Dairy Chitchat 3

straight

Mooooo wrote: »

The mixer has a large valve so in to a bucket and into the feeders, again doesn't get rid of your buckets but allows you to take smaller amounts and throw in an extra bucket without extra walking. The pump added not far off a grand to the price as far as I remember. I think the neighbour used a submersible in the tank but do they effect the fat in the milk? If you had space in the shed or outside calf pens a tank on the loader could be lifted up use a hose and gravity.
An auto feeder may be another way to go not so suitable if using different old sheds tho.

Thinking more and more of contract rearing here if something suitable comes up. May be a case of getting heifers contract reared perhaps from a younger age say 3 weeks and if bulls / beef calves need to be kept longer could do that here and make the call as the season goes on when to sell em. Only in my head at the minute

That all leads to a lot of washing up time. Washing buckets, feeders, mixer.

straight

whelan2 wrote: »

Last if autumn calvers calved this morning. I actually thought she had calved yesterday As she was mothering a new calf in the shed. But this morning there was just one back leg out. She was forcing alot and I couldn't push the leg back in to straighten the other leg. I rang vet at 6.15am. Roads very bad. She gave her an epidural and got the calf out. Always trouble at the start and end of calving season.

Did the calf survive. The proceeds from the calf will cover the vet anyway. Ya right.

Mooooo

Mixer is easy to wash, make up 200L of milk or hold that much fresh milk, big drain makes it easy to rinse. Whatever amount of feeders you use yourself then

whelan2

straight wrote: »

Did the calf survive. The proceeds from the calf will cover the vet anyway. Ya right.

No it was well dead.

cjpm

What is the best type of cow tail trimmer?

Would I need a separate trimmer to tidy up freeze brands?

Would appreciate any opinions.

Also any tips for improving hygiene while cows are housed. Mats on cubicles are scraped and limed twice daily. Scrapers running 6 times a day. Cows still seem dirty enough before milking.

atlantic mist

https://www.fanevalleystores.com/search/cattle%20clipper/products/27101/Heiniger-Xtra-Sheep-Clipper

got this clippers three years ago, bit more expensive now
wouldnt be without it, you use it on the dirtiest of tails
found the battery ones dont last and are not able for much hardship

straight

cjpm wrote: »

What is the best type of cow tail trimmer?

Would I need a separate trimmer to tidy up freeze brands?

Would appreciate any opinions.

Also any tips for improving hygiene while cows are housed. Mats on cubicles are scraped and limed twice daily. Scrapers running 6 times a day. Cows still seem dirty enough before milking.

I got one on clippers.ie. Grand job. Cut the tails at least twice a year is the main thing for cleanliness.

GrasstoMilk

Clippersireland do good clippers and not very expensive.
Get the sheep chearing head for it, it flys through dirty tails.
Singing the udders would help too. We do it here, leaves them alot cleaner I think

Injuryprone

Mix some sawdust 50:50 with the lime, maybe. Run the scrapers more often at the feeding rail. I run that scraper every 2 hours for a couple of runs after the silage is put in, every 3 hours thereafter. The others are every 3 hours as well

Mooooo

Double check the head rails aren't too far forward as well, as you would have more dung on the cubicle. This time of year if they are in and out or depending on silage dung may be a bit looser as well. One thing I miss about feeding maize this time of year they would be spotless when it's in the diet

GrasstoMilk

Injuryprone wrote: »

Mix some sawdust 50:50 with the lime, maybe. Run the scrapers more often at the feeding rail. I run that scraper every 2 hours for a couple of runs after the silage is put in, every 3 hours thereafter. The others are every 3 hours as well

3 hours?
Were putting scrapers in here next week, was going to run them every 6 hours

Timmaay

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

3 hours?
Were putting scrapers in here next week, was going to run them every 6 hours

For milkers inside fulltime, no 6 hrs defo not enough, 3 hrs min, often have them 2hrs.

GrasstoMilk

Timmaay wrote: »

For milkers inside fulltime, no 6 hrs defo not enough, 3 hrs min, often have them 2hrs.

Ours only getting scraped every morning and evening atm, I thought moving to 4 times would be fine tbh. Going to try it any way and see

alps

Just on the way in with the cows...they've been out since 8am and not a mark in the field.

The capacity for land to dry since last years drought is absolutely astonishing..

We'll, we're praising the drought...but whatever it is it's amazing..

Say my name

alps wrote: »

Just on the way in with the cows...they've been out since 8am and not a mark in the field.

The capacity for land to dry since last years drought is absolutely astonishing..

We'll, we're praising the drought...but whatever it is it's amazing..

Throw on some praise to the worms and mycelium, when your at it.

Mooooo

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Ours only getting scraped every morning and evening atm, I thought moving to 4 times would be fine tbh. Going to try it any way and see

Depends on layout and length of passages really. Easy to adjust. Our cubicles are perpendicular to the feed passage. 6 times in 24 hours here with 22 cubicles in each passage scraping on to a slatted area in front of feed face.

whelan2

On every 4 hours here and then if needed done again at milking time

alps

Say my name wrote: »

Throw on some praise to the worms and mycelium, when your at it.

Is mycelium always underground or can it appear like spider webs in the grass in morning or evening light?

Asking because we can have the whole farm covered in it..

Say my name

alps wrote: »

Is mycelium always underground or can it appear like spider webs in the grass in morning or evening light?

Asking because we can have the whole farm covered in it..

I think you can see it in hoofprints and such if you've a good cover of grass. I think they don't like sunlight.
Now would be a good time of year to see it above ground alright. And maybe when you cut the silage.

If you're seeing it ON the grass then it's probably spider webs. I had it here strong a few years ago on one particular field and it definitely made a difference to growth. I think I even posted a picture of it here.. (on boards).

https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTE2Njc5ODgyMDE6Vks6MzAwMTg1ODk2ODA3NTY0

Buford T. Justice XIX

Has anyone been to Dairy Day in Punchestown? I have a mad fit of going to it but just wondering what's it like there.

alps

Back 18% in solids delivered on October 18. Cows had come through September 18 yielding stronger due to high feeding due to drought. Also fed beet through much of October last year, but felt with milk price this year that the return wasn't in it, as we had good quality grass full time and 3kg of meal.

Just on 1kgms now, nothing dry....would yield lift again if we went with beet, or would it be purely an exercise in buying milk?

mahoney_j

alps wrote: »

Back 18% in solids delivered on October 18. Cows had come through September 18 yielding stronger due to high feeding due to drought. Also fed beet through much of October last year, but felt with milk price this year that the return wasn't in it, as we had good quality grass full time and 3kg of meal.

Just on 1kgms now, nothing dry....would yield lift again if we went with beet, or would it be purely an exercise in buying milk?

Wouldn’t think tit would pay at this stage ,I’m buffering here for about 6 weeks withbrealky good silage and 2 kg maize meal/beet pulp and 4 kg 16% in parlour .they held way better thru October by doing so in full time since last Friday at 17.7 Ltrs and 9.12% solids .grass especially in back end like we’re having is going to do little for cows .seriously considering keeping less calves next year and growing 13 acres of maize

K.G.

Any of ye see that underpass on the front page of the focus section of ifj this week .does the under pass go under the shed?

wrangler

K.G. wrote: »

Any of ye see that underpass on the front page of the focus section of ifj this week .does the under pass go under the shed?

They said it goes under the dairy anyway

Mooooo

I didn't see the article but someone on Twitter said it goes under the shed and into the rotary I think

straight

mahoney_j wrote: »

Wouldn’t think tit would pay at this stage ,I’m buffering here for about 6 weeks withbrealky good silage and 2 kg maize meal/beet pulp and 4 kg 16% in parlour .they held way better thru October by doing so in full time since last Friday at 17.7 Ltrs and 9.12% solids .grass especially in back end like we’re having is going to do little for cows .seriously considering keeping less calves next year and growing 13 acres of maize

Maize is the ultimate buffer I'd say. Is it very expensive? What about brewers grain? 55 euro a ton.

Base price

Dairy cow growth per county since the abolition of milk quotas.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/see-how-dairy-cow-numbers-have-changed-since-quotas-were-abolished/

Timmaay

Maize I basically see as a big part of the winter fodder diet for milkers here, it means I need less silage for the cows, it puts plenty of condition on their back going into the dry period, it drys up their dung, it's alot less hassle than leafy high dmd pancake silage bales, and I usually only need to feed at most 2kg meal from Nov right through to when it runs out around Paddy's day, and cost wise it comes in around the same as 1st cut, 12.5c/kgdmd in the pit, including the land charge. Only big risk is the harvest, defo needs a dry field with good road access, even then expect the odd year for it to end up like a bombsight, like this year. Road sweeper following the trailers kept the neighbours happy tho.

whelan2

Timmaay wrote: »

Maize I basically see as a big part of the winter fodder diet for milkers here, it means I need less silage for the cows, it puts plenty of condition on their back going into the dry period, it drys up their dung, it's alot less hassle than leafy high dmd pancake silage bales, and I usually only need to feed at most 2kg meal from Nov right through to when it runs out around Paddy's day, and cost wise it comes in around the same as 1st cut, 12.5c/kgdmd in the pit, including the land charge. Only big risk is the harvest, defo needs a dry field with good road access, even then expect the odd year for it to end up like a bombsight, like this year. Road sweeper just after the harvest kept the neighbours happy tho.

Some amount of maize still to be harvested around here

Timmaay

whelan2 wrote: »

Some amount of maize still to be harvested around here

Does it all even have a home ha? Too much planted around here, by lads who were burnt in the drought of 2018, contractors who grew it without a contract for it found it hard to get it sold after.

whelan2

Timmaay wrote: »

Does it all even have a home ha? Too much planted around here, by lads who were burnt in the drought of 2018, contractors who grew it without a contract for it found it hard to get it sold after.

Weather conditions here are desperate.

Buford T. Justice XIX

There's a series of videos in the link in the tweet below about pneumonia and how to recognize and treat it. There's 18 videos in the series so be prepared for that.
https://twitter.com/farmersjournal/status/1193156535897251842?s=19
Not sure if it's free or if you need an access code/subscription.

K.G.

Timmaay wrote: »

Maize I basically see as a big part of the winter fodder diet for milkers here, it means I need less silage for the cows, it puts plenty of condition on their back going into the dry period, it drys up their dung, it's alot less hassle than leafy high dmd pancake silage bales, and I usually only need to feed at most 2kg meal from Nov right through to when it runs out around Paddy's day, and cost wise it comes in around the same as 1st cut, 12.5c/kgdmd in the pit, including the land charge. Only big risk is the harvest, defo needs a dry field with good road access, even then expect the odd year for it to end up like a bombsight, like this year. Road sweeper following the trailers kept the neighbours happy tho.

Must be mighty stuff.fellas around are shifting it long distances-4 hrs round trip .what's it to grow and harvest.someone said 700 euros a trailer

GrasstoMilk

K.G. wrote: »

Must be mighty stuff.fellas around are shifting it long distances-4 hrs round trip .what's it to grow and harvest.someone said 700 euros a trailer

1000 an acre into the pit is what everyone says. We're buying it by the tonne for 50€ it's great stuff this year. 32 dm 35 starch 9% protein

Timmaay

whelan2 wrote: »

Weather conditions here are desperate.

2bh MJ that's why I'd be abit more cautious about growing it down tipperary direction, here in the east coast we definitely tend to have lower rainfall levels, and often have very good back ends, especially if there has been a drought, ground conditions will be very good up until early nov. However Whelan we do absolutely got to be prepared for roughly 1 in 5 poor years, like this very wet back end (Ballyhaise is in better condition than your farm the min?, which speaks volumes about the local rainfall in your area!), 2012 was dire, and 2016 wasn't great either.

Timmaay

K.G. wrote: »

Must be mighty stuff.fellas around are shifting it long distances-4 hrs round trip .what's it to grow and harvest.someone said 700 euros a trailer

700e for a 13t trailer, defo not a triple axle 18t trailer.

straight

Weather beat us here today. Cows stayed inside so I don't have to watch the forecast anymore or listen to the rain beating off the window in the middle of the night. Milk is crashing to 1.3 kgms per day. I hope I can hold it around that but the jars are looking slack this evening.

Keep Sluicing

Timmaay wrote: »

Does it all even have a home ha? Too much planted around here, by lads who were burnt in the drought of 2018, contractors who grew it without a contract for it found it hard to get it sold after.

Maize will always have a home as long as it can be harvested. Maize from north cork going to just north of the border for Digesters. I also know of maize going from Louth and Meath to Co. Derry

liosnagceann75

straight wrote: »

Weather beat us here today. Cows stayed inside so I don't have to watch the forecast anymore or listen to the rain beating off the window in the middle of the night. Milk is crashing to 1.3 kgms per day. I hope I can hold it around that but the jars are looking slack this evening.

Cows housed on 31st October. Gone to once a day today. Drying off at the end of the month

straight

13% scanned not in calf after 12 weeks. It's disappointing. That 8 out of 70. I'm fairly sure 2 of them were in calf up to recently. I've 3 2nd calvers not in calf for some reason. One of them cycling every 3 weeks. One of them lost their calf recently I'd say. She's dirty and passing dirt now when lying down. And one just didn't come to dairy until September. I'm short on maiden heifers for next year and I'm contemplating recycling these 3. It's not something I've done before and in not sure it's worth it.

Mooooo

Better bet to buy calved in spring, rolling around from spring to spring there is feckal in it

GrasstoMilk

straight wrote: »

13% scanned not in calf after 12 weeks. It's disappointing. That 8 out of 70. I'm fairly sure 2 of them were in calf up to recently. I've 3 2nd calvers not in calf for some reason. One of them cycling every 3 weeks. One of them lost their calf recently I'd say. She's dirty and passing dirt now when lying down. And one just didn't come to dairy until September. I'm short on maiden heifers for next year and I'm contemplating recycling these 3. It's not something I've done before and in not sure it's worth it.

Have done it and they just end up fat lumps and generally dont go back incalf the second time.
I'd buy 3 heifers if it was me

whelan2

straight wrote: »

13% scanned not in calf after 12 weeks. It's disappointing. That 8 out of 70. I'm fairly sure 2 of them were in calf up to recently. I've 3 2nd calvers not in calf for some reason. One of them cycling every 3 weeks. One of them lost their calf recently I'd say. She's dirty and passing dirt now when lying down. And one just didn't come to dairy until September. I'm short on maiden heifers for next year and I'm contemplating recycling these 3. It's not something I've done before and in not sure it's worth it.

Are you just spring calving? I rolled a few of last years late spring calvers over to this autumn. Was glad to have them tbh and I would have been getting feck all for them this time last year

straight

whelan2 wrote: »

Are you just spring calving? I rolled a few of last years late spring calvers over to this autumn. Was glad to have them tbh and I would have been getting feck all for them this time last year

Just spring. That's the thing. They're worth feck all as culls. Probably better off let them go but tempted. Was thinking I could blood test them for neospora, etc.

Mooooo

whelan2 wrote: »

Are you just spring calving? I rolled a few of last years late spring calvers over to this autumn. Was glad to have them tbh and I would have been getting feck all for them this time last year

Going from spring to autumn isn't too bad, once a beef bull is used in the roll over. Going from spring to spring def not worth it tho

GrasstoMilk

Does anyone here buy the surgical wipes for cleaning the cows tear ends at dry off in a canister kind of like the way the baby wipes come?

Mooooo

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Does anyone here buy the surgical wipes for cleaning the cows tear ends at dry off in a canister kind of like the way the baby wipes come?

Used them once I think, went back to the cotton wool and methylated spirits after, twas as handy

cjpm

Thanks all for the cow clipper advice. Ordered one from clippers Ireland.ie but they are sold out and won't be delivered till next week. Extra €20 discount though, so might be of use to anyone looking for one. €180 delivered.

GrasstoMilk

Anyone here feeding a pre calving meal to cows or oats/soya precalving?

atlantic mist

we feed oats two weeks before calving with access to mineral licks and buckets for whole of dry period

done wholecrop oats this year as its getting very hard to get good quality oats