All things Dairy

Martyn · Jul 20, 2021

This weather is bliss, but also the reason I autumn calve, quiet days now, went visiting the North coast yesterday morning(Port Gaverne was like the Tropics) then picked girls up from school and drove to South coast Cawsands to swim in the afternoon/evening. Seeing Cornwall at its best! Farm has been rubbish for various reasons so great to get out.

BELOWAVERAGE · Jul 20, 2021

frederick said:
The only way to supply shade to 200 plus cows in a herd is to keep them in a shed. All others in field will result in huddling and an increase risk of heat stress and other problems like lazy mentioned.

Nah you just need some decent hedges and pick your day field and night fields, trouble is with you chaps everything has to be so technical, you have to measure your grass and they have to be in that field on that day, needs some flexibility.

Cowmansam · Jul 20, 2021

I keep a decent rotation but If it’s wet you go a dry field if it’s hot you need shade

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

Princess Pooper said:
No, they can be bloody stupid sometimes.

This morning at 9.30 the dries and in-calf heifers were huddled in the shade like this. The back ones haven't moved with the sun and are now no longer in the shade. There was another tree 10 m away with completely unutilised shade.

Plus there is a 100 m long mature spinney up the top (eastern) View attachment 974848boundary of the field which was still throwing a good shade at that time of day.

In a field with hedge and trees for shade, ours decided to camp on the hill in the breeze.

Left ours extra hour last night so it was cooler for the walk in

Cowmansam · Jul 20, 2021

Least they’ve had the choice

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

Cowmansam said:
Least they’ve had the choice

They don't get a choice when they get milked on the parlour, but they didn't come in the full heat of the day.

Cows on robots have dropped visit numbers very slightly

Cowmansam · Jul 20, 2021

Can imagine they don’t want to move much without someone moving them do you get the opposite in a wet time they all come in when it rains

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

Cowmansam said:
Can imagine they don’t want to move much without someone moving them do you get the opposite in a wet time they all come in when it rains

Yes,watch them as a thunder storm approached and they all made their way in, as the rain got heavier they got faster, just like we do in the same situation

Cowmansam · Jul 20, 2021

Does that cause issues with them all wanting to be milked at once or do they have somewhere to lie or eat while waiting

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

Cowmansam said:
Does that cause issues with them all wanting to be milked at once or do they have somewhere to lie or eat while waiting

All on different milking intervals and plenty of capacity so no. Waiting time would be less than with a parlour
It's a very rare occurance to be honest.

Princess Pooper · Jul 20, 2021

Sid said:
In a field with hedge and trees for shade, ours decided to camp on the hill in the breeze.

Left ours extra hour last night so it was cooler for the walk in

We moved ours into that field so they could benefit from the slope and the breeze, their previous field was very sheltered.

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

Princess Pooper said:
We moved ours into that field so they could benefit from the slope and the breeze, their previous field was very sheltered.

Decision made, milkers are going into the night paddocks for next few days to save the 20 min walk in afternoon.

Edit,
Think they won't mind

som farmer · Jul 20, 2021

lot of our grazing doesn't have to much shelter, on 'hot' days, they usually get into a heap, where the breeze is, being hilly, that's usually 'up top', we have managed to get water troughs up in those areas, so no need to walk for water, rock salt in yard, milking later. The down side, move that heap, and they all spread out, and start grazing. Wet weather, oldest grazing.
Sid's 20 min walk, its taking us 45 minutes to get them in, they just start grazing, and won't move !

Sid · Jul 20, 2021

som farmer said:
lot of our grazing doesn't have to much shelter, on 'hot' days, they usually get into a heap, where the breeze is, being hilly, that's usually 'up top', we have managed to get water troughs up in those areas, so no need to walk for water, rock salt in yard, milking later. The down side, move that heap, and they all spread out, and start grazing. Wet weather, oldest grazing.
Sid's 20 min walk, its taking us 45 minutes to get them in, they just start grazing, and won't move !

Just worked out its a 200ft, 60m climb over a 0.63 of a mile , 1 km

Jdunn55 · Jul 20, 2021

So just seen the email from red tractor with updated standards, most of it's fine but got to do a health and safety plan now, are their companies that will come and do them for you (any ideas on cost if so?)? Or is it fairly easy to do and are there any templates you can fill out? Thanks

In the pit · Jul 20, 2021

BELOWAVERAGE said:
Nah you just need some decent hedges and pick your day field and night fields, trouble is with you chaps everything has to be so technical, you have to measure your grass and they have to be in that field on that day, needs some flexibility.

My cows go to what ever field I need them too regardless of weather
I think that water being close to them is more important than shade
In the uk we seem to go stupid when it gets hot ,trouble is it’s very seldom hot for very long

In the pit · Jul 20, 2021

Jdunn55 said:
So just seen the email from red tractor with updated standards, most of it's fine but got to do a health and safety plan now, are their companies that will come and do them for you (any ideas on cost if so?)? Or is it fairly easy to do and are there any templates you can fill out? Thanks

Nfu but could cost a lot and get quite intensive

Jdunn55 · Jul 20, 2021

I agree, I've swapped my night paddocks and day paddocks around though so they're closer to the yard for milking so don't have to walk as far in the heat as I think that's what's bad for them. Standing around in the heat or lying down isn't too bad imo as long as they have plenty of access to fresh water

In the pit said:
My cows go to what ever field I need them too regardless of weather
I think that water being close to them is more important than shade
In the uk we seem to go stupid when it gets hot ,trouble is it’s very seldom hot for very long

Jdunn55 · Jul 20, 2021

In the pit said:
Nfu but could cost a lot and get quite intensive

Thanks, I'll ask the question and see what they say

lazy farmer · Jul 20, 2021

Jdunn55 said:
So just seen the email from red tractor with updated standards, most of it's fine but got to do a health and safety plan now, are their companies that will come and do them for you (any ideas on cost if so?)? Or is it fairly easy to do and are there any templates you can fill out? Thanks

I’ve seen that email too.. it will be interesting to see what other changes they have made that they don’t regard as “key”

All things Dairy

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