30 acres, 30 cows, OAD, part-time dairying

Siamsa Sessions · 20-09-2019 8:02pm

Castlekeeper wrote: »

Unless you've a thing for jerseys, which is grand, it's not a must do. All kinds a cows do fine OAD, and some cows just don't.
A lot of OAD herds came from NZ culture and systems so hence the high incidence of JEX. I know a man who's changed HoFr 600kgMS herd to OAD this year and is delighted. I've a very mixed herd sone Jex NRx, NZ and BrFrx, breed is not the be all and end all.

Thanks for that. I’m not wedded to any system but of the few people I asked most said Jersey-x is better suited to OAD.

I’m guessing breed doesn’t matter either if you’re organic, does it?

There’s an organic processor not far from us so going organic is half on the agenda too

GrasstoMilk · 20-09-2019 9:16pm

Castlekeeper wrote: »

The difference is a role of baling twine would fence in a herd of cows. They're getting fresh grass everyday in a set routine so it's much easier on all.

Definitely not true. Lot of money spent on fencing here, I put alot of effort Into it.
A well fenced farm looks nice. Utter hardship if you dont have good fences, and grassland management would be next to impossible

Pinsnbushings · 20-09-2019 10:42pm

U

Castlekeeper wrote: »

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Castlekeeper wrote: »

"Never have more cows than your wife can milk".

In fairness to herself here, she seems more interested in this idea to milk Jerseys-X cows OAD than some of the other hare-brained ideas I’ve come up with.

Getting her into the parlour might be a different thing altogether. But I did explain that Jerseys were smaller than Holsteins and that seemed to help!

Must get back to DoneDeal now looking for them ðŸ˜€

Unless you've a thing for jerseys, which is grand, it's not a must do. All kinds a cows do fine OAD, and some cows just don't.
A lot of OAD herds came from NZ culture and systems so hence the high incidence of JEX. I know a man who's changed HoFr 600kgMS herd to OAD this year and is delighted. I've a very mixed herd sone Jex NRx, NZ and BrFrx, breed is not the be all and end all.

Same experience here would have brfrx type herd and was afraid they would all be dry by now but in fairness only 2 cows haven't really taken to it and from any farm walks we've been on all sorts of breeds are working oad.

Castlekeeper · 20-09-2019 11:36pm

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Castlekeeper wrote: »

The difference is a role of baling twine would fence in a herd of cows. They're getting fresh grass everyday in a set routine so it's much easier on all.

Definitely not true. Lot of money spent on fencing here, I put alot of effort Into it.
A well fenced farm looks nice. Utter hardship if you dont have good fences, and grassland management would be next to impossible

I think you're missing my point, which is that it's much easier fence and manage a herd of cows than a groups of beef cattle.

Timmaay · 20-09-2019 11:49pm

Certainly alot easier to fence any sort of herd of milking cows than any other cattle. I've single strand electric fencing around most the farm here, only time it's ever a pain is with noisy heifers/beef stock and a weak shock.

Siamsa Sessions · 21-09-2019 9:05am

Timmaay wrote: »

Certainly alot easier to fence any sort of herd of milking cows than any other cattle. I've single strand electric fencing around most the farm here, only time it's ever a pain is with noisy heifers/beef stock and a weak shock.

Imagine what it’s like trying to fence sheep??? €5 per metre to do it right and all your own labour

wrangler · 21-09-2019 10:20am

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Imagine what it’s like trying to fence sheep??? €5 per metre to do it right and all your own labour

The sheep farmer has to fence for everyone, even the hedge maintenance,
An electricified fence a yard out from the ditch is as much as you'd get from a dairy farmer in a rented farm next to you.

einn32 · 22-09-2019 7:24am

My father done OAD for the last few years of milking. From July on milk in the morning only. Better quality of life for him and it didn't really impact the cows only for lower yields. If you're off at a job all day I would definitely have good fencing. You don't have time to be messing getting cows out of other farms.

Farm365 · 23-09-2019 11:14pm

Similar situation here 50 acres in one block and 12 acres 1 mile away. Currently have 160 ewes and 20 sucklers. I have been working on improving soil fertility by spreading lime and compound fertilisers over last few years. SFP incl all Schemes is 15k. I work 9-5 5 days a week about 40mins away. We were previously dairy about 20 yrs ago. All facilities are there incl 6 unit Herringbone parlour, Cubicles, Slurry tank etc. I could swap existing stock for 40 dairy cows and would only need to buy a bulk tank. I would be debt free starting off. The only thing stopping me is the impact on family life. I have two young children. I’m considering OAD also with all calves sold after two weeks and buying heifers from a reputable source every year. Replacement rate should be small with OAD. There is no future in sucklers and I’m wondering if the workload would be that much more miking 40-50 cows OAD and all silage, slurry etc contracted out

Mooooo · 23-09-2019 11:17pm

Farm365 wrote: »

Similar situation here 50 acres in one block and 12 acres 1 mile away. Currently have 160 ewes and 20 sucklers. I have been working on improving soil fertility by spreading lime and compound fertilisers over last few years. SFP incl all Schemes is 15k. I work 9-5 5 days a week about 40mins away. We were previously dairy about 20 yrs ago. All facilities are there incl 6 unit Herringbone parlour, Cubicles, Slurry tank etc. I could swap existing stock for 40 dairy cows and would only need to buy a bulk tank. I would be debt free starting off. The only thing stopping me is the impact on family life. I have two young children. I’m considering OAD also with all calves sold after two weeks and buying heifers from a reputable source every year. Replacement rate should be small with OAD. There is no future in sucklers and I’m wondering if the workload would be that much more miking 40-50 cows OAD and all silage, slurry etc contracted out

If you could make it a 10 unit parlour, should be doable would make a difference to getting in and out faster.

farisfat · 24-09-2019 11:39am

Farm365 wrote: »

Similar situation here 50 acres in one block and 12 acres 1 mile away. Currently have 160 ewes and 20 sucklers. I have been working on improving soil fertility by spreading lime and compound fertilisers over last few years. SFP incl all Schemes is 15k. I work 9-5 5 days a week about 40mins away. We were previously dairy about 20 yrs ago. All facilities are there incl 6 unit Herringbone parlour, Cubicles, Slurry tank etc. I could swap existing stock for 40 dairy cows and would only need to buy a bulk tank. I would be debt free starting off. The only thing stopping me is the impact on family life. I have two young children. I’m considering OAD also with all calves sold after two weeks and buying heifers from a reputable source every year. Replacement rate should be small with OAD. There is no future in sucklers and I’m wondering if the workload would be that much more miking 40-50 cows OAD and all silage, slurry etc contracted out

Management with oad needs to be top class very little room for mistakes.
Your only saving 8 to 12 hours a week in labour.

Timmaay · 24-09-2019 1:06pm

9 to 5 but 40mins away, so work takes up from 8 until 6 5days a week, or 50 hrs/wk, that will make dairying very tough on the side also, especially with the young family.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 24-09-2019 1:16pm

farisfat wrote: »

Management with oad needs to be top class very little room for mistakes.
Your only saving 8 to 12 hours a week in labour.

But in this case, labour is the most valuable resource.

That 8-12 hours saved can be used for work during the busy times of the year or with the family for the rest of the year.

Grueller · 24-09-2019 1:22pm

Farm365 wrote: »

Similar situation here 50 acres in one block and 12 acres 1 mile away. Currently have 160 ewes and 20 sucklers. I have been working on improving soil fertility by spreading lime and compound fertilisers over last few years. SFP incl all Schemes is 15k. I work 9-5 5 days a week about 40mins away. We were previously dairy about 20 yrs ago. All facilities are there incl 6 unit Herringbone parlour, Cubicles, Slurry tank etc. I could swap existing stock for 40 dairy cows and would only need to buy a bulk tank. I would be debt free starting off. The only thing stopping me is the impact on family life. I have two young children. I’m considering OAD also with all calves sold after two weeks and buying heifers from a reputable source every year. Replacement rate should be small with OAD. There is no future in sucklers and I’m wondering if the workload would be that much more miking 40-50 cows OAD and all silage, slurry etc contracted out

I am in the process of starting into part time dairying, but the crucial difference is that I am my own boss and can do the hours to suit myself. I will be in a situation where I will be working 9:30 to 2:30 at the longest any day. In my situation I am confident that I can make it work, however in yours I would be fairly sure that I could not as my wife works and I have two pre teen children who absorb all of her spare time taxiing them around.

farisfat · 24-09-2019 1:35pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

But in this case, labour is the most valuable resource.

That 8-12 hours saved can be used for work during the busy times of the year or with the family for the rest of the year.

That time will be used up working of farm.

Siamsa Sessions · 24-09-2019 2:06pm

farisfat wrote: »

That time will be used up working of farm.

Would it help to work out an hourly rate for the 8-12 hours if you assume OAD reduces margin by 30%?

Simplistic numbers:

50 cows = €40k TAD and €30k OAD, so €227 less per week (based on 8 week dry period or milking them for 44 weeks)

For 8 hours, the hourly rate = €28/hour and for 12 hours, rate = €18/hour.

Just one way to look at it maybe?

I'm only estimating here so can those who understand it better insert more realistic figures.

Water John · 24-09-2019 2:16pm

This type of dairy is operated quite a bit in Europe. It has to be a family business not just one person. There has to be someone around, the sick calf, the vet coming, whatever. You have to leave at 8am, no matter what is happening.
If you're OH is not working outside the home and has an interest it could be possible.
Overreaching is in cold analysis, madness.

farisfat · 24-09-2019 2:48pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Would it help to work out an hourly rate for the 8-12 hours if you assume OAD reduces margin by 30%?

Simplistic numbers:

50 cows = €40k TAD and €30k OAD, so €227 less per week (based on 8 week dry period or milking them for 44 weeks)

For 8 hours, the hourly rate = €28/hour and for 12 hours, rate = €18/hour.

Just one way to look at it maybe?

I'm only estimating here so can those who understand it better insert more realistic figures.

I spend 28hrs a week milking tad if I changed to oad I'd spend 18 hrs a week.It takes around 30% longer with higher volume oad.
Outside of milking I spend from 25hrs to 70hrs a week at other farm work that would be the same if oad or tad.

Acquiescence · 24-09-2019 3:26pm

farisfat wrote: »

I spend 28hrs a week milking tad if I changed to oad I'd spend 18 hrs a week.It takes around 30% longer with higher volume oad.

It's 30% longer cluster on time. You're calculating it as 30% of time spent start to finish.

farisfat wrote: »

Outside of milking I spend from 25hrs to 70hrs a week at other farm work that would be the same if oad or tad.

This is where I would see the biggest positive. Not to simplify things too much, but not being tied to the yard/clock/milking in the evening allows for much more efficient use of time.

I think it's fair to say most people with a similar enterprise to that being discussed here spend a fair bit of time dragging out work knowing that they've to be around to milk anyway. The work done in the 10 hours between milkings could often be done to a comparative standard in half that time.

Even if you were to take breaks out of your day, the 45minutes after milking and the 45 minutes at lunch and the 30 mins before evening milking all of a sudden become less of a necessity. Milk in the morning eat at 11 finished at 2. Have a shower and be done if needs be. No guilt, no clock anxiety and 8 hours of quality work down. Twould be like having a real job!

For the original question, i'd wonder if there's a compromise to be found between going part-time in the job and the OAD. You'd be free then for the important parts of the day/year with kids and would presumably be able to earn a similar amount to working full-time with the added benefit of flexibility.

farisfat · 24-09-2019 4:26pm

Acquiescence wrote: »

It's 30% longer cluster on time. You're calculating it as 30% of time spent start to finish.

This is where I would see the biggest positive. Not to simplify things too much, but not being tied to the yard/clock/milking in the evening allows for much more efficient use of time.

I think it's fair to say most people with a similar enterprise to that being discussed here spend a fair bit of time dragging out work knowing that they've to be around to milk anyway. The work done in the 10 hours between milkings could often be done to a comparative standard in half that time.

Even if you were to take breaks out of your day, the 45minutes after milking and the 45 minutes at lunch and the 30 mins before evening milking all of a sudden become less of a necessity. Milk in the morning eat at 11 finished at 2. Have a shower and be done if needs be. No guilt, no clock anxiety and 8 hours of quality work down. Twould be like having a real job!

For the original question, i'd wonder if there's a compromise to be found between going part-time in the job and the OAD. You'd be free then for the important parts of the day/year with kids and would presumably be able to earn a similar amount to working full-time with the added benefit of flexibility.

13 to 14 minute rows at peak oad 8 to 9 tad.

Every farm is different everything is done in house here apart from silage.
Theirs probably 500 Euro in milk sales between a good oad and good tad spring calving herd.

Water John · 24-09-2019 4:40pm

At the €500 you're not taking into account the higher solids in OAD. The difference in litres may be 30%, but the solids claw back a good piece of that. Also other herd benefits in terms of health and longevity, your time for other things.

farisfat · 24-09-2019 4:45pm

Water John wrote: »

At the €500 you're not taking into account the higher solids in OAD. The difference in litres may be 30%, but the solids claw back a good piece of that. Also other herd benefits in terms of health and longevity, your time for other things.

From what I've seen a good oad herd doing 400kgs,they would be in the top 10% of the Co-op if milking tad IE 500kgs +.

30 acres, 30 cows, OAD, part-time dairying

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