I have a feeling its his (lack of) photography skills at work again
All things Dairy
- Thread starter Cows 'n grass
- Start date
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Nothing special genetics wise, I just like her.
Friesians always disappoint as heifers in comparison to holsteins, top yield I've had for a friesian heifer is 6500 litres everything else does 3500-5500 generally.
BUT
They'll be here for 10 years and by the time they're on their third lactation they'll do 9000-10000 no problem
Average lactation for where my friesians come from is between 7 and 10
That's a photo of amelia, I posted her in my other thread, but as a heifer she did 3500 litres, she's now on her fifth and did 9000 litres last lactation and I see no reason she won't do that again this time
She's also more than capable of another 2-3 or more lactations imo
Average lactation between 7 and 10. so 8.5?
Papps ain't seen many stay around for 10 spins
Not sure we will either.
so 8.5? Papps ain't seen many stay around for 10 spins
Not sure we will either.
I am an Ex-Dairy farmer's son, who is now doing PhD research into the stresses dairy farmers face and what solutions there could be, I want my research to be led by dairy farmers, as you know what effects you the most. I am currently looking for 10 dairy farmers to interview from across the UK, if anyone is interested please send me an email [email protected], send me a message or click here for more info.
Thank you so much for any support you can offer,
Joe
Thank you so much for any support you can offer,
Joe
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
I'd guess 50% of my cows are 5th plus lactation, certainly 4th+Average lactation between 7 and 10.
Papps ain't seen many stay around for 10 spins
Not sure we will either.
I bought my friesians from 5 farms
2 were 10 lactations average,
2 were 8 lactations
And 1 was 7 lactations
Is that a concern?
3 years ago at calving, we averaged 4.7 and the cows where looking tired as an average. Don't want to go there again
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Yes and no
I'm comfy with the average lactation number before culling to be 8, so the average age of the milking herd is 6 (fourth lactation) if that makes sense
One of my biggest failings is trying to keep cows for one too many lactations and ending up with them being dragged onto a lorry instead of walking into one
For instance the old cow I posted the other who's 14 this year, I've already decided this is her last lactation, she looks more frail than she has done and I think pushing another lactation out of her isn't fair nor going to end well. She's given me two heifer calves and by the time she goes she'll have hopefully done well over 30,000 litres in the past 3-4 years
SShe's fine for this one and seems happy in herself snd is milking well, but it's too risky for another one I think
Spudley
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
A cheeky little Ayrshire calf
Milkcow365
Member
- Location
- Sw Scotland
When cull trade is where it is id be keeping the herd young, of your replacement rate how many go up the back door?
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
What do you call young ?
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
Under 5 years old (3 lactations) I used to try and max their time here, but iv got harder on culling and its help drive down some of those un expected costs, just as downer cows or cows ageing quicker than you could get them gone in. Yes we have couple 10 years olds but not many.
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
No reflection on you but I find that deeply deeply sad/depressing
dinderleat
Member
- Location
- Wells
Sorry but 3500l or 12ish litres a day av that’s needs sending on,
mongrels out of Exeter would do more.
Like everything, there's a sweet spot, somewhere around 20-25% depending on the demands of the farm.
I visited a farm with a culling rate below 10% though. Organic, grass only, no concentrate, small unit. They were very happy with it, a key target for them.
dinderleat
Member
- Location
- Wells
Does very much depend on your system. I don’t want an old herd and can’t carry passengers so everything needs to pull their weight other wise heads off anything sub 20l goes
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
Carbon.
opportunity cost of the land and money tied up in Extra youngstock.
missing out on mature yields.
The economics of a young herd ?
opportunity cost of the land and money tied up in Extra youngstock.
missing out on mature yields.
The economics of a young herd ?
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
Bloody weather, our youngest stock are reasonably content, older stuff just constantly moving🫣
Headless chicken
Member
- Location
- West Wales
as an industry we have to reduce our carbon output by 30% in 6 years. Reducing youngstock numbers is large contributor towards that. 5 lactations seems to be about correct as a sweeping statement. There’s been a lot of cows culled off the back of increased genetic potential certainly in America it seems. I think that’s starting to ease a bit now as the huge jumps have dropped off
Edit should add…. 5 lactations aslong as you don’t end up loosing too many to the knacker man. Beef into the supply chain plays an important role too
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When they start using culls as an output rather than just using ys as an input, it should make a fair difference
- Location
- M6 Hard shoulder
Old cows are like old men as time goes by they become more problematic 