- Location
- M6 Hard shoulder
Still best to walk them themselves, you can't observe cows from behind a laptop screen.
Last edited:
Feeding my dairy cows
- Thread starter Dairyfarmer2016
- Start date
- Location
- M6 Hard shoulder
With 3 nicely presented forages intakes of 12kg+ should be possible been breed dependant
More to life
Member
- Location
- Somerset
Buffalo’s cows will eat 12kg/dm for breakfast
- Location
- M6 Hard shoulder
Whereas the beefy boys might manage it in 2 days
buffalo_soldier
Member
- Location
- cumbria
Tirglas
Member
- Location
- West wales
Ours aren't milking well at all the silage quality not up to it yet - first cut yet to be opened hope things will change then.
I've had a feed rep comment on my cows condition when sitting at my neighbours kitchen table and having never been on my place!
Another asked litres and feeding rates and then said no way impossible - before going on to talk down the feed firm i usually deal with. As he started reversing to his car asked if I wanted a price - no thanks jog on Dave!
All said its a high pressure job no doubt I couldn't deal with many grumpy feckers like me anyway
I've had a feed rep comment on my cows condition when sitting at my neighbours kitchen table and having never been on my place!
Another asked litres and feeding rates and then said no way impossible - before going on to talk down the feed firm i usually deal with. As he started reversing to his car asked if I wanted a price - no thanks jog on Dave!
All said its a high pressure job no doubt I couldn't deal with many grumpy feckers like me anyway
A bit like the one I remember when talking to the late, great Gordon Newman, ex MVF, MGA , Keenan and many more no doubt, “ The three most important things when feeding a cow are, forage quality, forage quality and forage quality !”
- Location
- Northumberland
He was here years ago judging a silage competition. I still remember his enormous enthusiasm for dairy farming & especially for feeding dairy cows. In his element with a clamp of quality silage in front of him. Learnt a lot in the hour or so he was on the farm. Don`t meet many people like that
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
Indeed but at some point you have what you have and have to deal with reality.
We strive for perfection, can’t always make it!
You ever make it? Show off!
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
I don’t think it’s a job that should even exist. Why would a salesman have any input on your largest expense.? All you need is an ingredient list emailed to you and/or your nutritionist who is not a salesman.
I begrudge our brokers margin but they have to compete against each other at least.
Surprising how common it is, the same in arable with serviced agronomists being chemical salesman. Some conflict of interest for them. The only way forward is an independent nutritionist , (yes you will have to pay) and a buying group for the feed. (Another subscription.) But should pay back many times over in cheeper feed, healthier cows, better feed rate, output, fertility etc and profit.
- Location
- Northumberland
Hows things going now? @Dairyfarmer2016
the job is ten times better I got in touch with an independent fella he came the following day and tweaked a few things sampled everything and we have nearly halved bought in feed costs/usage more from forage and mills gone up. And the cows are looking a lot better. They are getting a bit of shine back
organicguy
Member
- Location
- North East of the south west
Care to be a bit more specific, really interested in the changes and actual results!
Basically we added a moist feed took some of the blend out changed the parlour cake upped the maize slightly they are now eating 10 kg a day more silage than they were with the moist feed added they eat and lie down full where as before they would wander about not content at all
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Which moist feed are you using?
Selco plus it appealed for the continuation in supply and ease of storage
- Location
- somerset
we swapped to an independent nutritionist, years ago, when our cows were not performing, feeding all sorts of extras, milk immediately went up, with no extras, simple blend, and a cheaper cake, extras 'allowed' mins, urea, alkocarb-if needed, must have saved us £1,000's, The cheapest imput, is quality silage, downside, the bloody cows eat quality silage, to fast !