Foolish going back into milking?

[Twin Town]

Long story short, been out of milk now for 2 years after a disastrous venture into Robotics. Everyone says that after you go out of milk you'll never want to go back...,. well, not me. I miss the job and most of all the routine of the day. Question is should I even consider it? I'm expecting milk prices to go south but by how much? I've still got the tank, the cubicles, slurry channels, slurry store, silage pits and all the kit to go with it but would need to invest in cows again... any thoughts appreciated.

 

[dogglercowman1]

What went wrong going down the robotic route?

 

[Twin Town]

Everything... but mainly SCC's and Bactoscan.... never an issue on the old 30yr old parlour!

 

[Cowcorn]

Long story short, been out of milk now for 2 years after a disastrous venture into Robotics. Everyone says that after you go out of milk you'll never want to go back...,. well, not me. I miss the job and most of all the routine of the day. Question is should I even consider it? I'm expecting milk prices to go south but by how much? I've still got the tank, the cubicles, slurry channels, slurry store, silage pits and all the kit to go with it but would need to invest in cows again... any thoughts appreciated.

Whatever floats your boat !! Go for it if you like cows you have the setup so buying a herd will be the only financial burden .

 

[Beef farmer]

Still got the parlour?

 

[pappuller]

Long story short, been out of milk now for 2 years after a disastrous venture into Robotics. Everyone says that after you go out of milk you'll never want to go back...,. well, not me. I miss the job and most of all the routine of the day. Question is should I even consider it? I'm expecting milk prices to go south but by how much? I've still got the tank, the cubicles, slurry channels, slurry store, silage pits and all the kit to go with it but would need to invest in cows again... any thoughts appreciated.

Robot issue or operator not compatible with robots ? What colour robots ?

 

[Twin Town]

Robot issue or operator not compatible with robots ? What colour robots ?

Hi Pappuller, I understand what your getting at... Obviously I made some BIG mistakes but I honestly tried everything to get my milk quality in order... perhaps the good parlour routine previously was masking some underlying issus with my managment. Nice to hear from you again as you gave me some good advive back in 2017 when I was considering getting out. The Robots were red...

Still got the parlour?

 

[Twin Town]

Nope, however I can dig the it out and throw in a parlour in little time and at little cost... I have a few friends in the Parlour fitting world that woud pull some strings for me

Still got the parlour?

 

[Whitewalker]

What have you been doing for the past 2 years?

 

[bigw]

It would really depend on what milk contract you could get. I don't think I would be rushing back in at the moment if it was me.

 

[Sparkymark]

How old are you, and have you got the next generation coming on?

 

[lloyd]

Can't be any worse than sheep or beef prospects!

 

[lazy farmer]

It would really depend on what milk contract you could get. I don't think I would be rushing back in at the moment if it was me.

Probably a good time to get in then. Cows would be cheaper. Tight autumn block. Jobs a good un.

 

[Chimera]

Long story short, been out of milk now for 2 years after a disastrous venture into Robotics. Everyone says that after you go out of milk you'll never want to go back...,. well, not me. I miss the job and most of all the routine of the day. Question is should I even consider it? I'm expecting milk prices to go south but by how much? I've still got the tank, the cubicles, slurry channels, slurry store, silage pits and all the kit to go with it but would need to invest in cows again... any thoughts appreciated.

S'mai, ti'n cadw'n iawn?

 

[Twin Town]

What have you been doing for the past 2 years?

This,that and everything.. I was putting milking parlours in for a while but working away was difficult with school runs etc. Plenty of work jobing around on other farms but no real routine

 

[Twin Town]

How old are you, and have you got the next generation coming on?

Got 22 year left on my fbt but no option for the next generation unless i can buy the land off the landlord..

 

[OGB]

What acreage is the farm operating?

 

[pappuller]

Hi Pappuller, I understand what your getting at... Obviously I made some BIG mistakes but I honestly tried everything to get my milk quality in order... perhaps the good parlour routine previously was masking some underlying issus with my managment. Nice to hear from you again as you gave me some good advive back in 2017 when I was considering getting out. The Robots were red...

I certainly wasn't being sarcastic, just interested to hear your reasons, it's just sometimes the change to the bots isn't the right one for some.

 

[pappuller]

Probably a good time to get in then. Cows would be cheaper. Tight autumn block. Jobs a good un.

Cows cheaper ? [emoji23]

 

[som farmer]

I was forced to leave1999 following an accident, my son wanted to go back, and we started in 07, we pretty well had to start from scratch, 5th hand parlour, straw yards, but had silage pits and fields! and we have built up from there, now 170 nearly spring block. Regret leaving ? yes, I had always been with cows, and it hurt to leave, but with quota and health, and milk price, it was the correct thing to do. The interrum years were spent chasing sheep, and rearing calves, leased out quota etc, the hardest thing was lack of a regular milk cheque, Going back in, we have not regretted it, as we have been building up, all profit has gone back in, which has made things tight at times. Looking at the alternatives, beef/arable/sheep, unless you are very efficient, I would not like to go back to that, and the longer term out look doesn't look too encouraging !
milk is the biggest tie, but, as long as you can get a contract, really looks the best option, you know the in's and out's as you are fresh out, go for it.