Dairy Farming

[grasslad]

Hi everyone , Looking to go into dairy farming - Is there a crash course I can take to cover all the main aspects enough to get me started into it before I start buying a dairy farm.

I do have background experience in milking and farming in general and I do have a day job please no fob offs.

I do have a question on processor prices and contracts - in NI or Wales. haven't decided yet.

What's everyones average per litre per cow. I know that its down to the forage yields but there's got to be an average to measure profits.

Is there a minimum stock amount of cows that before you become profitable in the venture. some people do 25 cows others 60 some 90.

Will a second hand dairy be a good start or a new build? or is it all about lowest overhead as possible?

Thanks

 

[Bald Rick]

If you’re young enough, I would consider going to Ag college for a few years or at the very least, get a job on a dairy farm running along the lines of your model eg spring grazer, autumn block, hi in/hi out etc to see if your boat is still floated after a year of paddling about in sh!t.
You will probably need a minimum of £500,000 before you can even think of getting in to the industry and remember that if you are looking for a tenancy the landlord will more than likely want a strong track record behind you

 

[More to life]

What’s sparked your interest?

 

[grasslad]

Agreed Bald Rick Im hoping on years turnaround after purchasing the farm bear in mind I would have a day job (IT) to finance this initially until the farm is up and running at full capacity quite happy to go on a sliding scale.
My experience in farming quite deep but I am now in a part of my life I want to do farming myself into my old age as a farmers son I feel im most comfortable in farming rather than the rat race of big tech companies.

I would envisage working from home as well remote working in IT in the future so I do want to keep the workload to an even keel. I would never think of running the farm on its own steam unless the figures show it to be.

I do know a fair dairy farmers elderly ones stellar advice from them too. they said to keep the numbers small and manageable in ratio to farm finance.

I have a few farms on my sights with parlours in them some good quality some not. - one has an interest with 24 acres with a 6:12 setup looks an early 90s set up. I would assume I would need more land to rent or take extra feed in to supplement.

I also grew up on a dairy farm as well. I just feels right for me at my own point in life. not looking to go massive or anything.

 

[grasslad]

I wonder if anyone knows a thread or two here that has done the same as what Im intending to do ?

 

[Blue.]

I offer crash courses in dairying,it's £1000 for the 1st week and £2000 for the 2nd.

 

[grasslad]

good money if you can get it eulb!

I didn't quite mean car crash course. that said I know dairy farming is hard work.
Just something to refresh in dairying knowledge I don't want to wing it either.

 

[kfpben]

good money if you can get it eulb!

I didn't quite mean car crash course. that said I know dairy farming is hard work.
Just something to refresh in dairying knowledge I don't want to wing it either.

If you already have a decent level of practical experience RABDF do a course called ‘Entrepreneurs in Dairying’.

 

[grasslad]

Thanks kfpben I will try this course seems to run from September time which is actually good timing for me. I think might be a good idea getting into milking again as a part time job as well even if I have bought a farm by that time.
I think a refreshing back into it is way better than putting my money where my mouth is.

 

[kill]

I wonder if anyone knows a thread or two here that has done the same as what Im intending to do ?

I have recently gone into dairying and please read some of my comments in "Days like these" thread.
It's certainly not a stress free lifestyle choice!!!!

 

[Rossymons]

Thanks kfpben I will try this course seems to run from September time which is actually good timing for me. I think might be a good idea getting into milking again as a part time job as well even if I have bought a farm by that time.
I think a refreshing back into it is way better than putting my money where my mouth is.

Sorry did I read that right...you're looking to buy a farm?

 

[grasslad]

Thanks kill , bloody scary reading if you ask me. yeah Rossymons is no-one buying farms?

 

[Rossymons]

If you have the capital behind you to buy afarm to start dairying I wouldnt rank it on the milking parlour, thats cheap bit.

 

[grasslad]

what would you rank it on Rossymons? land quality?

 

[Rossymons]

Absolutely!

How much will it grow? How close to a processor are you? The size of the block of land?

 

[pappuller]

If you have the capital behind you to buy afarm to start dairying I wouldnt rank it on the milking parlour, thats cheap bit.

Two tidy blocks of land on the Taunton estate totalling over 400 acres all connected , circa £3m be a blank canvas to put a Greenfield site.

 

[Rossymons]

Two tidy blocks of land on the Taunton estate totalling over 400 acres all connected , circa £3m be a blank canvas to put a Greenfield site.

Ill ring the agent tomorrow

 

[grasslad]

your thinking way too big for me all I want is a small troop with a decent parlour. if growth allows then I will make it so slowly but in saying that if you have small block of land to ratio the cows you have that suits.
And you need more land but no grass left. so whats the solution here? zero grazing or bought in feed?

 

[Rossymons]

Where in the country are you?

If you're serious on milkng then I would go and milk someone elses first.

 

[grasslad]

Am in Wales , will get back into milking again before I decide to do owt yet.