General Dairy Farming Questions

[farmingmad]

I'm new to dairy farming in the UK and I was wondering if somebody could answer a few questions that I have?

1. What is the ideal productive life cycle of a dairy cattle, from when a calf to when producing milk e.g. what fed when younger when weaned at 8 weeks, to what age they can go in group pens and what they are fed. To then the age the target is to get them in calf (what dictates when they are ready to be served, weight or age? and when is the target time to get heifers in calf). How long after being served should then a heifer be PD? When the heifer is in calf, how should the feed she is given change, compared to when she wasn't in calf? After she has calved can she then join the main milking group straight away? Also after calving, how long will it take to get her back in calf or see her bulling? Then when noticing she is bulling, if she is bulling in the evening, do you serve her in the morning and vice versa? Then after serving, how soon would you have her PD again?
2. During this life cycle what are the main and most important vaccinations to give and at what age and where to administer?
3. When a calf is born, how do you then register this and how soon will ear tags need to be put in? If this calf is then to be sold, what forms need to be filled out so it can leave the farm and is this given to the new owner? Also how do you create a passport for a calf, and what is the passport actually used for?
4. Finally sorry for the long questions, but with dairy cattle movements and purchases, what are the legal things to do and forms to hand in for cattle leaving the farm and any new purchases from the mart? Is any paperwork needed when buying or selling cattle at the mart?

If anyone can help with these questions it would be a great help. Thanks

 

[supercow]

Ur running a dairy farm? Is this some kind of joke?

 

[Kingofgrass]

Ur running a dairy farm? Is this some kind of joke?

I thought that just makes you realise how much you take in as a kid

 

[farmingmad]

Nope not running one. Just looking for someone to answer my questions.

 

[farmingmad]

I am 16yrs old and just trying to pick up all the info I can like a sponge, like you said it makes you realise how much you take in when your younger. So if anyone can help that would be great and appreciated

 

[Princess Pooper]

I'm new to dairy farming in the UK and I was wondering if somebody could answer a few questions that I have?

1. What is the ideal productive life cycle of a dairy cattle, from when a calf to when producing milk e.g. what fed when younger when weaned at 8 weeks, to what age they can go in group pens and what they are fed. To then the age the target is to get them in calf (what dictates when they are ready to be served, weight or age? and when is the target time to get heifers in calf). How long after being served should then a heifer be PD? When the heifer is in calf, how should the feed she is given change, compared to when she wasn't in calf? After she has calved can she then join the main milking group straight away? Also after calving, how long will it take to get her back in calf or see her bulling? Then when noticing she is bulling, if she is bulling in the evening, do you serve her in the morning and vice versa? Then after serving, how soon would you have her PD again?
2. During this life cycle what are the main and most important vaccinations to give and at what age and where to administer?
3. When a calf is born, how do you then register this and how soon will ear tags need to be put in? If this calf is then to be sold, what forms need to be filled out so it can leave the farm and is this given to the new owner? Also how do you create a passport for a calf, and what is the passport actually used for?
4. Finally sorry for the long questions, but with dairy cattle movements and purchases, what are the legal things to do and forms to hand in for cattle leaving the farm and any new purchases from the mart? Is any paperwork needed when buying or selling cattle at the mart?

If anyone can help with these questions it would be a great help. Thanks

An awful lot of questions which would take a lifetime to answer!!!! Most of what you ask in 1 and 2 can be found on AHDB Dairy website, 3 and 4 CTS online and .Gov.uk websites or look up cross compliance cattle identification and movement rules. I am involved with a lot of students and I don't believe in spoon feeding them. Good luck. You are of course planning to visit a dairy farm on Open Farm Sunday in June so you can see for yourself and ask a farmer?

 

[Deereone]

Where are you? If you go and work on a dairy farm, you'll soon pick it up.

 

[Beef farmer]

I am 16yrs old and just trying to pick up all the info I can like a sponge, like you said it makes you realise how much you take in when your younger. So if anyone can help that would be great and appreciated

I will give you 6 weeks work experience throughout your summer holidays. You'll learn something for sure. You'll be working with a great team and it's an experience you will never forget.
Pm me.

 

[Penmoel]

I will give you 6 weeks work experience throughout your summer holidays. You'll learn something for sure. You'll be working with a great team and it's an experience you will never forget.
Pm me.

@farmingmad Good offer for you if you are serious

 

[buffalo_soldier]

@farmingmad take beefy up on his offer. You would struggle to get a better one.

 

[Beef farmer]

@farmingmad Good offer for you if you are serious

Im deadly serious. Chap came here last summer when came @16 with no knowledge, loved every second. Coming back in 4 weeks. And is planning a nz milking holiday. He's asked for a job when he has been to nz. Got heaps of time for people that want to learn.

 

[Beef farmer]

Im deadly serious. Chap came here last summer when came @16 with no knowledge, loved every second. Coming back in 4 weeks. And is planning a nz milking holiday. He's asked for a job when he has been to nz. Got heaps of time for people that want to learn.

He had never milked a cow on arrival. He could solo milk 400 time he left

 

[coomoo]

I'm new to dairy farming in the UK and I was wondering if somebody could answer a few questions that I have?

1. What is the ideal productive life cycle of a dairy cattle, from when a calf to when producing milk e.g. what fed when younger when weaned at 8 weeks, to what age they can go in group pens and what they are fed. To then the age the target is to get them in calf (what dictates when they are ready to be served, weight or age? and when is the target time to get heifers in calf). How long after being served should then a heifer be PD? When the heifer is in calf, how should the feed she is given change, compared to when she wasn't in calf? After she has calved can she then join the main milking group straight away? Also after calving, how long will it take to get her back in calf or see her bulling? Then when noticing she is bulling, if she is bulling in the evening, do you serve her in the morning and vice versa? Then after serving, how soon would you have her PD again?
2. During this life cycle what are the main and most important vaccinations to give and at what age and where to administer?
3. When a calf is born, how do you then register this and how soon will ear tags need to be put in? If this calf is then to be sold, what forms need to be filled out so it can leave the farm and is this given to the new owner? Also how do you create a passport for a calf, and what is the passport actually used for?
4. Finally sorry for the long questions, but with dairy cattle movements and purchases, what are the legal things to do and forms to hand in for cattle leaving the farm and any new purchases from the mart? Is any paperwork needed when buying or selling cattle at the mart?

If anyone can help with these questions it would be a great help. Thanks

Mmmm.......

 

[jimmer]

@farmingmad
Do you have experience in farming other than dairying ?
A keen interest in livestock at your age is refreshing , compared to the flashing light ,vest and shades brigade

 

[DocPhil001]

He had never milked a cow on arrival. He could solo milk 400 time he left

sometimes the best milkers you can get. not picked up any bad habits!

 

[supercow]

I agree @DocPhil001 the best Milker ul get is someone who hasn't milked on another farm! Milk the way u want the pm to be milked not like on the farm previous! I apologise for my rude questions before @farmingmad those were very knowledgable questions for a 16 year old. I was still finding my arse from my elbow when I was 16. One thing on calve rearing, colostrum, colostrum, colostrum. Sorry that was 3 things. U can purchase every ointment under the sun from the vets to help calves but if they don't get quality colostrum writhing 6-8 hours ur wasting ur time and money. U can get a colostrumeter from the vets for 7/8£ and it's one of the best investments iv made in the last 7 years. When bulling hiefers have a line on a wall in a shed, if they aren't above that line don't bull them, if they are do. I bull hiefers on size not age like most efficient farms but if she isn't big or strong enough I don't serve. I hold her back a batch. For ur movements questions, search British cattle movement service and u will find all the information u need on all that.

 

[supercow]

Do u have a holding @farmingmad ?

 

[supercow]

He had never milked a cow on arrival. He could solo milk 400 time he left

You must have the patience of a saint haha

 

[Beef farmer]

 

[supercow]

That's awesome! Right attitude gets u far