Clay52
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Ayr or block calving both have positives and negatives for work life balance and other stuff. The overall quality of the management of the place is much more important.
I hear you there.Definitely agree on the breakfast thing with all staff together, but I'm not sure how it would work here, I go home for a proper cooked breakfast, the rest of the lads have microwave porridge in the hut in the yard, i point blank refuse to give up my proper fried breakfast, and the state of the mugs in the hut I'd rather starve
I put a tape on the leg , 5 different colours, use in rotation, for the fresh cow's, works well for me, I " imported" the idea from NZDot system?
Give them a dot their first milking up on the rump where they dont get muck on it
Next day, a dot below it
Next day, one on the other side
Last day, paint all 4 dots again and check her milk properly
Then if you have a random cow show up somewhere silly, you know if she's a milker or not, without writing numbers on boards etc.
I'm colourblind so that doesn't really work.I put a tape on the leg , 5 different colours, use in rotation, for the fresh cow's, works well for me, I " imported" the idea from NZ
I do like that idea, good for team work too, definitely something that needs improvement, trouble is everyone wants different thingsI hear you there.
I'd get the bbq hot while washing the plant, give the team a mug of hot coffee and some chips chops and toast..
Have a plan sussed out and deliver it, ask for critique
Then beggar off home with a full belly and see the kids (and see what else is for breakfast)
I have my two travel mugs present at all times
Yes I found that too.I do like that idea, good for team work too, definitely something that needs improvement, trouble is everyone wants different things
May sound niave, but why don't you eartag the calves when they are born. With our block calving herds an eartag means she has had her colostrum and naval clipped
I keep a little book in a plastic tool box with the taggers and iodine ..whenever anyone sees a new calf they tag it, clip it's naval write details in the book and give it two litres of 'first milk' colostrum from a rotavec vaccinated cow. Then the job is done and the calf has the best start. Calves are snatched twice a day and passports applied for every morning. It seems we all have a different system, but all workThere does seem to be a lot of work going to ID calves with collars and stuff before tagging them when just tagging them would probably be simpler.
There does seem to be a lot of work going to ID calves with collars and stuff before tagging them when just tagging them would probably be simpler.
Not when you've got 14 fresh new calves on the floor and it's 5am and your on your own
That's why I tag them as soon as I see them, only downside is only 2 people here who can tag themNot when you've got 14 fresh new calves on the floor and it's 5am and your on your own
That's why I tag them as soon as I see them, only downside is only 2 people here who can tag them
Can't tell the difference between dairy and beef calves, (both on different tags)Why can't others tag them.
One of the guys here (ex dairy farmer) is terrible at tagging calves. Tags in the worst places on the ear or even fresh air. Don't let him near it now. I suppose he is smart, he got out of that job.