All things Dairy

[Fergieman]

Any pics of the cows/heifers you have for next week @Fergieman

Not yet as I still have to pick them! I have about 10 possibles. I will get some soon.

 

[Princess Pooper]

This is something I only discovered through reading my sons BVA journal and trial results. It has not been publicised as much as it should. We now put any potential Johnes calves to be reared with the steers (which reduces the risk of spreading it to the heifers but increases the risk of it catching it from the steers!) Durrrrrr

AHDB publicised this, https://ahdb.org.uk/events/new-thinking-on-johne-s-disease-webinar. I was not able to join it 'live', but it is there in their youtube channel with loads of other useful stuff, I caught up with it about a month ago.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Thats interesting !! Do you tend to be suspicious of the first positive for some reason ? (we have a cow thats never had a pos for the last 3 yrs but has gone pos when dry )
We are a bit gutted as she has 3 daughter s , but we probably know that its a true result . Its a hard one !

We are starting to breed to beef after one positive but she goes to cull list after two positives. Even NMR don't recommend culling after one positive. A cow needs two consecutive, or two out of last four tests, to be 'red'. We already only breed the 'front of block cows' to dairy so hopefully by default any older (and more likely infective) cows are likely to be bred to beef unless they have a hight inherent fertility.
https://www.nmr.co.uk/uploads/files/files/HW Classification change farmer(1).pdf

 

[lazy farmer]

AHDB publicised this, https://ahdb.org.uk/events/new-thinking-on-johne-s-disease-webinar. I was not able to join it 'live', but it is there in their youtube channel with loads of other useful stuff, I caught up with it about a month ago.

It was a very good talk. Got to ask a couple of questions

 

[Princess Pooper]

Never had a cow go downhill so fast and scour, five in last year.

No my point wasn't how you identified the positive ones, it was how do you know you haven't had it for years? We haven't had any cases that go down hill fast and scour because of Johnes (the few we have had with those symptoms over the years have always tested negative for Johnes). We have, however, had cows that are positive for Johnes. A lot of people who believe they do not have Johnes have not actually been testing for it.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Any fantastic calves yet?

This one a bit poorly, along with 3 others, vet out today to treat a nasty respiratory disease, poor things chests have been heaving, started in the hot weather, but even now, and after metacam, temperatures up to 40.9.

This one is fine. Both about 2 weeks old.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

View attachment 830416
This one a bit poorly, along with 3 others, vet out today to treat a nasty respiratory disease, poor things chests have been heaving, started in the hot weather, but even now, and after metacam, temperatures up to 40.9.

View attachment 830419

This one is fine. Both about 2 weeks old.

Thank you for the pictures sorry to hear that you have had problems. Smart looking calves though I’ve ordered more fantastic so hopefully they will be ok.

 

[vantage]

No my point wasn't how you identified the positive ones, it was how do you know you haven't had it for years? We haven't had any cases that go down hill fast and scour because of Johnes (the few we have had with those symptoms over the years have always tested negative for Johnes). We have, however, had cows that are positive for Johnes. A lot of people who believe they do not have Johnes have not actually been testing for it.

Maybe we have had it for years. All I can say is the 5 cows were confirmed positive, but can honestly say have not seen the same before. Maybe there was a stress trigger, anyway we are testing now with what appears a long journey ahead. Thanks for flagging up the AHDB Johnes video, it was very informative.

 

[jondear]

View attachment 828408

Try and get some grass in between the storms we’re having again today

Good job .What machine are you using?

 

[Princess Pooper]

Well, I think she's pregnant (with her 4th calf (s?) !! She actually looks a lot bigger in real life than in this.

Had her down as due for 26th August but she still doesn't have masses of milk on her. Looking at the records we had a query bulling 3 weeks later and she was AI'd again, but couldn't get it through cervix, so thought perhaps not bulling after all, so didn't put it on the software.
PD+ when milk tested 21/1. So perhaps she is in calf to that second service, in which case she really will be enormous!

 

[Ducati899]

Good job .What machine are you using?

Kuhn power Harrow,just run through beforehand with subsoiler

 

[lazy farmer]

I know that this is probably the wrong place. But as it’s above a cubicle I think I can get away with it ! Anyway does anybody have any suggestions on how to replace it without having to get onto the roof which is 50 yrs old !

 

[Ducati899]

For some reason the back calf thinks it wants to be a twin

 

[Cows 'n grass]

View attachment 830464
I know that this is probably the wrong place. But as it’s above a cubicle I think I can get away with it ! Anyway does anybody have any suggestions on how to replace it without having to get onto the roof which is 50 yrs old !

I've done a couple by just glueing another section of clear sheet underneath. I can't remember the name of the glue I'm afraid, its a nasty grey paste that comes on a silicone tube and I would put on a whole tube. It looks sh!t but its watertight again.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

View attachment 830464
I know that this is probably the wrong place. But as it’s above a cubicle I think I can get away with it ! Anyway does anybody have any suggestions on how to replace it without having to get onto the roof which is 50 yrs old !

This stuff

 

[howit]

Well, I think she's pregnant (with her 4th calf (s?) !! She actually looks a lot bigger in real life than in this. View attachment 830445

Had her down as due for 26th August but she still doesn't have masses of milk on her. Looking at the records we had a query bulling 3 weeks later and she was AI'd again, but couldn't get it through cervix, so thought perhaps not bulling after all, so didn't put it on the software.
PD+ when milk tested 21/1. So perhaps she is in calf to that second service, in which case she really will be enormous!

Which head is hers, or is she special and got two

 

[dinderleat]

View attachment 830464
I know that this is probably the wrong place. But as it’s above a cubicle I think I can get away with it ! Anyway does anybody have any suggestions on how to replace it without having to get onto the roof which is 50 yrs old !

Pay someone that knows what they are doing

 

[Milkcow365]

Milk tankers

 

[lazy farmer]

Pay someone that knows what they are doing

Those were the days.....

 

[jondear]

View attachment 830464
I know that this is proybably the wrong place. But as it’s above a cubicle I think I can get away with it ! Anyway does anybody have any suggestions on how to replace it without having to get onto the roof which is 50 yrs old !
Had the same last year and have another to do . luckily on tin sheet .But must remember to do before winter!