Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

cosatron · 17-05-2021 11:12am

on a more positive note, a great weekend of growth, badly needed here in the west, still giving silage to the cows, but they weren't pushed about it this morning, motoring away at 27-28l mark, improving again, took a dip to around 25 a week ago with bad frost and 2 very bad night rain. Down to 13 cows to inseminate, great year for breeding, very few repeats and really strong heats.

17-05-2021 11:50am

Yes growth is great and cows are responding here in the East too
Some wetter farms could do with a dryer spell now though

Grueller · 17-05-2021 1:00pm

Fcuking milking machine went on the fritz this morning. Fair play to my electrician, I called him at 5.45 and he was in my yard at 6.10. Machine going at 6.30. Some service to be fair.

whelan2 · 17-05-2021 1:19pm

Grueller wrote: »

Fcuking milking machine went on the fritz this morning. Fair play to my electrician, I called him at 5.45 and he was in my yard at 6.10. Machine going at 6.30. Some service to be fair.

What was wrong?

Grueller · 17-05-2021 1:39pm

whelan2 wrote: »

What was wrong?

Vacuum pump motor capacitor goosed.

K.G. · 17-05-2021 2:14pm

Those of ye on once away ai,what kind a conception ye normally get.just over 50% here and would like it better

Mooooo · 17-05-2021 2:28pm

K.G. wrote: »

Those of ye on once away ai,what kind a conception ye normally get.just over 50% here and would like it better

Must go thru last years figures to find out. 50 to 55 for cows I suppose. Have you noted the time heat came on, night or evening and which cows held or not in relation to the oad ai? DIY here but from talking to a couple of tech's at the busy times they'd be hard pushed to make the same farm twice a day. If I had better drafting facilities I'd prob go back to twice a day and go after milking,

Base price · 17-05-2021 3:38pm

Mooooo wrote: »

The high court have to give them leave to appeal, if they don't that's it. May take time for that to happen tho.

The High Court has given An Taisce two weeks to justify their appeal.
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/high-court-gives-an-taisce-two-weeks-to-justify-belview-appeal-622474

K.G. · 17-05-2021 5:00pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Must go thru last years figures to find out. 50 to 55 for cows I suppose. Have you noted the time heat came on, night or evening and which cows held or not in relation to the oad ai? DIY here but from talking to a couple of tech's at the busy times they'd be hard pushed to make the same farm twice a day. If I had better drafting facilities I'd prob go back to twice a day and go after milking,

Tech lands late in the evening(9 to 11) and does everything seen that day.i thought you should be getting 60% conception

straight · 17-05-2021 7:35pm

Once a day here. 80% conception rate at the end of week 6 usually. But a couple of them wouldn't make it to week 12 after for example. Just do 3 weeks Ai and release the bull here

Mooooo · 17-05-2021 7:45pm

straight wrote: »

Once a day here. 80% conception rate at the end of week 6 usually. But a couple of them wouldn't make it to week 12 after for example. Just do 3 weeks Ai and release the bull here

Conception to first service?

whelan2 · 17-05-2021 8:01pm

K.G. wrote: »

Tech lands late in the evening(9 to 11) and does everything seen that day.i thought you should be getting 60% conception

That's very late to be faffing around in the yard. Ai in the morning here. Ai man here around 9. Wouldn't have the patience to be waiting around for ai man in the evening

JustJoe7240 · 17-05-2021 8:02pm

whelan2 wrote: »

That's very late to be faffing around in the yard. Ai in the morning here. Ai man here around 9. Wouldn't have the patience to be waiting around for ai man in the evening

You may not have a choice.

straight · 17-05-2021 8:38pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Conception to first service?

Ya, 90+ submission in first 3 weeks. And 80+ percent of them keep. Touch wood. Actually get more repeats off the bull which is understandable as he is trying to mop up repeats. As I said some of the 80% will come back in after 6 weeks or lose the embryo or stuff like that.

K.G. · 17-05-2021 11:52pm

whelan2 wrote: »

That's very late to be faffing around in the yard. Ai in the morning here. Ai man here around 9. Wouldn't have the patience to be waiting around for ai man in the evening

Its his last callnon way home.hes a bit earlier this week as he is over rhe hump. Only another week in it now anyway

The Rabbi · 18-05-2021 12:39am

Grueller wrote: »

Fcuking milking machine went on the fritz this morning. Fair play to my electrician, I called him at 5.45 and he was in my yard at 6.10. Machine going at 6.30. Some service to be fair.

A few problems with milking machines around here over the weekend.
Two transformers out of action and only 200V supply.

Timmaay · 18-05-2021 9:08am

The Rabbi wrote: »

A few problems with milking machines around here over the weekend.
Two transformers out of action and only 200V supply.

Enough grief with low supply voltage here last few yrs, plenty of blown capacitors and motors. I really need to get a voltage monitor of some sort.

mr.stonewall · 18-05-2021 9:19am

Timmaay wrote: »

Enough grief with low supply voltage here last few yrs, plenty of blown capacitors and motors. I really need to get a voltage monitor of some sort.

Voltage drop and blown capacitors often tends to be down to issue with cable sizing. Had an issue with the water pump and it was being supplied with 2.5mm cable for a long time. Change of pump and had issues. Electrian said it's now time for a new cable, and put 10mm cable in, no issues since

Is the parlour far from the meter and what size cable is supplying it. This could be the issue

Another issue could be the transformer supplying the farm maybe too small as it, could also be supplying other houses, easy way of getting it sorted is if you could get the other customers to complain to ESB networks that the lights in the house are flickering during the times of milking

Voltage is the equivalent of water volume in a pipe and the current is the pressure. The smaller the pipe, with a large requirement for water the pressure/ current will drop.

whelan2 · 18-05-2021 9:22am

Got my own transformer in over 10 years ago. Great job

Water John · 18-05-2021 9:25am

whelan2 wrote: »

Got my own transformer in over 10 years ago. Great job

That's usually the main culprit. User may need to demand a transformer. Get Sparks to colloborate low voltage. Low voltage is a product not fit for purpose.

Timmaay · 18-05-2021 9:31am

mr.stonewall wrote: »

Voltage drop and blown capacitors often tends to be down to issue with cable sizing. Had an issue with the water pump and it was being supplied with 2.5mm cable for a long time. Change of pump and had issues. Electrian said it's now time for a new cable, and put 10mm cable in, no issues since

Is the parlour far from the meter and what size cable is supplying it. This could be the issue

Another issue could be the transformer supplying the farm maybe too small as it, could also be supplying other houses, easy way of getting it sorted is if you could get the other customers to complain to ESB networks that the lights in the house are flickering during the times of milking

Voltage is the equivalent of water volume in a pipe and the current is the pressure. The smaller the pipe, with a large requirement for water the pressure/ current will drop.

Your probably right, 80amp fuse supplying the farm with a shared transformer (only 2 other houses in fairness). Anyone hazard a guess at what it would be to get my own transformer. I'm too far gone to bother with 3phase by now, despite the cables being overhead ha.

Morris Moss · 18-05-2021 9:47am

Timmaay wrote: »

Your probably right, 80amp fuse supplying the farm with a shared transformer (only 2 other houses in fairness). Anyone hazard a guess at what it would be to get my own transformer. I'm too far gone to bother with 3phase by now, despite the cables being overhead ha.

Would it not be cheaper to get 3 phase if it's that close to you?

Mooooo · 18-05-2021 9:47am

Timmaay wrote: »

Your probably right, 80amp fuse supplying the farm with a shared transformer (only 2 other houses in fairness). Anyone hazard a guess at what it would be to get my own transformer. I'm too far gone to bother with 3phase by now, despite the cables being overhead ha.

If the cables are overhead get the three phase, will cost only a few hundred more than upgrading a transformer or getting a new one.

mr.stonewall · 18-05-2021 10:23am

If the transformer is being changed or 3phase going in, it will require a cert from electrian. This will add to the cost of the job aswell. Will be a bit of lead in time from when you apply and get cert in to when ESB land to do the job , so make sure the ducks are in a row

Mooooo · 18-05-2021 10:47am

Cows they the wire last night and heifers after breaking into ground closed for silage, 3 of the feckers bulling to boot. They're testing my patience thus year. Got into the last of the bales last week as well and destroyed the lot

straight · 18-05-2021 2:38pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Cows they the wire last night and heifers after breaking into ground closed for silage, 3 of the feckers bulling to boot. They're testing my patience thus year. Got into the last of the bales last week as well and destroyed the lot

Heifers are a pain in the ass. I have them near the yard for Ai and they're roaring at me all day. Running around the field all day and generally doing the bollix.

Castlekeeper · 18-05-2021 3:00pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Cows they the wire last night and heifers after breaking into ground closed for silage, 3 of the feckers bulling to boot. They're testing my patience thus year. Got into the last of the bales last week as well and destroyed the lot

Oh man! I feel your pain.

orm0nd · 18-05-2021 3:13pm

straight wrote: »

Heifers are a pain in the ass. I have them near the yard for Ai and they're roaring at me all day. Running around the field all day and generally doing the bollix.

Thought it was only my b1tches that does that. About quarter acre reddened inside the wire.

straight · 18-05-2021 3:47pm

Fecking cows bit hungry here I'd say. Had them in 1100 cover with 5kg nuts. They'd probably be OK if the weather played ball but I'm going to introduce a bale of silage at milking time tomorrow for gut fill. They're doing about 29 litres and 2.2 kgms so I hope I'll be able to keep they're milk up. Seems to be a great recovery in recent grazed paddocks but the ones grazed 2-3 weeks ago are parked. Only grew 52 last week.

whelan2 · 18-05-2021 5:13pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Cows they the wire last night and heifers after breaking into ground closed for silage, 3 of the feckers bulling to boot. They're testing my patience thus year. Got into the last of the bales last week as well and destroyed the lot

Need a belter of a shock when they go out first . That softens their run. Cows afraid of the fence here.

visatorro · 18-05-2021 11:04pm

Anyone run heifers with the cows during breeding?

visatorro · 18-05-2021 11:04pm

Anyone run heifers with the cows during breeding?

Timmaay · 18-05-2021 11:11pm

Mooooo wrote: »

If the cables are overhead get the three phase, will cost only a few hundred more than upgrading a transformer or getting a new one.

Does 3 phase make any difference to my existing setup? Ie vacuum pump, bulk tank compressor, scrapers, well pump etc all are single phase? In fairness the low voltage isn't the end of the world once it doesn't get any worse, 2 or 3 capacitors a year, and one 600e vacuum pump motor in the 5yrs the parlour has been in. I certainly think some sort of voltage monitor and actually see how frequently it drops would be a useful 1st step.

Timmaay · 18-05-2021 11:15pm

straight wrote: »

Heifers are a pain in the ass. I have them near the yard for Ai and they're roaring at me all day. Running around the field all day and generally doing the bollix.

I picked 2 14month old fr bulls with actually reasonable ebi figures for 750e each, and lobbed them in with the heifers and have largely forgotten about them aside from moving their fence every few days. I got no interest in going back AI'ing heifers again ever ha.

Mf310 · 18-05-2021 11:36pm

visatorro wrote: »

Anyone run heifers with the cows during breeding?

Did it last year had the group of 20 heifers with the cows gave them all one serve over 12 days using PG on day 7+10 , then brought them back to outfarm with angus bull as too heavily stocked to keep them any longer. Worked well though at the start they were just staying at back of collecting yard and not bothering with parlour but in the last few days they were going through the parlour for nuts too.

Mooooo · 19-05-2021 12:22am

Timmaay wrote: »

Does 3 phase make any difference to my existing setup? Ie vacuum pump, bulk tank compressor, scrapers, well pump etc all are single phase? In fairness the low voltage isn't the end of the world once it doesn't get any worse, 2 or 3 capacitors a year, and one 600e vacuum pump motor in the 5yrs the parlour has been in. I certainly think some sort of voltage monitor and actually see how frequently it drops would be a useful 1st step.

Have 3 phase here from when we changed tank and parlour but that's all that's got 3 phase equipment, house and rest of yard is still single phase. 3 phase motors are actually cheaper as no capacitors needed. Be worth chatting to the electrician anyway, esp if you have anything planned to do or that may come up upgrades wise

19-05-2021 7:21am

visatorro wrote: »

Anyone run heifers with the cows during breeding?

Do it most years,no problem
Usually all going in calf and they get parlour trained

Siamsa Sessions · 19-05-2021 9:47am

Anyone on here ever deal with Grass-Tec when buying or selling stock: https://www.grasstecgroup.com/livestock-services/livestock-for-sale/

What are they like to deal with? I'd appreciate any experiences of them. Send a DM if preferred.

Thanks.

visatorro · 19-05-2021 9:59am

Timmaay wrote:

Does 3 phase make any difference to my existing setup? Ie vacuum pump, bulk tank compressor, scrapers, well pump etc all are single phase? In fairness the low voltage isn't the end of the world once it doesn't get any worse, 2 or 3 capacitors a year, and one 600e vacuum pump motor in the 5yrs the parlour has been in. I certainly think some sort of voltage monitor and actually see how frequently it drops would be a useful 1st step.

You'd imagine you'd be able to get a transformer type thing to go back to single phase.

RightTurnClyde · 19-05-2021 10:16am

Timmaay wrote: »

Does 3 phase make any difference to my existing setup? Ie vacuum pump, bulk tank compressor, scrapers, well pump etc all are single phase? In fairness the low voltage isn't the end of the world once it doesn't get any worse, 2 or 3 capacitors a year, and one 600e vacuum pump motor in the 5yrs the parlour has been in. I certainly think some sort of voltage monitor and actually see how frequently it drops would be a useful 1st step.

The electrician just takes one phase off the 3 phase to run the legacy equipment. Or one of the phases for the tank, one phase for the parlour, one for everything else. And use all 3 for any new gear going in.

straight · 19-05-2021 10:25am

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Anyone on here ever deal with Grass-Tec when buying or selling stock: https://www.grasstecgroup.com/livestock-services/livestock-for-sale/

What are they like to deal with? I'd appreciate any experiences of them. Send a DM if preferred.

Thanks.

I tried selling heifer calves with them the last 2 years. Got tired of waiting both times and put them on done deal and they were gone. They might make it easier for buyers but they're just another middle man like David Clarke or the like. They're a bit vague about commission in my experience. As I haven't completed a deal with them I still don't know what they charge.

Castlekeeper · 19-05-2021 10:57am

visatorro wrote: »

Anyone run heifers with the cows during breeding?

Yep, being doing it on and off for years, super job if it's possible. It need only be for a 10 - 15 days and they can be pulled out as their bred, so it's not as big a grass issue as one might think.
They just stand at the back of the collecting yard.
I'd say most people have them on outside blocks nowadays though.

On a related subject, I sometimes hear fellow farmers equating breeding to calving for workload, and it baffles me.
I do 3 weeks DIY, one man herd. For me that means tail paint cows 4-5 times, put patches on heifers once, then watch them coming in at morning milking and ai them for 10 -20mins after. Simple manual drafting gate set up.
I couldn't compare it to watching cows for calving and looking after newborns.
Maybe I'm missing something, or else it's a big numbers issue?

Castlekeeper · 19-05-2021 11:03am

Timmaay wrote: »

Does 3 phase make any difference to my existing setup? Ie vacuum pump, bulk tank compressor, scrapers, well pump etc all are single phase? In fairness the low voltage isn't the end of the world once it doesn't get any worse, 2 or 3 capacitors a year, and one 600e vacuum pump motor in the 5yrs the parlour has been in. I certainly think some sort of voltage monitor and actually see how frequently it drops would be a useful 1st step.

2-3 capacitors a year is hard going. I used to have that problem to a lesser extent, eventually after a few yearsthe motor burned out, and I haven't had a problem since with the new motor. My fitter said that the other motor supplied by a well known company was a piece of kit, or something like that.

Castlekeeper · 19-05-2021 11:06am

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Anyone on here ever deal with Grass-Tec when buying or selling stock: https://www.grasstecgroup.com/livestock-services/livestock-for-sale/

What are they like to deal with? I'd appreciate any experiences of them. Send a DM if preferred.

Thanks.

Sold a bunch of maidens through them once, no issues, they brought in a buyer, we agreed a price, and they organised the rest, (they were going to Britain). €25/head they got.

Gillespy · 19-05-2021 11:11am

Don't see how it's anywhere close myself either. Calving is hard work when everything goes right. That time of year is busy anyway with all the winter jobs along with getting fertilizer and slurry out as well as tidying up fencing for turnout. Run a chinballed vasectomised, no fancy drafting just sort with a few gates, AI man comes at 10am and whitehead bull will go out then in mid June.

Mooooo · 19-05-2021 11:15am

Agree calving is much busier time, I guess it's more the element of things going wrong at breeding effects everything for the following year so can raise stress levels a bit

mahoney_j · 19-05-2021 11:28am

visatorro wrote: »

You'd imagine you'd be able to get a transformer type thing to go back to single phase.

I’ve 3 phase ,no issue having some stuff in single phase ,a good electrician a must tho as you just split phases going to some stuff .best thing I ever put in was 3 phase ,have 50 kiva transformer all to myself can run everything in place together without issue

19-05-2021 2:21pm

A bit of cheer from the Farming Independent

Global dairy demand will continue to outstrip milk supply growth this year, the latest market projections have indicated.

The British research body AHDB has predicted that global milk supplies will increase by just 1pc in 2021.

However, strong Chinese buying since the start of the year means that demand growth is continuing to outstrip available supplies and drive product prices.

These factors confirm Irish industry projections that milk prices will remain high for the remainder of the year.

The positive news for dairy farmers comes as most processors confirmed that base prices for April milk supplies have held at 34-35c/l, with up to 37-38c/l being returned when milk solids are included.

The AHDB analysis has forecast limited growth in milk production across the Southern Hemisphere.

The bulk of the 1pc growth globally is forecast to come from the US and EU, but rising feed costs are putting farmer margins in both regions under increased pressure and this could further restrict supplies.

Irish industry sources say supply growth has stalled in France, Germany and Holland, due to the dismal grass growth this spring.

However, New Zealand dairy farmers are reported to be in a good position going into the new season, with a profitable price forecast.

With global markets bouncing back from the Covid-19 crisis, and food service demand returning, the World Bank has predicted that overall growth will reach 4pc this year, having contracted by 4.3pc in 2020.

The AHDB noted that the "robust import demand” in China has been underpinned by strong government messaging around the health benefits of milk. But it warned that Far East sales could weaken in the latter part of the year, should stocks build too high.

However, pointing out that dairy product prices are "at or above the five-year average”, the AHDB said current stock and supply levels mean that market returns are likely to hold.

This analysis tallies with the views of Irish dairy sector sources.

"The outlook looks fairly solid for the rest of the year, in terms of milk prices,” one well-placed dairy industry official told the Farming Independent.

Mf310 · 19-05-2021 10:08pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Anyone on here ever deal with Grass-Tec when buying or selling stock: https://www.grasstecgroup.com/livestock-services/livestock-for-sale/

What are they like to deal with? I'd appreciate any experiences of them. Send a DM if preferred.

Thanks.

Dealt with them buying cows this year well run system , i was about a 2 hour drive away from the farmer selling the cows and so would have found it hard to get up to view them. Grasstec agent went took a video of them one by one and wrote down a note on any issues of the cows 1 cow thin another with a long claw like looking at everhthing as if he was buying them. 3.5% commision either side its a fair money spinner for them and very little labour only being the middle man

Mooooo · 21-05-2021 6:50pm

Any of ye that synchronized the heifers how are ye looking? Day 22 from serving today and 26% have repeated. A couple more missing stickers but not seen in heat so hoping there aren't any I missed. Could be more tomorrow or Sun but hopefully not.

Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

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