Grassman247
Member
Where do you farm, annual rainfall, summer rainfall, soil type?
Cheshire, heavy clay, 28 inches annual rainfall and summer rainfall these past few years has been very varied most years the farm is burning up
Where do you farm, annual rainfall, summer rainfall, soil type?
Did you say 1000 cows in another thread?So spring calving, cows are New Zealand friesian, now crossing to Norwegian red, aim to be out at grass around the 15th of feb but haven’t managed this year being so wet but be out next week. Cows calve down on grass silage and chopped straw, then go onto grass silage, maize and brewers grains mix from one pit plus 8 kg of 16% cake in the parlour which is pulled back gradually to 3.5kg as we get more grass into the cows, aim to be out at grass day and night by 1st April. Then on grass all year until 20th October when they come in at night onto the Grass silage, maize and brewers grains mix again including the 3.5kg of cake, they stay on that until drying off and out in the day until 1st December. Butterfat 4.5, protein 3.5 and average cell count is 92. Mastitis is at 11% lameness 14% and last years empty rate 18% fertility is an area I’m working on although it’s difficult with so many litres.
Yield has gone from 6,500 to 8,100 by less mastitis and lameness and better grazing management.
Only make two cuts of silage and the rest of the grass is eaten by younstock to keep them out until Christmas
Isn’t it 5.3me to a litre of milk ?No I’d say 6,000 litres from forage, brewers grains and cake makes up the other 2,100 litres
Haylage production.What is your grass system anyway?
is there still a decent margin left though?Feed through the roof, fuel up and as I’m finding electricity’s up up up. Milk price find out this week but stand on again
Personally I don't think I'm going to make much this winter.is there still a decent margin left though?
What’s your electric looking like? Mines is up end if November so going to try some brokers but not holding out much hope. @Bossfarmer im 25% back in cow numbers the now heifers to come in October/November. Would’ve bought a load as I’ve loads of silage but until I get some more positive signals I’ll sit tight, maybe sell silage at Christmas new year time instead. All that’s happening here is nearly monthly big ones are increasing which can only go on so long to cover up the lack of margin.Feed rep said need an extra 2.5/3ppl just to cover extra feed cost this winter. Glad we are not the only ones finding the cost of electric going up then.
Certainly plenty confidence around here. One large producer has purchased an arable farm over 200 miles away to produce his own feed/straw.Getting a turn Bossfarmer, but can't get my head round the money being spent at the minute, and the confidence it must take to do it.......
Certainly plenty confidence around here. One large producer has purchased an arable farm over 200 miles away to produce his own feed/straw.
Don't forget your own forage has cost way more.Last winter we were purchasing 65ish% of our feed, had a purchased feed cost of 9-9.5ppl and a margin of 195quid a month at around 28ppl milk price
Since mid June we've been purchasing 85% of our feed, have a purchased feed cost of 10.2ppl and a margin of 200quid a month at 30ppl milk price
Purchased feed cost includes purchased forage
If the milk price was 20 ppl we'd probably sell some cows and get a job
200miles that will take a bit of haulage! (and management)
We have our own tackle and make bales so will be not as bad as some with choppers per acre etc but yes will be dearerDon't forget your own forage has cost way more.
13th payment for new member Another local big un taking on two more dairies aswell?Putting his own lorries on for the job. Fellow Arla producer!