All things Dairy

[Barmyfarmer]

Sounds like someone has gone to town on you to try and put the frighteners on you

 

[Jdunn55]

Sounds like someone has gone to town on you to try and put the frighteners on you

I dont think so, she was really reasonable and was trying to warn me of things I need to do for next time, either way it hasn't worked I'm too far in now

 

[som farmer]

Stuff like that did pee me off, and then my calving records I had put down the freeze brand number not their tag number which isnt good enough apparently, very handy as I dont know their bloody tags

freeze brands are last 3 or 4 no's of ear tag, here, saves a lot of hassle, then causes hassle when you buy one in, with the same brand.

 

[Jdunn55]

freeze brands are last 4 no's of ear tag, saves a lot of hassle, then causes hassle when you buy one in, with the same brand.

I'm not sure wether I can be bothered to freeze brand, I've learnt all the heifers and 2and calvers who havent been done now and dare say any relief milker would pick it up fairly quickly.
Saves a job and some money!

 

[dinderleat]

I hate all this solid rules that cant be made to suit the farm.
Eg: I should be given 2-3 months imo as a new start up before being inspected,
If a new roof is really needed, 6 months should be given for something as big as that etc

Im afraid we will all need to be adult ready at any point so you will need to up your game a bit. But chin up what doesn’t kill makes us stronger

 

[som farmer]

I'm not sure wether I can be bothered to freeze brand, I've learnt all the heifers and 2and calvers who havent been done now and dare say any relief milker would pick it up fairly quickly.
Saves a job and some money!

when i started milking, 80 cows, all named, huge arguments when the hfrs calved, soon got them sorted though, we freeze branded at about 130, sheer bliss, no arguments about which hfr was which.

 

[Jdunn55]

Im afraid we will all need to be adult ready at any point so you will need to up your game a bit. But chin up what doesn’t kill makes us stronger

Completely agree, next time I will be ready for all the stuff that I wasnt this time, just think only giving me 2 weeks to get moved in, settled, not to mention actually getting routine work done and then prepped for red tractor on top was a bit unfair
Personally think it should have been a free pre-inspection to say what I will need to do in preparation for my actual audit in 6 weeks time, or soemthing along those lines, that way they can atleast check everything is in ok order and my cows arent on deaths door etc

 

[Jdunn55]

when i started milking, 80 cows, all named, huge arguments when the hfrs calved, soon got them sorted though, we freeze branded at about 130, sheer bliss, no arguments about which hfr was which.

That's the one plus side of being on my lonesome, no one to argue about my decisions, on the flip side, only got myself to blame for mistakes!

 

[Cows 'n grass]

That's the one plus side of being on my lonesome, no one to argue about my decisions, on the flip side, only got myself to blame for mistakes!

You need a dog. Great for discussing ideas, arguing with and taking all blame for your fuk ups.

 

[Jdunn55]

You need a dog. Great for discussing ideas, arguing with and taking all blame.

I've got 2 and they cause me nothing but trouble! Having just told the farm assurance lady I dispose of all my after birth, one of them proceeded to vomit up a nice chunk of it at her feet

 

[som farmer]

tell her it's natural for the cows to eat it, then, if she looks as if she has kids, ask what she thinks of the new fad, of women mincing and eating their own, might make her miss a non compliance or two, just remember, keep a straight face !!!

 

[vantage]

Stuff like that did pee me off, and then my calving records I had put down the freeze brand number not their tag number which isnt good enough apparently, very handy as I dont know their bloody tags

That’s what we do, then tag number on passport. It’s all cross referenced, never had any problems.

 

[Agrispeed]

That’s what we do, then tag number on passport. It’s all cross referenced, never had any problems.

Never had a problem with using cows names for calving etc. Red tractor and APHA Just told it was fine for management as long as cows name is also handwritten on her passport.

 

[farmeronecow]

I’m a month away from calving and starting my new dairy venture after taking a long term tenancy on the family farm. Converting it from beef and sheep to dairy. I assumed that you would have to have a red tractor inspection before you sent any milk on?

 

[Dragon]

You need a dog. Great for discussing ideas, arguing with and taking all blame for your fuk ups.

There also geat at distracting the red tractor auditor.

 

[Kernow Star]

You need a dog. Great for discussing ideas, arguing with and taking all blame for your fuk ups.

Just remember to record when you wormed it though been caught out there before

 

[Agrispeed]

I’m a month away from calving and starting my new dairy venture after taking a long term tenancy on the family farm. Converting it from beef and sheep to dairy. I assumed that you would have to have a red tractor inspection before you sent any milk on?

I think most buyers will backdate by a couple of weeks to a month or so. I tried to get RT done with my Organic inspection before I started but they wouldn't inspect until I was milking.

 

[sjt01]

We've had phases of this, worried about BVD as we are naive, but all negative. Ours were all Aug/Sept born and there does seem to be a link to dry 'standing hay' or hay diets in the dry period and hot weather - only you would know if the dietary link View attachment 952828was relevant in your case.

Anyway, none had any health issues and the blue did disappear as they grew. All breeds (Sim x, AA x and pedigree HF) so nothing to do with the sire. This one in the photo was slightly different and she still has pale eyes as an in calf heifer.

We did have a heifer calf born with a swollen and completely cloudy eye one year but that was completely different, a glaucoma. The vet removed the eyeball at about 4 months old and she got on just fine in the herd with one eye as long as we always made allowances for her sight when handling her.

We have had eye problems looking like that from imported Brown Swiss cows about 8 years ago. It turned out to be genetic, Bilateral Convergent Strabismus with Exopthalmus. I attach some info in case it is the same.

 

[Spudley]

We freeze branded the heifers before they went with the bull this year, they came out much quicker, only a month since they were done and they're very clear. We used to do them in the autumn and they would sometimes take 8-10 weeks to come through.

 

[Sid]

I think most buyers will backdate by a couple of weeks to a month or so. I tried to get RT done with my Organic inspection before I started but they wouldn't inspect until I was milking.

How can you sell anything as RT if you haven't been inspected?

@Jdunn55 I found the FSA pre start up inspection very helpful with the new unit.

Did they fail you on not having a vet review of AB usage and herd health review?
How can you review something you haven't done yet!
In the dairy you can't have anything that isn't for use within the dairy room, you can wash calf buckets out but they have to be removed when washed.
It's usually these silly things that catch us all out, like a no smoking sign when no one smokes!