Dairy Chitchat 3

Mooooo

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Dirty cows/heifers, what do you do with them?
Leave them if not too bad?
Wash them out yourself? If so what do you use.
Or go in with something like metricure.

We usually don't get many but have one bad one here who is smelling pretty foul so I'll get the vet to look at her

A course of antibiotics if she is dirty a few days after calving, Doreen used say wash out 30 days post calving with metricure and give a shot of estrumate.

Timmaay

Supply voltage today only running at 210v, and drops to 200v when there is a load on it like the tank or vacuum pump. Vacuum pump motor blew a capacitor this morning at the end of the milking ugh. Esb coming out now to check whats wrong, are they meant to guarantee a certain supply voltage? Too many big motors here between the tank, vaccum pump, scrapers, augers, well to risk having the likes of this regularly happening.

Zeebsisgone654

simx wrote: »

Would show ya what margins Glanbia have trucking it nearby, Glanbia factory only 14 miles from here

Processing milk for commodities is 3 percent margin, I don’t what the margin is in liquid milk

blackdog1

Just got a letter for the new winter milk scheme from Dairygold today. Basically have to produce 6% of annual milk yield per month for 4 months ,so a min of 28% of yearly supply . Max payment is for 35% of annual supply. If you don't make min of 27% your out and get paid no bonus on any winter milk supplied....

Mortelaro

Timmaay wrote: »

Supply voltage today only running at 210v, and drops to 200v when there is a load on it like the tank or vacuum pump. Vacuum pump motor blew a capacitor this morning at the end of the milking ugh. Esb coming out now to check whats wrong, are they meant to guarantee a certain supply voltage? Too many big motors here between the tank, vaccum pump, scrapers, augers, well to risk having the likes of this regularly happening.

Snap
Had that problem 2 weeks ago and I'm the only one on my transformer
When the compressor kicked in,the lights went out and the machine stopped
Milk pump was able to put the lights out
The min guarantee is around 190 volts circa
The curious and suspicious thing with me was it was happening at roughly the same time but they wouldn't admit that someone was hogging all the juice on the line
Voltage at the transformer when they were here was only 217
At the yard it was 211
No issues of course when they were here
It's only happened once since so I think they must have done something

If it's a regular occurrence they'll put a voltage recorder on your supply so to know how bad it is

Mooooo

blackdog1 wrote: »

Just got a letter for the new winter milk scheme from Dairygold today. Basically have to produce 6% of annual milk yield per month for 4 months ,so a min of 28% of yearly supply . Max payment is for 35% of annual supply. If you don't make min of 27% your out and get paid no bonus on any winter milk supplied....

Have a feeling they may be looking for suppliers yet. 5.6cent just not enough

yewtree

Mooooo wrote: »

Have a feeling they may be looking for suppliers yet. 5.6cent just not enough

No danger of any of the winter milk schemes been under subscribed. there are more than enough lads with no control over their calving pattern, that have to take whatever price they are given

Buford T. Justice XIX

Mortelaro wrote: »

Snap
Had that problem 2 weeks ago and I'm the only one on my transformer
When the compressor kicked in,the lights went out and the machine stopped
Milk pump was able to put the lights out
The min guarantee is around 190 volts circa
The curious and suspicious thing with me was it was happening at roughly the same time but they wouldn't admit that someone was hogging all the juice on the line
Voltage at the transformer when they were here was only 217
At the yard it was 211
No issues of course when they were here
It's only happened once since so I think they must have done something

If it's a regular occurrence they'll put a voltage recorder on your supply so to know how bad it is

We had a lot of issues last spring with fuses tripping and we have our own transformer here. Isolated everything and it used trip with different items running.

Turns out whoever connected the transformer made a dogs dinner of it and they reconnected it properly and no problem since. BIL knew one of the sparkys doing it and asked what the problem was.

Mortelaro

Yeah the cables from the transformer here were replaced after storm Darwin 5 years ago to a twisted insulated single pair
They spent a few hours here of a Saturday evening re doing the connections, the dips were happening bad that day so I just rang them
I still think it was a problem in our case of juice in the line though,a new garage and factory gone up using the same 3 phase line,we run off
But I haven't asked as it's only happened once since

Keepgrowing

simx wrote: »

Would show ya what margins Glanbia have trucking it nearby, Glanbia factory only 14 miles from here

Answer his question, because I’d love to know

Keepgrowing

whelan2 wrote: »

StrathRoy pay a better price than Glanbia too

They do not and I have it in black and white in my office. Fact

whelan2

Keepgrowing wrote: »

They do not and I have it in black and white in my office. Fact

I'd be fairly sure StrathRoy are paying out more than 30cpl base price. Also the cookie jar money is the member subsidising the plc so doesn't count

whelan2

Anyone else getting a lot of twins this year?

wrangler

whelan2 wrote: »

Anyone else getting a lot of twins this year?

You must be delighted with that and the price of calves

simx

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Dirty cows/heifers, what do you do with them?
Leave them if not too bad?
Wash them out yourself? If so what do you use.
Or go in with something like metricure.

We usually don't get many but have one bad one here who is smelling pretty foul so I'll get the vet to look at her

Metricure find it good

Buford T. Justice XIX

whelan2 wrote: »

Anyone else getting a lot of twins this year?

For a minute there, I was going to offer congratulations...:D


We will have 3 sets here this year if they all go full term which is about normal, all from the one family as well.

whelan2

wrangler wrote: »

You must be delighted with that and the price of calves

My dog is bigger than the set born today. All 3 sets are from heifers.

trixi2011

whelan2 wrote: »

Anyone else getting a lot of twins this year?

Yes loads of them coming fairly big 2 , hate twins wreck cows

blackdog1

yewtree wrote: »

No danger of any of the winter milk schemes been under subscribed. there are more than enough lads with no control over their calving pattern, that have to take whatever price they are given

id say if they do let anyone else in besides the people in the scheme already, they would have to have excellent milk quality and very good lactose levels. 6% a month could be quite hard to hit for alot of farmers too so i wouldnt be surprised to see a few keep their previous winter milk bonus and not opt for the new one.

Keepgrowing

I wonder will there be an https://keprtv.com/news/local/farmers-feeling-the-impact-of-winter-storms-1600-cattle-die-over-last-several-days

Waffletraktor

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I wonder will there be an https://keprtv.com/news/local/farmers-feeling-the-impact-of-winter-storms-1600-cattle-die-over-last-several-days

Tame compared to thr ozzy floods atm.

jaymla627

Waffletraktor wrote: »

Tame compared to thr ozzy floods atm.

It’s another level, 300k plus beef/dairy animals estimated dead, for it to come in a area that has been devasted with drought was the real kicker

Willfarman

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/you-can-make-a-good-living-milking-80-cows-expansion-isnt-always-necessary/

Good article I thought.

Timmaay

Willfarman wrote: »

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/you-can-make-a-good-living-milking-80-cows-expansion-isnt-always-necessary/

Good article I thought.

Agreed fully, only thing I'll say is the 120 cow herd is a very nice step up if you have the grazing block, still very much so a one man show outside of calving, however them extra few cows will nicely pay for more regular part time labour, alongside contracting out most machinery work.

Gawddawggonnit

Gave in yesterday and bought some fert.
Got some Urea for €311. BB.
Nitrogen 34.4% €280. BB. 28t loads.
ASN €254.

If I’d the nutz I’d have held off for another few weeks as prices still softening...will buy some more in March.

Paid in full 30days after delivery.

Mortelaro

If someone cannot pay for some casual labour at weekends, for busy times or at calving,on an 80 cow herd doing an average 6 or 7k litres a cow and earn a decent living ,they are in my opinion better off not going to 120 cows because their management by then will have them in Stubbs Gazette

Ego needs to be out of the equation, bank balance firmly in

Timmaay

Mortelaro wrote: »

If someone cannot pay for some casual labour at weekends, for busy times or at calving,on an 80 cow herd doing an average 6 or 7k litres a cow and earn a decent living ,they are in my opinion better off not going to 120 cows because their management by then will have them in Stubbs Gazette

Ego needs to be out of the equation, bank balance firmly in

If it was about ego I'd be at 200cows now, but probably a lot more stressed out and under pressure ha. Still could happen here but only if it fits well into other ambitions I have in life.

mf240

Mortelaro wrote: »

If someone cannot pay for some casual labour at weekends, for busy times or at calving,on an 80 cow herd doing an average 6 or 7k litres a cow and earn a decent living ,they are in my opinion better off not going to 120 cows because their management by then will have them in Stubbs Gazette

Ego needs to be out of the equation, bank balance firmly in

What if im just to miserable and mean to pay someone. :p

atlantic mist

anyone know how close to a tb test can you sell animals?

tanko

atlantic mist wrote: »

anyone know how close to a tb test can you sell animals?

Nothing to stop you selling animals the day before the test afaik.

whelan2

They don't like you moving stock between testing and reading. I got in trouble last year for getting cow who did the splits put down between testing and reading. Fine up until the day before.

Timmaay

whelan2 wrote: »

They don't like you moving stock between testing and reading. I got in trouble last year for getting cow who did the splits put down between testing and reading. Fine up until the day before.

I've heard of lads discovering on the morning while testing that they have bought in animals that never got transfered into their herd for whatever reason, and quickly getting a permit done there and then haha.

alps

Just in from the maternity ward...2 more bulls..

That's 22 bulls 8 heifers, absolute riot..

I was away for the first 12 days of bullying last year and we got the AI man to insimenate once a day.. Conception rates were good, but this run of bulls is some cost..

We're DIY here always, and pay particular attention to AI timings, always twice a day, and in many cases while still in standing heat, we always have more heifers than bulls...

The killer is I've agreed to undertake the same project this year and will miss 1 week from 7th to 13th May...thinking costly now..

Mooooo

alps wrote: »

Just in from the maternity ward...2 more bulls..

That's 22 bulls 8 heifers, absolute riot..

I was away for the first 12 days of bullying last year and we got the AI man to insimenate once a day.. Conception rates were good, but this run of bulls is some cost..

We're DIY here always, and pay particular attention to AI timings, always twice a day, and in many cases while still in standing heat, we always have more heifers than bulls...

The killer is I've agreed to undertake the same project this year and will miss 1 week from 7th to 13th May...thinking costly now..

I ai once a day most of the time, was at 70% heifers up till 3 days ago, evening up now

Mooooo

tanko wrote: »

Nothing to stop you selling animals the day before the test afaik.

You can check on agfood anyway

simx

Mooooo wrote: »

I ai once a day most of the time, was at 70% heifers up till 3 days ago, evening up now

Work at ai myself and practice once a day with my own cows and seems to work out ok heifer wise

charolais0153

alps wrote: »

Just in from the maternity ward...2 more bulls..

That's 22 bulls 8 heifers, absolute riot..

I was away for the first 12 days of bullying last year and we got the AI man to insimenate once a day.. Conception rates were good, but this run of bulls is some cost..

We're DIY here always, and pay particular attention to AI timings, always twice a day, and in many cases while still in standing heat, we always have more heifers than bulls...

The killer is I've agreed to undertake the same project this year and will miss 1 week from 7th to 13th May...thinking costly now..

If you've always had more heifers maybe its evening out. I wouldnt go blaming the ai man.

GrasstoMilk

alps wrote: »

Just in from the maternity ward...2 more bulls..

That's 22 bulls 8 heifers, absolute riot..

I was away for the first 12 days of bullying last year and we got the AI man to insimenate once a day.. Conception rates were good, but this run of bulls is some cost..

We're DIY here always, and pay particular attention to AI timings, always twice a day, and in many cases while still in standing heat, we always have more heifers than bulls...

The killer is I've agreed to undertake the same project this year and will miss 1 week from 7th to 13th May...thinking costly now..

AI once a day here for the last 20 odd years. Always 50/50 heifers.

visatorro

Older generation used to reckon you had more heifers with a young bull because cow was served earlier..

whelan2

visatorro wrote: »

Older generation used to reckon you had more heifers with a young bull because cow was served earlier..

Angus bull that's with my heifers is 5 years old. Out of 20 calves have 17 heifers including 3 sets of heifer twins. If I could transfer that to my fr calves now that would be great

wrangler

visatorro wrote: »

Older generation used to reckon you had more heifers with a young bull because cow was served earlier..

I've even heard of a scientific reason for it too, but can't remember it.......th'ould grey matter again

mahoney_j

alps wrote: »

Just in from the maternity ward...2 more bulls..

That's 22 bulls 8 heifers, absolute riot..

I was away for the first 12 days of bullying last year and we got the AI man to insimenate once a day.. Conception rates were good, but this run of bulls is some cost..

We're DIY here always, and pay particular attention to AI timings, always twice a day, and in many cases while still in standing heat, we always have more heifers than bulls...

The killer is I've agreed to undertake the same project this year and will miss 1 week from 7th to 13th May...thinking costly now..

Maby if u tried bulling the cows rather than bullying them u might get more heifers 😜😜😜!!!!!!,oad here for years and have to admit no difference in ratio of bulls/heifers always close to 50/50 bar an odd bad year

K9

male sperm supposedly takes off faster and can die off then if the egg hasn’t been released.

Water John

Correct K9. Male sperm is more energetic but falls away if it hasn't reached the target/egg. Female sperm on the other hand are slower but outlast the male sperm. Male is a sprinter, female more of a distance runner.

alps

Bingo lads....kept figures on it over 3 years. The earlier in heat you serve a cow, the greater chance of a heifer, although you reduce your conception rate marginally. Trick is go immediately with a dairy straw and later with a beef one...

AI man is exceptional and will deposit relative to time in heat, however as we were really an addition to his round, his call was mid day. I would even thin an 8am OAD would help the situation, and I know you'll all say it shouldn't matter as cows should begin to cycle at all times of the day.......but do they?

alps

mahoney_j wrote: »

Maby if u tried bulling the cows rather than bullying them u might get more heifers ������!!!!!!,oad here for years and have to admit no difference in ratio of bulls/heifers always close to 50/50 bar an odd bad year

Haha...well you know what the vegans call it..

kevthegaff

Did ai for first time last spring, very dissappear with results so far. Hope the bull will elevate the damage

simx

kevthegaff wrote: »

Did ai for first time last spring, very dissappear with results so far. Hope the bull will elevate the damage

In what way? With heifers?

Say my name

I got the next paddock where the cows will be grazing tested for the cod for sugar .

5% sugar.
One of those refractometer yokes by a chap who tests silage before cutting.

kevthegaff

simx wrote: »

In what way? With heifers?

They didnt go in calf, disgusted mustn't been doing them right