Northern Ireland Milk Price Tracker

The Agrarian · Mar 1, 2017

Depends on whether you think breeding VG is going to make you more money. Personally I think udders on even an average Holstein bull these days are pretty bullet proof. There are more pressing issues to deal with that affect the bottom line, and they can't be measured by a classifier.

Bankville · Mar 1, 2017

The Agrarian said:
New electricity line going across this area. Last couple of weeks they've been building roads across fields here to take cranes and articulated lorries in to build towers and bury very large cables. When they scraped the top off it was a dry as snuff underneath. It's the top two inches of muck that's the biggest challenge.

Current outlook from the charts is a high sitting over the Azores, continuing to direct lows over us. It appears to inch it's way eastward next week as far as Spain, and then with the hint of it pushing up north towards us by the weekend. We'll have to see how that unfolds.

I thought all them diggers were a certain polictican trying to "drain the swamp"

jay · Mar 1, 2017

zsnotdead said:
Anyone for the bull sale in Kilrea tomorrow. What's your best advice on buying a bull. I was told if it had six vg generations you can go far wrong

I'm not saying that 6 vg generations isn't good but you need to look at a lot more than just that. I'd say that the most important thing is to remember what your breeding goals are. I don't know how many times I've heard people say they want average size easy looked after cows before buying a bull bred from a show champion or the biggest bull for his age in the sale, or they complain about holstein fertility then buy a bull with 3 generations of high type negative fertility sires in his pedigree.

it's not over · Mar 1, 2017

I want 7000 to 7500 l yielding cows on 1.5 tons of meal. Grass cows. I have the girls I just need the boy

Ballygreenan · Mar 1, 2017

zsnotdead said:
I want 7000 to 7500 l yielding cows on 1.5 tons of meal. Grass cows. I have the girls I just need the boy

In that case forget about classification scores and make sure there is a line of +BF% & +PRO% behind him.

Also bear in mind that the bull will probably only suit about 1/3 of your existing herd.

Aircooled · Mar 1, 2017

Ballygreenan said:
Buy a selection of bulls that are already proven, they can be delivered in little frozen plastic straws, that way they won't try and kill you when all the cows are in calf!

Be careful with them straws.many a herd ruined with them, once you get to deep ......big difference between a good milker and a good cow.

zsnotdead said:
I want 7000 to 7500 l yielding cows on 1.5 tons of meal. Grass cows. I have the girls I just need the boy

I think thats the system for this country. No cheap meal about for these formula 1 cows. Only time I feed for milk is when I open the door.

Happy at it · Mar 3, 2017

FOR SALE

Several hundred thousand gallons of cattle slurry, good stuff. Sold for no fault.

Part exchange for clamp silage considered.

yin ewe · Mar 3, 2017

Happy at it said:
FOR SALE

Several hundred thousand gallons of cattle slurry, good stuff. Sold for no fault.

Part exchange for clamp silage considered.

Going by the weather forecast the rivers will be full and fast flowing for couple of days. Just saying

CJay · Mar 3, 2017

Happy at it said:
FOR SALE

Several hundred thousand gallons of cattle slurry, good stuff. Sold for no fault.

Part exchange for clamp silage considered.

Would love some for my sheep ground

clem dog · Mar 3, 2017

Happy at it said:
FOR SALE

Several hundred thousand gallons of cattle slurry, good stuff. Sold for no fault.

Part exchange for clamp silage considered.

Could you keep it for me till I get my second cut off?

EX95 · Mar 4, 2017

zsnotdead said:
Anyone for the bull sale in Kilrea tomorrow. What's your best advice on buying a bull. I was told if it had six vg generations you can go far wrong

Edit. Sorry meant next tues

Probably a good start. Classification has a 100% reliability, like milk records, as they did happen. Genomic indexes are about 65%.
I would start with the dam, select from the type of cow you want to breed, High bf & pr, good yields over as many as possible lactations and back at least 3 generations.
The sire would be an outcross with fair type and good production & health traits.
The bull himself should have a wide chest, correct rump and good legs & feet.
Failing that, buy a black bull like everyone else.

The Agrarian · Mar 4, 2017

Classification isn't 100% reliability. Nothing in this world is except death. The physical structure of an animal is a product of its genetics (genotype) and it's environment (phenotype). By looking at the genotype, you cut out the most variable part which is the environment. Classification was a good tool in its day, when genome technology wasn't available.

The Agrarian · Mar 4, 2017

Classification isn't 100% reliability. Nothing in this world is except death. The physical structure of an animal is a product of its genetics (genotype) and it's environment (phenotype). By looking at the genotype, you cut out the most variable part which is the environment. Classification was a good tool in its day, when genome technology wasn't available.

thunderballs · Mar 4, 2017

Not every animal fulfilled their genomic proof. All cows vg cows, scored vg!

The Agrarian · Mar 4, 2017

EX cows don't reliably produce excellent daughters. They also produce a lot of also-rans that are brushed to the side.

The other problem is that VG/EX scores do not infer yield, efficiency, fertility or longevity. So why would you make this a requirement over a genomic predisposition to these things?

thunderballs · Mar 4, 2017

I don't buy or breed stock bulls but do like to milk vg/ex cows. If I was to go into the market all the facts available would have to be considered.

EX95 · Mar 5, 2017

The Agrarian said:
EX cows don't reliably produce excellent daughters. They also produce a lot of also-rans that are brushed to the side.

The other problem is that VG/EX scores do not infer yield, efficiency, fertility or longevity. So why would you make this a requirement over a genomic predisposition to these things?

Will the Bulls at the Kilrea sale all be Genomic tested ? The ones that didn't make AI will be but what percentage? and will it even be available?

it's not over · Mar 7, 2017

Gdt down 6.3 ooooooooh

Davy · Mar 7, 2017

Is the release of EU intervention stocks having much influence on global markets?

The Agrarian · Mar 7, 2017

Absolutely. Buyers are relaxed because there is an abundance of product in stock on top of adequate new supply. Hence the dead market. It's an uneasy equilibrium, with the short to medium term balance of risk lying to the downside.

Northern Ireland Milk Price Tracker

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page