All things Dairy

[lazy farmer]

Not impossible.
It was a very grassy winter.
We have the mowers in here today.
1/4 of the platform cut. 10 days earlier than ever before.

 

[The Happy Herdsman]

No evidence besides my thinking. Plenty of cake for sure.

100 cows / half hectare paddock of knee high grass, new paddock every 12 hours, eat maximum of 50%, trample minimum of 50%. I don't know how that compares to what others are doing.

We will probably get a huge TB test result after writing this.

So you pay to grow grass, waste half of it and then supplement what you haven't utilized with bought in feed. Doesn't sound like a very profitable system to me.
Where in the country are you?

 

[Beef farmer]

So you pay to grow grass, waste half of it and then supplement what you haven't utilized with bought in feed. Doesn't sound like a very profitable system to me.
Where in the country are you?

Not a sandal and straw hat man then.

 

[lazy farmer]

So you pay to grow grass, waste half of it and then supplement what you haven't utilized with bought in feed. Doesn't sound like a very profitable system to me.
Where in the country are you?

It’s sustainable though and going forward it may well be the best way.

 

[bigw]

So you pay to grow grass, waste half of it and then supplement what you haven't utilized with bought in feed. Doesn't sound like a very profitable system to me.
Where in the country are you?

I have seen pictures @newholland setup and quite frankly it would put most peoples farms to shame so he must be doing something right. Its a pity you wouldn't post some pictures as your buildings look awesome.

 

[The Happy Herdsman]

It’s sustainable though and going forward it may well be the best way.

It may well be but having switched my philosophy to a grass based system I would find it hard to justify not making full utilisation of what is a very valuable resource.

 

[lazy farmer]

It may well be but having switched my philosophy to a grass based system I would find it hard to justify not making full utilisation of what is a very valuable resource.

But if bagged N disappears then these systems will be a much better and less carbon demanding than straight rotational organics

 

[The Happy Herdsman]

I have seen pictures @newholland setup and quite frankly it would put most peoples farms to shame so he must be doing something right. Its a pity you wouldn't post some pictures as your buildings look awesome.

Do awesome buildings make a profit? I don't doubt newhollands skills and set up and perhaps I phrased my response in a less than diplomatic way. (Something I'm know for apparently). I could post pics but sadly I don't think people would be interested in a pretty bog standard 20yr old cubicle shed and some non descript commercial b+w's.

 

[Beef farmer]

Need some cfps posted then.....

 

[bigw]

Do awesome buildings make a profit? I don't doubt newhollands skills and set up and perhaps I phrased my response in a less than diplomatic way. (Something I'm know for apparently). I could post pics but sadly I don't think people would be interested in a pretty bog standard 20yr old cubicle shed and some non descript commercial b+w's.

No they don't, but the attention to detail and the general appearance of his farm in the picture makes me think he is very good at what he does.

 

[newholland]

@The Happy Herdsman …… I am not sure how to respond. I will just say please do what you do, but don't ignore change. You can do a dairy apprenticeship with us if you wish to lean about how to "waste" grass on a small farm which exists on rented ground surrounded by a neighbouring digester and large dairy farm. Profitability is not really an option for us to get wrong if you see what I mean, as it would be a one way trip.

@bigw many thanks, we do try!.
I just feel we are doing so much better in a million different ways by running a long grass system and I felt the info might be of help to other people.

 

[The Agrarian]

Need some cfps posted then.....

Certified fire protection specialist
Centre for public scrutiny
Class Forty preservation society
Cell-free protein synthesis
China family panel studies
Counter fraud probity services

 

[The Agrarian]

Do you conserve grass?

And if so, is it acceptable to defoliate it to stubble?

 

[The Happy Herdsman]

@The Happy Herdsman …… I am not sure how to respond. I will just say please do what you do, but don't ignore change. You can do a dairy apprenticeship with us if you wish to lean about how to "waste" grass on a small farm which exists on rented ground surrounded by a neighbouring digester and large dairy farm. Profitability is not really an option for us to get wrong if you see what I mean, as it would be a one way trip.

@bigw many thanks, we do try!.
I just feel we are doing so much better in a million different ways by running a long grass system and I felt the info might be of help to other people.

I don't doubt your system works for you. As you say in these times not making a profit is not an option for tenanted farms. Again no offence was meant towards you and your system and, as Lazy said in the future as resources become more scarce a more 'holistic' approach to grassland management may be necessary by all.
As for the offer of an apprenticeship I will have to turn that down I'm afraid. I'm far from done learning but at least I get a good wage as I'm doing it.

 

[O'Reilly]

@The Happy Herdsman …… I am not sure how to respond. I will just say please do what you do, but don't ignore change. You can do a dairy apprenticeship with us if you wish to lean about how to "waste" grass on a small farm which exists on rented ground surrounded by a neighbouring digester and large dairy farm. Profitability is not really an option for us to get wrong if you see what I mean, as it would be a one way trip.

@bigw many thanks, we do try!.
I just feel we are doing so much better in a million different ways by running a long grass system and I felt the info might be of help to other people.

I can't do an apprenticeship for all sorts of reasons, but if you or anyone else has a farm walk on, could you let us all know please? Thank you

 

[Beef farmer]

I can't do an apprenticeship for all sorts of reasons, but if you or anyone else has a farm walk on, could you let us all know please? Thank you

Id happily do a farm walk.

 

[vantage]

The new supply for the new tank connected today. New dairy building on the floor in the foreground.

 

[lazy farmer]

Need some cfps posted then.....

Yeap then we could all learn properly from
Each other

 

[lazy farmer]

Id happily do a farm walk.

I would too. Probably only apply to those who like concrete though!

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

Pass on the details and I’d love a look round @Beef farmer @lazy farmer