal and leave them in same paddock after they've picked off their preferential blades of grass?:pac:


  • #9389
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,125 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    darragh_haven wrote: »
    I'm work up north alot of the time and there are about twice as many herds as usual being sold off. But then again, the herd size is increasing very quickly too.
    As a few have said here before. The types of cows for sale would be a great Base for an xbred herd.

    Got a farming magazine with a write up on steeles and am scratching my head wondering how the f##k they are keeping the show on the road...
    Few quick stats 4 150 plus horsepower tractors all new/very fresh
    3 families drawing a income along with 2 fulltime employees and 6 relief milkers
    60 bail rotary and new cubicle shed built in 2009
    along with a purpose built grain store last year and to cap it of 70 acres was bought this year and 350 of 700 acre block they farm is rented...
    In fairness they have extremely impressive figures quoted of 10,550 litres of a yield average but the sheer operating costs of their system are insane going by the write up


  • #9390
    Timmaay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,396 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    jaymla627 wrote: »
    Got a farming magazine with a write up on steeles and am scratching my head wondering how the f##k they are keeping the show on the road...
    Few quick stats 4 150 plus horsepower tractors all new/very fresh
    3 families drawing a income along with 2 fulltime employees and 6 relief milkers
    60 bail rotary and new cubicle shed built in 2009
    along with a purpose built grain store last year and to cap it of 70 acres was bought this year and 350 of 700 acre block they farm is rented...
    In fairness they have extremely impressive figures quoted of 10,550 litres of a yield average but the sheer operating costs of their system are insane going by the write up

    They are utter perfectionists and married to the cows though from what I gathered, tractors on the go non stop 6 days a week, only down time is every Sunday when they just milk. Contrast this to a grass based spring farm who will be getting 1/2 them litres per year, but utterly ticking over and only really milking for the next few months. But agreed it would be very interested to see the financial details over afew years to see how it all works. I've heard also right at the minute they are making a serious enough loss with the current milk price (well below their cost of production), but money in the bank from the high price last year.


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  • #9391
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,125 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    Timmaay wrote: »
    They are utter perfectionists and married to the cows though from what I gathered, tractors on the go non stop 6 days a week, only down time is every Sunday when they just milk. Contrast this to a grass based spring farm who will be getting 1/2 them litres per year, but utterly ticking over and only really milking for the next few months. But agreed it would be very interested to see the financial details over afew years to see how it all works. I've heard also right at the minute they are making a serious enough loss with the current milk price (well below their cost of production), but money in the bank from the high price last year.

    I reckon whatever they have banked wont be long getting a good hole made in it especially when you take into account the bought in ground this year, their system just smacks of getting milk out of cows for the sake of it...
    given the scale of the operation a couple of pence loss on the litres they are producing would sink a farm fairly quick once your in a system like theirs you cant really cut costs when your dealing with their type of cows and overheads


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