Cousin starting dairy

[meath suckler man]

Hi , my cousin, Conor, finally got his hands on 77 acres on friday. He bought the land and was over a year in legals.

He is looking to change lifestyle and give up his 3 hour round trip commute. He has a government job, and is bored silly.
He has 77 acres of good land in a block with 26 acres about a mile away. Milk on the 77, silage off the 26. All bales.

I was in the new place on saturday and he has a decent sized slatted shed and 2 other decent sized slatted tanks, that was outdoor feeding area, plus some smaller sheds. He wants to build outdoor cubicles and utilise the existing shed for its slatted tank but also built the parlour there too.

He likes Jersey cross cows and the low cost system and has spent the last 6 months relief milking and helping at calving with our uncle.
He has the lands mapped and will be reseeding the entire of the 77 acres, I have a disc harrow and grass box.

He already has the stock, 110 high ebi Jersey cross heifer calves. They were born Jan/Feb 2018. Wants to milk 110.

He bought a 2014 18 unit dairy master parlour, last year, its still in situ as the seller built a new parlour.

He has 150k to build cubicles, reseed, water and laneways.

I think its possible if he manages his money well. He has a milk buyer

Any ideas.

 

[Beef farmer]

Sounds like its all under control. Crack on

 

[chaffcutter]

Sound as if there has been a lot of thought gone into this, and he has the capital to get on with it without borrowings.
My only reservation would be out door cubicles for dairy cows in a wet climate with regard to mastitis etc transmission, a wet bed is a breeding ground for bugs?

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

He will probably want a few more heifers if he wants to milk 110. He may have one abort, one die, one have no milk etc so have a few spares

 

[More to life]

The volume of slurry without a roof would concern me.

 

[Sharpy]

Sounds like a well thought out plan, but as above the volume of slurry with rainfall would be a major problem, never minding the bother of keeping cows clean.

 

[Beef farmer]

The volume of slurry without a roof would concern me.

Been done before

 

[More to life]

Been done before

At a cost

 

[it's not over]

No roof,sounds like mastitis city

 

[Nearly]

He will probably want a few more heifers if he wants to milk 110. He may have one abort, one die, one have no milk etc so have a few spares

And 30 to buy for calving year 2?

 

[jimmer]

It's a common misconception I think that winter is wetter in Ireland and indeed other parts of the UK than we think, its just that these places have a steady amount of rain year long that gives them a high annual figure

 

[meath suckler man]

A lot of good comments,

Regarding roofless cubicles, lime can be spread on cubicles without roofs and using a teat sealer helps.

Re replacement rates, our uncle is milking 280 jersey cross cows and has a replacement rate of 8%, the herd is young which may influence.

 

[meath suckler man]

The volume of slurry without a roof would concern me.

he is getting the slurry tanks emptied this week, so he will know his total storage.

 

[rusty]

Most herds with outdoor cubicles will be spring block and will by dry cows mainly in them. As soon as they start to calve they will be out grazing.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Most herds with outdoor cubicles will be spring block and will by dry cows mainly in them. As soon as they start to calve they will be out grazing.

Hadn't considered that. Does the lack of a roof really constitute a saving though? The slurry volume would soon make it worthwhile?

 

[deere 6600]

What about just putting a big roof over cubicles nothing too fancy ?

 

[I thats it]

Hadn't considered that. Does the lack of a roof really constitute a saving though? The slurry volume would soon make it worthwhile?

I agree, the steel frame and roof are cheep compared to concrete cubicles and slurry storage

 

[thewalrus]

Wouldn’t have to worry about slurry being too thick!

 

[som farmer]

at seale hayne in the early 70's, we were taken to a farm, that had out door cubicles for milkers, wasn't impressed then, and still not impressed now ! if it was a good idea then, there should be loads of outdoor cubicles now ! I will agree that outdoor cubicles for spring calving herds might be allright

 

[it's not over]

After buying 77 acres,a milking parlour,all those cattle and 150k in reserve I think he should buy a roof