All things Dairy

early riser

Member
Location
Up North
We used a bull called Tournament a few years ago, produced lovely looking stock but been a nightmare to get back incalf with average milk yeilds, has frosty in its breeding who was also shocking fertility. Off to take four young cows now to St Merryn passport all say same sire! View attachment 990553View attachment 990554

Found the complete opposite here, Bradash Tournament produced some cracking results and has sired my best cows, will get back in calf at the sniff of semen
 
Let’s make this clear, the other supplier had plenty, the vets had none. I don’t think 5/6 boxes is going to cause a nation wide shortage,
Not having a go but what you did and just said is classic hoarding/panic buying behaviour. Any behaviour that is out of the ordinary creates issues.
I hope you checked the best before dates. There not always that generous.
 

frederick

Member
Location
south west
Not having a go but what you did and just said is classic hoarding/panic buying behaviour. Any behaviour that is out of the ordinary creates issues.
I hope you checked the best before dates. There not always that generous.
But this is the new world we are in.
My vets came across this problem early and when highlighted to them by the producer they bought lots. The dispensary has walls of calcium boxes. When I rang up because I heard about the problem they said not to worry.

Are they responsible for panic buying or did they have a high level of awareness of the supply chain and protected their clients and animals in their care.

A calcium bottle lid will never have priority over human medicine. There really may still be no bottles available for you in the Spring is buying a box now prudent or panic.
 
But this is the new world we are in.
My vets came across this problem early and when highlighted to them by the producer they bought lots. The dispensary has walls of calcium boxes. When I rang up because I heard about the problem they said not to worry.

Are they responsible for panic buying or did they have a high level of awareness of the supply chain and protected their clients and animals in their care.

A calcium bottle lid will never have priority over human medicine. There really may still be no bottles available for you in the Spring is buying a box now prudent or panic.
That’s ok we only used 3 bottles last season. I’m sure I’ll be able to find someone with 3 going spare. What with all the hoarding going on.
In answer to your question they panic bought.
 

Jdunn55

Member
But this is the new world we are in.
My vets came across this problem early and when highlighted to them by the producer they bought lots. The dispensary has walls of calcium boxes. When I rang up because I heard about the problem they said not to worry.

Are they responsible for panic buying or did they have a high level of awareness of the supply chain and protected their clients and animals in their care.

A calcium bottle lid will never have priority over human medicine. There really may still be no bottles available for you in the Spring is buying a box now prudent or panic.
If thats the case then surely the wise thing for people who use lots of calcium bottles to do is look at other alternative methods wether that be by improving dry cow feeding and transition management or else different cures such as boluses for high priority cows? Of course you will still get the odd one who might need a bottle but reducing 5he amount should be of higher priority?
 

frederick

Member
Location
south west
If thats the case then surely the wise thing for people who use lots of calcium bottles to do is look at other alternative methods wether that be by improving dry cow feeding and transition management or else different cures such as boluses for high priority cows? Of course you will still get the odd one who might need a bottle but reducing 5he amount should be of higher priority?
Don't know what happened but normally have it fairly well sorted but this year's diet was not quite right in practice but fine on paper. and we got through a more than a box in a few days. Diet rejigged and some boluses now used and thing are much better
I know of several autumn calvers who have had one of their worst milk fever seasons for years.
 

Jdunn55

Member
I do love watching them graze, pee'd right off this morning, just found a 6 month old calf dead, managed to get its head stuck in the Latch of a bloody gate 😡 checked them prior to milking and after milking and all fine :(
16339449423057833224632693126212.jpg
 
Don't know what happened but normally have it fairly well sorted but this year's diet was not quite right in practice but fine on paper. and we got through a more than a box in a few days. Diet rejigged and some boluses now used and thing are much better
I know of several autumn calvers who have had one of their worst milk fever seasons for years.
Bet arla will love that !
 

frederick

Member
Location
south west
Bet arla will love that !
Think it should stay just below my 360 threshold. But without rapid action it wouldn't.
Also I'm not too sure at what point a milk fever becomes official.
To bolus a cow at calving to prevent her getting milk fever is fine.
To give a bottle under the skin to a cow your concerned about is fine.
So how wobbly a cow actually has to be to be recorded I am not sure.
With cow manager eartags we were picking them up much earlier than wobbly treating standing cows and their appetite and rumination returned immediately.
Was that preventative or early diagnosis.
 
Think it should stay just below my 360 threshold. But without rapid action it wouldn't.
Also I'm not too sure at what point a milk fever becomes official.
To bolus a cow at calving to prevent her getting milk fever is fine.
To give a bottle under the skin to a cow your concerned about is fine.
So how wobbly a cow actually has to be to be recorded I am not sure.
With cow manager eartags we were picking them up much earlier than wobbly treating standing cows and their appetite and rumination returned immediately.
Was that preventative or early diagnosis.
Only the people in the arla office will be able to tell you that !
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
Don't know what happened but normally have it fairly well sorted but this year's diet was not quite right in practice but fine on paper. and we got through a more than a box in a few days. Diet rejigged and some boluses now used and thing are much better
I know of several autumn calvers who have had one of their worst milk fever seasons for years.
always get the odd one, especially with a few jerseys about, but usually if the transition diet is right, not normally a problem.
 

coomoo

Member
Cows in new shed, as predicted feed passage tight but workable, must admit they are preferring the old cubicles at the minute !! They will come round 🤞 dropped about 1.5 litres since Thursday when they moved in they better pick back up or I might give up 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Maybe just how it looks in picture but my vote would be the neck rail in the top hole. Or better a spacer.
 

Fergieman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
Think it should stay just below my 360 threshold. But without rapid action it wouldn't.
Also I'm not too sure at what point a milk fever becomes official.
To bolus a cow at calving to prevent her getting milk fever is fine.
To give a bottle under the skin to a cow your concerned about is fine.
So how wobbly a cow actually has to be to be recorded I am not sure.
With cow manager eartags we were picking them up much earlier than wobbly treating standing cows and their appetite and rumination returned immediately.
Was that preventative or early diagnosis.
Prevention applications do not get recorded on the 360 matrix. I guess if she's not wobbly its prevention. I was over the threshold for milk fever but upon inspection we found all prevention was being inserted as treatment which made the difference of being over or under the threshold.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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