3 Times a day milking

Cowmad

Thinking of going three times a day milking. What are the pros and cons?

blue5000

Not sure if this is a pro or con; you won't need to use contraception because you'll be knackered:D

A robot would milk cows 2.5 times a day!

Viewtodiefor

Lol you are mad!

stanflt

will do it after 2015

limerick farmer

a couple of farmers near me tried this maybe 10 years ago only stuck it for 2 or 3years.id say increased labour and wear and tear on cows were the main reasons for quitting.

sh1tstirrer

limerick farmer wrote: »

a couple of farmers near me tried this maybe 10 years ago only stuck it for 2 or 3years.id say increased labour and wear and tear on cows and on farmer were the main reasons for quitting.

fixed

6480

i think twive a day is enough , too much labour

keep going

i love this one crowd going once a day and another crowd going 3 times a day ,whos right probaly the man in the middle;)

Min

If I was a judge in a court, that would be a good sentence to hand out to a dairy farmer

As others said, it is too much work.

bogman_bass

pros: more milk so higher milk cheque

cons: Lower fertility,
higher lameness from walking cows 6 times a day instead of 4
lower mik solids
higher labour costs
more meal feeding needed. Grass probably would never be enough even in April
Less time in the day for other jobs



Ok You MIGHT more money in your pocket but no time to enjoy it so whats the point? Your costs will go up though and your profit at the end of the day could well be no better off

whelan1

would 3 times aday have any effect on milk solids?

JohnBoy

would it not be easier to apply for a job in the chinese factory that makes ipods for apple?

they'll let you work 24/7 if you're able.

bogman_bass

whelan1 wrote: »

would 3 times aday have any effect on milk solids?

yes in the same way that OAD increases solids

irishh_bob

keep going wrote: »

i love this one crowd going once a day and another crowd going 3 times a day ,whos right probaly the man in the middle;)

id see more sense in going once a day than three times in this country although twice is the ideal in times when prices are good , this isnt the usa where cows are indoors all year round and a high concentrate diet is the norm

irishh_bob

whelan1 wrote: »

would 3 times aday have any effect on milk solids?

probabley , in order to make three times per day worthwhile , you would need to increase concentrates , maize and reduce grass , grass is the best driver of solids

more importantly perhaps , in order for three times to be worthwhile , you need a particular type of cow , a high volume north american holstien , theese type of cows were never really bred for solids , the american sires are very low on solids and have very low EBI,s , you would need to have cows who were averaging 2000 gallons , milking a british fresian cow three times per day would achieve nothing

IMO , its a specialised system for a relativley niche market , anyone who hasnt a liquid milk contract would be wasting thier time

jeff greene

Plenty of herds doing 10,000 l and more on 2x, if you're prepared to do, fine, I'd also think of the cow standing in the collection yard when she could be eating or laying down.

Tipp Man

Would the cow be working for you or would you be working for the cow???

5live

Cowmad wrote: »

Thinking of going three times a day milking. What are the pros and cons?

Is it just till april 1st or for the whole year?

You could maybe justify it for 2 months if you are under quota but it is a bloody hard graft for the whole year, especially the midnight milking:eek::eek:.

NZ are looking at 18 hour intervals ie 3 milkings every 2 days as labour saving.

fatoftheland

three times a day is for cows over 11500l as the wait between milkings puts a lot of pressure on ligaments of udder. really you would need some else to milk in the morning or in evening as it too hard to do that seven days a week. as for solids have seen some herds in the north with cows doing 1250kgs of solids on 13400l. feeding to yield is the only way if you want to achieve good solids and have any hope of getting these cows back in calf.