Do you get many go for an extra spin?
I always thought it’d be hard work to know when each group finishes.
Two groups here,milkers and dries,I can’t get enthusiastic about having the milkers split.
All things Dairy
- Thread starter Cows 'n grass
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I always thought it’d be hard work to know when each group finishes.
Two groups here,milkers and dries,I can’t get enthusiastic about having the milkers split.
There is the odd one who tries it but the milkers are pretty switched on
In theory, it’s straightforward as the backing gate acts as a divide between groups so as it lifts, there is usually two empty stalls but the guys drop an udder cloth on the final stall as a visual too.
The heifers and highs are tail taped for easy ID but I suspect that once a week we will have to fetch a few out from the wrong group.
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
Funny noise from feeder wagon last night, day light reveals the grinder is required!
Spudley
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Some of our heifers are so small they just walk under the rail and do the same.Another nice surprise this morning my delightful little angels have decided I haven't got enough work to do and pushed through the feed barrier and made themselves a nice little nest in the middle of the feed passage
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
You wouldn't believe how much it pisses me off when they do it, can literally go from a state of bliss to wanting to gouge their eyes out with my thumbs
And it's always the same bloody cows that do it, and they're the worst ones in the herd anyway
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
What heifers have you got calving at the moment? Top heifers who's bagged up looks lovely
- Location
- somerset
most herds could lose the worst 5/10 % and soon realise they are not missed, the rest just take up the slack, so there's your answer, you don't need the hassle !You wouldn't believe how much it pisses me off when they do it, can literally go from a state of bliss to wanting to gouge their eyes out with my thumbs
And it's always the same bloody cows that do it, and they're the worst ones in the herd anyway
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
They'll be first on the list in a few years time as long as tb doesn't come knocking
There shaping up nice all by friesian sires out of Holstein cows. Goonhilly Samson, Peartree Bryster and Kirby Premier.
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Premiers are nice cows, good milkers but lack slightly on the constituent side of things, also have a tendancy to not use cubicles for some reason! Haven't got any by the other 2
What's your reasoning for using friesians? You heading down that route?
Keep a check on inbreeding with the Holsteins so suppose a bit hybrid vigour. These heifers are calving back to Holstein the now but there looking that well I’m going to put some Lakemead Jingle on them to see how far they go. Want cows out in March up here which hardly anyone does now so hardy to graze but litre’s with the tmr.
- Location
- Scotland
What's that tipped in the silage pit and how much does it cost?
TheRanger
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
We're following a similar route. Last 5 stock bulls have been Friesian - Holstein - Holstein- 50/50 HF - Friesian. Been AI ing for the last 3 years now using mostly Holstein, and I'm tempted to stick with it going forward due to yield. Will need to be careful and pick moderate Holstein bulls with good fertility.
Weather is looking set for another 14 days. Can't beat an empty yard and a silage pit 60% full.
Cue a wet march and drought in may/July
Cue a wet march and drought in may/July
Holsteinfriesian90
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
Do you find you get extreme’s either way? I haven’t used much Holstein for a couple of years now because we were finding some just end up going to much Holstein and on our simple system they don’t last.
Plain steer
Member
Do you feed in parlour? I take it you tmr feed
Ducati899
Member
- Location
- north dorset
Brush fell off last night somehow meaning the scrapers pushed it up towards the door and the door lost the battle at 11pm last night 
few escapees but could of been worse
few escapees but could of been worse
TheRanger
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
I thought they were getting too extreme after the 2 Holstein stock bulls in a row, feet & fertility weren't great. But both bulls were quite extreme in themselves. Now using sexed semen, and I'm hoping we can keep using Holstein without compromising cow health or fertility too much, by choosing the bulls carefully.