Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

whelan2 · 16-06-2021 5:52am

charolais0153 wrote: »

What about not grazing and cutting early may?

No. There would be old grass on it from over the winter. It depends on the spring weather get the last 2 years you couldn't graze it until the end of march st least. 90 acres in it . You wouldn't get out to spread fertiliser on it either most springs

straight · 16-06-2021 5:55am

Green&Red wrote: »

So is it second cut bales you milk off? Why would you use those instead of first cut silage?

I’d agree with Mahony on the bales off paddocks, ****e in = ****e out, if it’s stemmy going in you’ve the same issue when you open it

Bit of everything really I suppose. Am not long at this craic really and I'm just trying to learn the best way. I'd probably favour 2nd cut bales but the way things were the last few years all my bales were in front of the pit in one pile so I had to use them in whatever order they came in really. I never really noticed much of a difference in the tank. Cows are winding down in November anyway and they tip away in the spring until they get grass ASAP. Don't calve until Feb.

Green&Red · 16-06-2021 6:50am

whelan2 wrote: »

No. There would be old grass on it from over the winter. It depends on the spring weather get the last 2 years you couldn't graze it until the end of march st least. 90 acres in it . You wouldn't get out to spread fertiliser on it either most springs

Would you not consider sheep?
Even lease the grazing for the winter to a sheepman

whelan2 · 16-06-2021 8:01am

Green&Red wrote: »

Would you not consider sheep?
Even lease the grazing for the winter to a sheepman

Ha. I did that. Then we got a real cold spring with no growth and no grass for the cows. When the grass did grow it was lovely but I couldn't let the cows out as no grass

GrasstoMilk · 16-06-2021 8:32am

Injuryprone wrote: »

Some might say that you're giving that 5k to the contractor and fertilizer merchant for the extra cut for the same volume of silage

Yes good point, but I'm spreading less fert per cut than previously- 80 units for 1st, 70 for 2nd and 60 for 3rd

Would have been 100 units of N for 1st abd 2nd cut previously
2nd cut generally was as big as 1st cut

Contractor is charging 90e per cut vs 120 previously
So bit more expensive that way but I've much more options with that silage than all bulky stuff

We'd have had 7/8t DM/crops handy with previous system, harvester be on its knees

Cows milking much better in spring and autumn

mahoney_j · 16-06-2021 9:44am

Put silage here is dry cow grub so aiming for low 70s dmd 25/30% dm ,2 cuts .silage for Milker’s is baled with aim to cut early may ,paddocks /fields are then topped and fertiliser /get slurry throughout summer with aim to cut after 30:35 days and get high 70s low 80s dmd .13 acres Maize also down

White Clover · 16-06-2021 9:47am

whelan2 wrote: »

Ha. I did that. Then we got a real cold spring with no growth and no grass for the cows. When the grass did grow it was lovely but I couldn't let the cows out as no grass

Were the sheep roaming over the whole farm?

whelan2 · 16-06-2021 10:01am

White Clover wrote: »

Were the sheep roaming over the whole farm?

No left 20% they weren't on but there was no growth. Can't remember the year, could have been 2009.

cosatron · 16-06-2021 11:49am

whelan2 wrote: »

No left 20% they weren't on but there was no growth. Can't remember the year, could have been 2009.

i think sheep do to much damage to grass on established leys. Great job on reseeded ground to thicken it up but that's about it.

White Clover · 16-06-2021 11:51am

whelan2 wrote: »

No left 20% they weren't on but there was no growth. Can't remember the year, could have been 2009.

Only way to manage them so as to have grass in spring is to block graze and back fence.

farisfat · 16-06-2021 11:54am

whelan2 wrote: »

No. There would be old grass on it from over the winter. It depends on the spring weather get the last 2 years you couldn't graze it until the end of march st least. 90 acres in it . You wouldn't get out to spread fertiliser on it either most springs

What's road access like.....I graze some very wet land in February and March good access and on of grazing.
Fertilizer has to be spread with a quad and spreader.

whelan2 · 16-06-2021 12:00pm

These are the furthest away fields. Road access ok. But tbh they csn be totally saturated and you'd be doing more harm than good

White Clover · 16-06-2021 12:26pm

cosatron wrote: »

i think sheep do to much damage to grass on established leys. Great job on reseeded ground to thicken it up but that's about it.

I wouldn't agree with that. Sheep back on the farm here since 2017 after being absent for over 20 years. There has been a very noticeable improvement in the quality and thickness of the sward.

Say my name · 16-06-2021 1:15pm

White Clover wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with that. Sheep back on the farm here since 2017 after being absent for over 20 years. There has been a very noticeable improvement in the quality and thickness of the sward.

Neighbour who milks also has hoggets grazing for the winter. Tbh he's way ahead of mise with bovines only grazing. Don't know what quantities of fert he spreads. But he seems to be getting very high bulks of silage and grazing. The trick with sheep as with any grazing is have them on and off that ground. Mob grazing a fancy way of putting it.
It's diversity of biology in it's own right.

cosatron · 16-06-2021 1:57pm

White Clover wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with that. Sheep back on the farm here since 2017 after being absent for over 20 years. There has been a very noticeable improvement in the quality and thickness of the sward.

what we found that when you let sheep out on the paddocks at the back end of year, they graze it too bare by their nature at a time when the grass and soil is trying to recover after a hard years grazing and the sheep doesn't give the soil structure and grass time to recover. We tried it a couple of times and we wouldn't be doing it again. Only time we use sheep is on reseeded ground. Now that might be just due to our location, soil type, weather etc.

White Clover · 16-06-2021 2:05pm

cosatron wrote: »

what we found that when you let sheep out on the paddocks at the back end of year, they graze it too bare by their nature at a time when the grass and soil is trying to recover after a hard years grazing and the sheep doesn't give the soil structure and grass time to recover. We tried it a couple of times and we wouldn't be doing it again. Only time we use sheep is on reseeded ground. Now that might be just due to our location, soil type, weather etc.

If they're over grazing it's not the sheeps fault!

cosatron · 16-06-2021 2:17pm

White Clover wrote: »

If they're over grazing it's not the sheeps fault!

they weren't over grazing it and to be honest i knew that would be the reply. You have 2 posters on here saying that they don't agree with sheep grazing diary farms due to the nature of their farms. So is it very difficult for you to accept a differing opinion.

Wildsurfer · 16-06-2021 2:18pm

White Clover wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with that. Sheep back on the farm here since 2017 after being absent for over 20 years. There has been a very noticeable improvement in the quality and thickness of the sward.

Is that the reason you got back into them or do you just like hardship! I can see why pre quota lads had them on milking block but now surely a few extra cows would be as profitable and less hassle?

orm0nd · 16-06-2021 3:13pm

White Clover wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with that. Sheep back on the farm here since 2017 after being absent for over 20 years. There has been a very noticeable improvement in the quality and thickness of the sward.

Always kept sheep here along side dairy cows. And took some sh1t on here and other forums.

Management is the key and no 2 farms are the same and I wouldn't tell anyone how to run theirs and expect the same in return.

White Clover · 16-06-2021 3:38pm

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Is that the reason you got back into them or do you just like hardship! I can see why pre quota lads had them on milking block but now surely a few extra cows would be as profitable and less hassle?

I just like the hardship!

White Clover · 16-06-2021 3:39pm

orm0nd wrote: »

Always kept sheep here along side dairy cows. And took some sh1t on here and other forums.

Management is the key and no 2 farms are the same and I wouldn't tell anyone how to run theirs and expect the same in return.

I wouldn't say I was telling anyone how to run their farms, just merely stating that I found block grazing and back fencing to be beneficial to grass growth.

straight · 17-06-2021 11:00am

Got a carbon intensity figure on my milk statement today. 1.06.

jonopat · 17-06-2021 12:22pm

Is this level of production possible on grazed grass and that amount of ration?
https://twitter.com/Aiden_C7/status/1405180123071094784?s=19

mahoney_j · 17-06-2021 12:35pm

jonopat wrote: »

Is this level of production possible on grazed grass and that amount of ration?
https://twitter.com/Aiden_C7/status/1405180123071094784?s=19

Fourth lactation cow ….yeadh def possible

alps · 17-06-2021 12:36pm

straight wrote: »

Got a carbon intensity figure on my milk statement today. 1.06.

Whatvdoes that signify? I guess its a marketing measurement..

The dail made sure last night that you can discount it as a measure of your environmental effort..

orm0nd · 17-06-2021 1:56pm

White Clover wrote: »

I wouldn't say I was telling anyone how to run their farms, just merely stating that I found block grazing and back fencing to be beneficial to grass growth.

I wasn't referring to you specifically ( sorry if it came across as such )

I agree with you totally re block grazing and back fencing. If you search my posts in the sheep forum they will verify same.

We never allow sheep in longer than 48 hours after the cows. and includes closing for the winter.

It took us years to perfect the system and get the infrastructure in place anyhow I promise not to mention the white vermin any more in the dairy thread

straight · 17-06-2021 9:46pm

alps wrote: »

Whatvdoes that signify? I guess its a marketing measurement..

The dail made sure last night that you can discount it as a measure of your environmental effort..

I don't have a clue what it means. It's calculated from the questionnaire on my most recent bord bia inspection. I'm wondering is it about average or what

degetme · 17-06-2021 10:08pm

Mine was 1.02. Another load of bollox and a new stick to beat us with

kevthegaff · 17-06-2021 10:28pm

degetme wrote: »

Mine was 1.02. Another load of bollox and a new stick to beat us with

More Carbon coming from the departments arse

Base price · 17-06-2021 10:54pm

straight wrote: »

I don't have a clue what it means. It's calculated from the questionnaire on my most recent bord bia inspection. I'm wondering is it about average or what

Did your co-op or Bord Bia send you any prior communication as to what this figure is. It's very unprofessional of them that you see this figure on your milk statement without any explanation.

straight · 18-06-2021 12:04am

Base price wrote: »

Did your co-op or Bord Bia send you any prior communication as to what this figure is. It's very unprofessional of them that you see this figure on your milk statement without any explanation.

I wouldn't expect any more from them to be honest.

Timmaay · 18-06-2021 1:42pm

Growth fell off a cliff here, pegs nearly impossible to get into the ground. There is rain forecast but will take 50mm to properly turn it around here ha, so I'm stopping topping for the minute. Milking block sr is only 2.5cows/ha, that's our saving grace the minute.

alps · 18-06-2021 2:41pm

degetme wrote: »

Mine was 1.02. Another load of bollox and a new stick to beat us with

How?

Say my name · 18-06-2021 3:06pm

The thing I don't like is how everyone knows your business now.
Bord bia do the inspections, get the photographs, know your purchases and then it's all shared with your milk buyers.

Say my name · 18-06-2021 3:11pm

Say my name · 18-06-2021 3:17pm

It's not as rosy as farmers think it'll be.

Granted there's different farming systems in Norway.

alps · 18-06-2021 3:22pm

Say my name wrote: »

The thing I don't like is how everyone knows your business now.
Bord bia do the inspections, get the photographs, know your purchases and then it's all shared with your milk buyers.

What's shared with your supplier? Outside of your pass/fail status, what else do they get?

Bord Bia run an accreditation system. All business buyers of our product require either independent accreditation or buyer accreditation of the whole production system.

I would be of the opinion that we are in a far better place having bord bia do our inspections rather than Danone or Nestle.

Say my name · 18-06-2021 9:21pm

Boron ..great for leafy grazing ground and drought proofing.
Not great if you want silage stem bulk.

Lesson learned.

straight · 18-06-2021 10:35pm

Timmaay wrote: »

Growth fell off a cliff here, pegs nearly impossible to get into the ground. There is rain forecast but will take 50mm to properly turn it around here ha, so I'm stopping topping for the minute. Milking block sr is only 2.5cows/ha, that's our saving grace the minute.

Our grass group mentor says topping is cheating. Last resort in his opinion.

whelan2 · 18-06-2021 10:37pm

straight wrote: »

Our grass group mentor says topping is cheating. Last resort in his opinion.

Look if it works for you, who cares ?

mahoney_j · 18-06-2021 10:39pm

straight wrote: »

Our grass group mentor says topping is cheating. Last resort in his opinion.

Everyone to there own but I’m calling that bull**** ,if u have top top we all have to do it ,not doing if makes a bad situation worse ,wether u have to top or mow for bales every paddock needs to see a mower before end may snd again in July ,and top in June depending on weather etc

straight · 18-06-2021 10:52pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

Everyone to there own but I’m calling that bull**** ,if u have top top we all have to do it ,not doing if makes a bad situation worse ,wether u have to top or mow for bales every paddock needs to see a mower before end may snd again in July ,and top in June depending on weather etc

Mechanical removal he calls it. Last resort. Bales more ideal if you have to resort to mechanical removal. Ah he's full of guff anyway. U know yourself, tis all grand on paper.

18-06-2021 11:02pm

Grass group mentor , what a title

straight · 18-06-2021 11:11pm

1373 wrote: »

Grass group mentor , what a title

Don't set your sights so low lad.

alps · 19-06-2021 6:18am

Following a bit of an eye opening lesson over Christmas from a colleague regarding his profitability, we decided to feed far stronger this year than we normally would. (only way to find out was tondo it for ourselves)

Our herd has a PD of minus 24 kg, so I would have been aprehensive about their capability to produce.

I wont make any assertions as to what the eventual conclusions of this project will be, but by **** are they producing??

Turned €11.76 / day for May at a feed input cost of €1.35..

Excited to see what the figures from a full year will throw up..

Mooooo · 19-06-2021 6:51am

alps wrote: »

Following a bit of an eye opening lesson over Christmas from a colleague regarding his profitability, we decided to feed far stronger this year than we normally would. (only way to find out was tondo it for ourselves)

Our herd has a PD of minus 24 kg, so I would have been aprehensive about their capability to produce.

I wont make any assertions as to what the eventual conclusions of this project will be, but by **** are they producing??

Turned €11.76 / day for May at a feed input cost of €1.35..

Excited to see what the figures from a full year will throw up..

Have you put in what it would look like at different milk and feed prices? Any difference in conception rates showing yet?

GrasstoMilk · 19-06-2021 8:50am

mahoney_j wrote: »

Everyone to there own but I’m calling that bull**** ,if u have top top we all have to do it ,not doing if makes a bad situation worse ,wether u have to top or mow for bales every paddock needs to see a mower before end may snd again in July ,and top in June depending on weather etc

No need for that level imo
If any way at all on the ball with the grass once a year seeing a mower between topping/premowing/bales is fine

We've 12 / 18 paddocks either topped or mowed for bales so far, 2 more are reseeds
Rest we'll try mow for bales over the next couple of weeks
Only needs to be corrected once

Wildsurfer · 19-06-2021 9:36am

mahoney_j wrote: »

Everyone to there own but I’m calling that bull**** ,if u have top top we all have to do it ,not doing if makes a bad situation worse ,wether u have to top or mow for bales every paddock needs to see a mower before end may snd again in July ,and top in June depending on weather etc

Is that a farm or a golf course you're running there mj! Would agree though I'm topping alot more than normal this year. Combination of poor growth and poor graze outs in May due to weather, followed by a burst of growth with a lot of N in grass to blame.

cosatron · 19-06-2021 9:52am

We find pre mowing is very successful here. Being doing it for years, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of a tea and a bit more labor intensive but the cows love it and clean paddocks very well and we get a good regrowth as we don’t mow it to tight

ted_182 · 19-06-2021 11:07am

alps wrote: »

Following a bit of an eye opening lesson over Christmas from a colleague regarding his profitability, we decided to feed far stronger this year than we normally would. (only way to find out was tondo it for ourselves)

Our herd has a PD of minus 24 kg, so I would have been aprehensive about their capability to produce.

I wont make any assertions as to what the eventual conclusions of this project will be, but by **** are they producing??

Turned €11.76 / day for May at a feed input cost of €1.35..

Excited to see what the figures from a full year will throw up..

Whats far stronger? 4 kgs up from 1?

Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

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