All things Dairy

[crashbox]

perennial ryegrasss is in reproductive state round here i.e pushing up seed head and stem. So diet here has changed. Especially fields not hammered last time and going into strongish covers.BF up and volume and protein down a bit

Are.you any worse off, though?

People say don't graze strong covers but increased solids makes up some of the shortfall. Doing the numbers if it avoids costly /unnecessary silage making, perhaps it's not so bad.

 

[crashbox]

Anyone here on Genus Breeder Tag and shedding gate combo?

What's it like?
What's the quality of the shedding gate?

 

[Tirglas]

Are.you any worse off, though?

People say don't graze strong covers but increased solids makes up some of the shortfall. Doing the numbers if it avoids costly /unnecessary silage making, perhaps it's not so bad.

Don't think so really it happens every year and the sooner we can get the quality back the better. Grazing tightly and baling to maintain a sensible round length at the moment. Don't really like topping or pre mowing if I can avoid it but may well have to at some point.

I do agree that often too many expensive bales are made on the platform possibly avoidable with less or more tactical N use.

 

[Water Wheel]

Don't think so really it happens every year and the sooner we can get the quality back the better. Grazing tightly and baling to maintain a sensible round length at the moment. Don't really like topping or pre mowing if I can avoid it but may well have to at some point.

I do agree that often too many expensive bales are made on the platform possibly avoidable with less or more tactical N use.

Pre mowing always works well for us. Mow a max of 48 hrs ahead , 24 is better, moving fence daily. Works far better if dry/ wilting than if wet.
Always seem very loose on pre mown grass, not sure why, may be because they eat all the docks as well and I've got plenty.

 

[Tirglas]

Pre mowing always works well for us. Mow a max of 48 hrs ahead , 24 is better, moving fence daily. Works far better if dry/ wilting than if wet.
Always seem very loose on pre mown grass, not sure why, may be because they eat all the docks as well and I've got plenty.

Done a lot of it over the years, only not keen because water pressure and volume only just enough the grass wilts very quickly. Nice clean cut and clean tractor and mower compared to topping.

Also found that the ideal grass to premow and they clean it up was also ideal to....erm graze!

 

[som farmer]

bit of a plantain ley, on a very dry south facing slope, sown with a prg/clover +plantain and chicory, aut 20, prg died off last year, plantain self seeded, and took over. However, the cows love it, as above, only 1 problem, they didn't want to move, completely stuffed.

and this is same field, but not so exposed, same ley mix, definitely not pulled out the same, and plantain not so dominant.
this field used to make the 'calves' hay, in dads time, get a dry spell, with some wind, often baled it next day, after cutting, if not, the next.

 

[In the pit]

View attachment 1039943
bit of a plantain ley, on a very dry south facing slope, sown with a prg/clover +plantain and chicory, aut 20, prg died off last year, plantain self seeded, and took over. However, the cows love it, as above, only 1 problem, they didn't want to move, completely stuffed.View attachment 1039945
and this is same field, but not so exposed, same ley mix, definitely not pulled out the same, and plantain not so dominant.
this field used to make the 'calves' hay, in dads time, get a dry spell, with some wind, often baled it next day, after cutting, if not, the next.

Could do with a picture of what’s been eaten/not eaten

 

[pine_guy]

That's why I added a HERE. Box Is 130/hr

£95/hr + fuel.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

£95/hr + fuel.

Good value

 

[Beef farmer]

£95/hr + fuel.

Cheap!

 

[TomB]

Having a few days away for half term. Found some of @sjt01 cheese. Good stuff!

 

[pine_guy]

Hope he isn’t looking on here .

Cheap!

 

[som farmer]

Could do with a picture of what’s been eaten/not eaten

there's what's left, if you look closely, you can see the discarded plantain seed stalks, its amusing to watch them nibble the leaf's, and leaving the stalk/flowerhead.
Where ever we have put chicory, or plantain, which are the only two, we tried, to see what happens, cows will clear them, chicory tends to 'bolt', and then they just nibble the leaf.
But, the idea was to get something more drought resilient, both do that, and absolutely no problem with the cows liking it, and milk off it.
Anybody wanting to experiment, Cotswold seeds will do 1 kg packs, reasonably priced, trial packs. Trialling different types of clover this year, but there is no chance of us stopping including herbs, or many types of clover.
Working on the theory, if you don't try them, you will never know, and having been through water deficient leys, for several years running, need to do 'something', despite misgivings, they definitely fit the bill.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Beautiful morning down in Devon.

 

[Beef farmer]

Beautiful morning down in Devon.
View attachment 1040063

Cold in the mornings this week!

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Cold in the mornings this week!

4 degrees Tue/Wed, didn't notice this morning but I'm back in short sleeves so must be better.

 

[In the pit]

Lovely morning here
Cows doing 19lts at 4.4 & 3.8
4% empties after 12weeks serving and 1 month left to milk before drying off

 

[Beef farmer]

Lovely morning here
Cows doing 19lts at 4.4 & 3.8
4% empties after 12weeks serving and 1 month left to milk before drying off

Great milk output. We are desperately dry and growth has fallen off a cliff this last few days, milk is following suit. Bit of rain over the weekend could see us climb back up, but as with you, the count down to dry off is here.

 

[lazy farmer]

Getting very dry here too.
finally into the mid 3.6s for protein a couple of weeks later than last yr.

 

[In the pit]

Great milk output. We are desperately dry and growth has fallen off a cliff this last few days, milk is following suit. Bit of rain over the weekend could see us climb back up, but as with you, the count down to dry off is here.

2 hours worth of heavy rain couple of days ago ,just keeps everything fresh and a lot of puddles about the next day( it is wales )
You peak much higher than us ,we’re probaly 26 lts this year but a lot flatter lactation