Dairy cow upkeep costs

[Robert thompson]

Hi all I’m new to this farming forum. I’m interested in starting up milking cows and would like to know a rough figure as to what it costs to keep a dairy cow for a year. Taking into account vets bills ,fodder ,housing expenses ,water ,electric ? Thanks in advance for any views

 

[epfarms]

This is a huge “how long is a piece of string” type question but I’d be interested to see people’s responses.
Cost of production of milk generally focuses around literage, and depending on your system it’ll be anywhere between 20-30 pence per litre of milk produced (but in exceptional circumstances could be more, or less). There are also large initial infrastructure costs to consider.
Based on an “average-ish” U.K. cow producing 8500L/year with “average-ish” production costs of 27ppl, you’re looking at £2300/year.. this would be a very rough ballpark with lots of variables, that I’m sure others will list.

 

[farmerdan7618]

Hi all I’m new to this farming forum. I’m interested in starting up milking cows and would like to know a rough figure as to what it costs to keep a dairy cow for a year. Taking into account vets bills ,fodder ,housing expenses ,water ,electric ? Thanks in advance for any views

You can find a report on this at Om.uk/dairy and as mentioned, average would be around £2,300-2,400. Range is anywhere from a tad under £1k, to a bit over £4.5k.

Do read the report and take note of the basis, but hope it helps.

Any questions give me a shout and I will answer, as co-author of the report.

 

[jimmer]

Don't get too het up on annual costs
Unlike most other sectors, regardless of size, you get a monthly sometimes fortnightly payment

 

[Robert thompson]

You can find a report on this at Om.uk/dairy and as mentioned, average would be around £2,300-2,400. Range is anywhere from a tad under £1k, to a bit over £4.5k.

Do read the report and take note of the basis, but hope it helps.

Any questions give me a shout and I will answer, as co-author of the report.

I cant seem to download that report there is just a circle in the middle of the screen.

 

[betweenthelines]

Hi all I’m new to this farming forum. I’m interested in starting up milking cows and would like to know a rough figure as to what it costs to keep a dairy cow for a year. Taking into account vets bills ,fodder ,housing expenses ,water ,electric ? Thanks in advance for any views

Given your name, perhaps your parole officer could help?

 

[farmerdan7618]

I cant seem to download that report there is just a circle in the middle of the screen.

If you are using Internet Explorer, then it is not supported. Use Edge, Chrome or Safari and it should work.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

You can find a report on this at Om.uk/dairy and as mentioned, average would be around £2,300-2,400. Range is anywhere from a tad under £1k, to a bit over £4.5k.

Do read the report and take note of the basis, but hope it helps.

Any questions give me a shout and I will answer, as co-author of the report.

I'm going to sound a right curmudgeon here,
Is this report compiled from your clients data?
And as such should an accountancy firm be making their clients data, whether aggregated, anonymized or whatever so freely available?

 

[farmerdan7618]

I'm going to sound a right curmudgeon here,
Is this report compiled from your clients data?
And as such should an accountancy firm be making their clients data, whether aggregated, anonymized or whatever so freely available?

Valid question, the report is a combination of data from our clients and clients of FCG. It is completely anonymous and impossible to determine individual farms from the report.
Many clients request to be in the figures used in the report and get value from benchmarking themselves against others, allowing them to see areas where they are doing well, and others that some focus can gain them.
In terms of market information, many of the aligned contracts request full costings and accounts that are not anonymous, and they benchmark to their own criteria, so much more detail is available to them.
It is intended for farmers to have a defined method to benchmark themselves against and allow focus on their own business.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Also worth understanding the difference between cash costs and total economic costs. The latter includes depreciation (including that of buildings), imputed unpaid labour, opportunity cost of owned land etc. So often people don't take this into account. It is quite common to have a 30ppl economic cost of production, be on a 28ppl contract and be making an assumed profit...

 

[Beef farmer]

We are £1082 per cow. Including rent/finance/drawings the lot. Also includes replacments.
Would like to get it sub 1k but that aint gonna happen now for a while!

 

[buffalo_soldier]

We are £1082 per cow. Including rent/finance/drawings the lot. Also includes replacments.
Would like to get it sub 1k but that aint gonna happen now for a while!

Tightwad, my drawings alone are higher than that

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Valid question, the report is a combination of data from our clients and clients of FCG. It is completely anonymous and impossible to determine individual farms from the report.
Many clients request to be in the figures used in the report and get value from benchmarking themselves against others, allowing them to see areas where they are doing well, and others that some focus can gain them.
In terms of market information, many of the aligned contracts request full costings and accounts that are not anonymous, and they benchmark to their own criteria, so much more detail is available to them.
It is intended for farmers to have a defined method to benchmark themselves against and allow focus on their own business.

Mine do similar, it's just not so public shall we say.

It's not for me.

 

[farmerdan7618]

Mine do similar, it's just not so public shall we say.

It's not for me.

Fair enough. Glad you are getting useful information from them

 

[crashbox]

We are £1082 per cow. Including rent/finance/drawings the lot. Also includes replacments.
Would like to get it sub 1k but that aint gonna happen now for a while!

Fair play I assume that's spring calvers...? what breed?

 

[vantage]

Fair play I assume that's spring calvers...? what breed?

You’re in for a surprise!

 

[sidjon]

Fair play I assume that's spring calvers...? what breed?

You’re in for a surprise!

These

 

[Beef farmer]

Fair play I assume that's spring calvers...? what breed?

Heinz 57, 9 week autumn block. Flying herd.

 

[crashbox]

Heinz 57, 9 week autumn block. Flying herd.