frazzledhome wrote: » Our June milk cheque was 6% back on last years with 5% more cows. I'm feeling like a daft prick here now considering the money I left behind last year with the record high price. We split the cows this year putting all 1st lac and any with history of foot problems as well as any cow with lower BCS in one group. When things got tight and we needed to push cows we pushed fit group not the young ones One thing this exercise has done is shown me that small changes can make a big difference. The real test will be to see have we and more in calf than other years. Looking at the cows I'm feeling that may be the case. Won't be scanning cows for a while yet so will wait and see.
Greengrass1 wrote: » Stans comment about if you can't afford to expand in a bad MP yr you can't afford in a good MP yr. agree to a point but it's has a serious price 35% more milk sent thus june over june 14 and only same money brought in tough when you have to foot the cost of producing that extra milk aswell as keeping more young stock. not saying were going not going to milk more next yr but it has to be thought about again now
frazzledhome wrote: » Funny thing MJ is that we've fed slightly less meal this year. A few things happened as a consequence of splitting. We grew more grass and cows spending less time walking and standing in collecting yard. Growing more grass but more importantly all cows are getting a fairer chance to gobble it. For young herd longest walk is 400m to parlour. Some of the further paddocks were cut for first cut so not visited as often be main herd. These are 1hr from parlour. With such a small increase in numbers the herd has also matured with the knock on production increase. My big bear was that had we done this last year we would've reaped a lot more of the higher price with no increase in costs. Lesson learned. It's an on going education and I think herd size will be an important consideration in the future.
Deepsouthwest wrote: » How far is the field that's an hr away? Walked my cows to ground just over a mile away yesterday, and two of us had them home in about 45 mins, not really rushing them either. Do u find any drop in yield when walking this far? Visited Pat and Olive Weeks a few yrs ago and they reckoned u lose about a litre per kilometre.
Sam Kade wrote: » Wouldn't it be easier to bring the grass to the cows in that situation? Pick up an old single chop or wagon and feed in a paddock near the yard.
Timmaay wrote: » Someone do the back of the envelope figure here please ha. But I'm guessing that the KISS rule will well and truly be broken by the time you have picked up the single chop/wagon, either wasted your own time or possibly the time of someone else who wouldn't necessarily be use to using one, for a machine that is to be used for a very limited amount of time, and with possibly very marginal gains over just walking the cows the distance.
Deepsouthwest wrote: » What's the kiss rule?
Deepsouthwest wrote: » Certainly not, the easiest and cheapest way to get grass into cows will always be straight grazing.
Sam Kade wrote: » Not when you're walking them a mile which is 4 miles a day for 2 milking's The grass will recover faster also.
Sam Kade wrote: » Lame cows, milk yield drop, time, money? The old wagon, single chop wouldn't be long paying for itself.
Timmaay wrote: » You'd keep them much closer at night.
Sam Kade wrote: » True, neighbours wife spent many a day walking cows 2 miles to and from grazing same woman couldn't walk around dunnes stores now.
frazzledhome wrote: » Don't know tbh, must measure. They get there quicker than they come in. When we bring in we stay 2 fence posts behind so as not to push. The herd will only move as fast as the slowest cow On milk don't notice drop but wouldn't be doing twice a day ever. I think the issue here was the size of the group.
just do it wrote: » Grazing separate set of paddocks or leader follower? Edit - I think your next post answers that
Cow Porter wrote: » It's gone way off topic but yer on about far away paddocks etc, in same predicament here, furthest paddock (rented ground) is just over 1km, these paddocks are setup for 3 grazing at planned numbers, Must get paddocks at home properly fenced (other side of the road so plan to use as night paddocks as much as possible) If I make them just 1 grazing mid summer then they will be too small the other side of grazing season? Soooo any suggestions
freedominacup wrote: » I'm taking out paddock divisions as much as possible and adding gaps and water troughs. There's virtually no such thing as a correct paddock size. What most divisions are ending up at is around three days for the full herd at peak demand. Subdivide to requirements on any day depending on the variables. There's at least four entrances to a section this size and two water points. More troughs will be added.
Greengrass1 wrote: » The trouble I'm having here trying to get extra gaps into paddocks. You'll never get them.out there anyway is what I'm told
Deepsouthwest wrote: » She must've had the wrong breeding for his system!
