All things Dairy

[More to life]

I’m still here Sort of. In the middle of a huge turn around here which is drawing all my attention

Is that code for your rotary ambitions Headless?

 

[Headless chicken]

Is that code for your rotary ambitions Headless?

The shed for the rotary is on order. Hopefully the dairy shed will be done next year. But nothing in the pipeline for installing it just yet. Getting our fingers into a few pies to protect ourselves against volatility. Sadly this has come at the cost of taking my eye off the ball with some other things. This will change first at the end of this month when my apprentice leaves me and secondly on the 1st of august as I have replaced him with a herd manager who’s grassland management will put me to shame

 

[Headless chicken]

They’re “OK” at this age but there is no denying that they are undeniably evil but dam they work well. I work then with the dog now and we have no issues of rebellion anymore but we will see as they get older

 

[pappuller]

They’re “OK” at this age but there is no denying that they are undeniably evil but dam they work well. I work then with the dog now and we have no issues of rebellion anymore but we will see as they get older

Just make sure you all stay safe !!!

 

[Milkcow365]

Time for the trunker I think,

 

[happycows]

I’m a big Animax cui fan but these were on offer and I thought I’d give some a try. Time will tell. They both spin a yarn why ones better than the other.

Well what a disaster that turned out to be. Seems the selenium and iodine are several times lower in coseIcure than Animax cui. My £50 saving has cost me hundreds in retained cleansings and calves have been harder work than ever before and now I’m trying too fathom out how too get iodine/selenium levels up.

All boluses are not the same.

 

[supercow]

Well what a disaster that turned out to be. Seems the selenium and iodine are several times lower in coseIcure than Animax cui. My £50 saving has cost me hundreds in retained cleansings and calves have been harder work than ever before and now I’m trying too fathom out how too get iodine/selenium levels up.

All boluses are not the same.

Do you bolus your dry cows? Is there no other possible reason for the problems?

 

[sidjon]

Well what a disaster that turned out to be. Seems the selenium and iodine are several times lower in coseIcure than Animax cui. My £50 saving has cost me hundreds in retained cleansings and calves have been harder work than ever before and now I’m trying too fathom out how too get iodine/selenium levels up.

All boluses are not the same.

that's what I found out too

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I know we could all do with a drop of rain to keep things moving but you can't beat this weather. Makes life easier for man and beast.

 

[happycows]

Do you bolus your dry cows? Is there no other possible reason for the problems?

Yes dry cows the day they are dried off.
Had 5 retained and several more taking 5/6/7 hours too cleans out of first 25. Not had 5 in total all year for several years. Only thing different was boluses. Some deeper investigation and the difference in levels of supply of selenium and Iodine were plain too see.
I guess maybe someone doing a tmr mix with all sorts going in might get away with lower levels. I’m all for a simple system and relied on the boluses. it’s worked for several years.
New supplier started up and I wanted to support them as I think competition is good and took in the sales patter from supplier rep. Just bloody annoying I’m paying a high price for it.

 

[Agrispeed]

Thats interesting, did you house before calving?

I often think about blousing etc but never bother and seem to get away with it.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Thats interesting, did you house before calving?

I often think about blousing etc but never bother and seem to get away with it.

I didn't use to bother and seemed to get away with it but fresh cow/calf health is really noticeably better since I started bolusing at dry off.

RC are very unusual now except with twins.

 

[happycows]

Cows come in at 270 days too some free access dry cow minerals, bit of round bale silage and bit of fresh zerogrzed grass.
Nothing too drastic.
I’m with cows n grass. Cow and calf vitality has been excellent upto now. Fertility was always good too, and that’s a bit worrying.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Cows come in at 270 days too some free access dry cow minerals, bit of round bale silage and bit of fresh zerogrzed grass.
Nothing too drastic.
I’m with cows n grass. Cow and calf vitality has been excellent upto now. Fertility was always good too, and that’s a bit worrying.

No one likes a smartarse but I did warn you.

Çosecure bolus was struggling to last the distance here.
Did bloods at 4 months post application and they were coming up deficient.

Swapped them out for some the vet sells and had a much improved performance.
Can look up the name of your interested, think they are vet only as they are or were the only ones on the market proven to last.

Can you use lick tubs on the remaining drys to up supply a bit?

 

[vantage]

Some of our little darlings[emoji1]

 

[O'Reilly]

Well what a disaster that turned out to be. Seems the selenium and iodine are several times lower in coseIcure than Animax cui. My £50 saving has cost me hundreds in retained cleansings and calves have been harder work than ever before and now I’m trying too fathom out how too get iodine/selenium levels up.

All boluses are not the same.

One gram/hd potassium iodide in the water every fortnight will sort the iodine. Couldn't tell you about selenium sadly

 

[Sid]

Yes dry cows the day they are dried off.
Had 5 retained and several more taking 5/6/7 hours too cleans out of first 25. Not had 5 in total all year for several years. Only thing different was boluses. Some deeper investigation and the difference in levels of supply of selenium and Iodine were plain too see.
I guess maybe someone doing a tmr mix with all sorts going in might get away with lower levels. I’m all for a simple system and relied on the boluses. it’s worked for several years.
New supplier started up and I wanted to support them as I think competition is good and took in the sales patter from supplier rep. Just bloody annoying I’m paying a high price for it.

Similar inciident I heard about was a farmer saved money and used a more cost effective teat sealant.
In the long term it wasn't cheaper just like yur boluses.

Many of us look at costs and try to save money but sometimes it isn't cost effective and can be very costly longer term.

 

[vantage]

Similar inciident I heard about was a farmer saved money and used a more cost effective teat sealant.
In the long term it wasn't cheaper just like yur boluses.

Many of us look at costs and try to save money but sometimes it isn't cost effective and can be very costly longer term.

Cost v Value?!

 

[Princess Pooper]

Well what a disaster that turned out to be. Seems the selenium and iodine are several times lower in coseIcure than Animax cui. My £50 saving has cost me hundreds in retained cleansings and calves have been harder work than ever before and now I’m trying too fathom out how too get iodine/selenium levels up.

All boluses are not the same.

Sorry to hear that. As a short term fix can you give them any lifeline pre-calver buckets (without badgers getting to them), they are what we used for most years with no probs. But last year the cows didn't seem to be eating them as much and I was not happy with our colostrum quality although we did not have problems with retained cleansings. We have our herd health plan review next week and I am asking our vet for a recommendation for boluses, I think XL have one made specially as they are not really happy to recommend others available.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Bored sulking Holsteins not happy with volume/quality of grass on offer.

Happier Holsteins with heads down 2 mins later, fresh paddock. Need to start a topping round.