How to, go from all year calving to jan-feb calving

[daveydiesel1]

Considering going to spring claving instead of all year. Any idea how many years this would take to achieve? How do people get them all incalf by a certain date?

 

[In the pit]

Just start serving 1 may ,and Finnish mid July ,no point in stringing it out over years

 

[Boysground]

Had a neighbour do it, sold the AYR herd and bought the Springs in. So in effect a few months. Wouldn’t necessarily take that as a good plan he’s not milking any now.

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[In the pit]

If you’re gonna do it you need to do it in one hit which in the long run will be more cost effective

 

[daveydiesel1]

If i do it in 1 hit il have some serious suffering to do with cows not being in calf for ages. Was thinking bringing it in on batches of heifers and working at the cows over mabe 3-4 years, but mabe im wrong

 

[Bald Rick]

Considering going to spring claving instead of all year. Any idea how many years this would take to achieve? How do people get them all incalf by a certain date?

Just a thought … have you run this passed your processor yet? Some are putting the brakes on any more spring milk

 

[In the pit]

Sell cows freshly calved may to oct ,then swing rest round and buy in February calvers

 

[daveydiesel1]

Just a thought … have you run this passed your processor yet? Some are putting the brakes on any more spring milk

Never heard that being a problem round here

 

[Bald Rick]

Never heard that being a problem round here

Fair enough but I know Leprino here don’t want any more spring milk. It still might be worth the conversation with your buyer as you’re radically changing your milk profile

 

[daveydiesel1]

Sell cows freshly calved may to oct ,then swing rest round and buy in February calvers

That would be an ideal way to do it, but i really cant afford to do without the milk money for them months

 

[Wee Willy]

That would be an ideal way to do it, but i really cant afford to do without the milk money for them months

I had that notion one time . Ask yourself two questions.
Can you cope with a slap of calves all born in a short period?
Can you cope with selling your heaviest milking young cows because they didn't get in calf within the set time?
I couldn't do either.

 

[daveydiesel1]

I had that notion one time . Ask yourself two questions.
Can you cope with a slap of calves all born in a short period?
Can you cope with selling your heaviest milking young cows because they didn't get in calf within the set time?
I couldn't do either.

The bog slap of calves woukd be tough going but its 1 of the bonuses that get the calf rearing over n done with at 1 time and also get the calfing over and done with instead of running checking cows all year especially in summer as that means having to run to some other fiekd before mornin milking to check them plus having to get the trailer on to get her home which isnt ideal if your needin red up at night and your already late. The month with no milking would be great to free up time for bits of maintenance etc and be fit to go on holiday without a whole who ha of getting some1 to milk and then worrying about if they remembered to not milk cow x into the tank as she was tubed ect

 

[Cotlandfarmer]

First thing to do is speak with your milk buyer to be sure they will stand by you before you make any changes.

I moved from AYR to 1st February start spring block over three years.
12 week February start spring block and a 12 week August block in yr one, in yr 2 moved the August block to start in October for 12 weeks.
Yr 3 served all cows from 1st may for 12 weeks.

If I were to do it again I would sell anything calving out of proposed block and buy cows that fit.

The financial hit will be hard but the financial reward will be much quicker coming.

 

[Tirglas]

Stop serving now till April or May. That might give you a good start if you have a good number fresh/open. So you winter calvers are now springs next year.

Then either go split block or run the late spring/summer calves round to serve December then delay serving by 4-6weeks to turn your autumns over to spring too say 3 years gently does it

 

[DairyNerd]

When we took on this farm we made the big mistake of buying in cows calving in April-June, looking back i dont know why, we were not ready to start in Feb was the main reason but still was a big mistake. Now moved block back to start March 1st, 1 year, took the hit, has cost us money but this year we will calve 1st March to 19th May. Just serve between the dates you want to, sell everything else and buy in new cows/heifers, not worth doing it any other way.

 

[In the pit]

A lot of people moved to spring calving in the late 90 s and everyone said “”do it in one hit “” ,it’s the best way .some did it over 3/4 years and said it was a bad decision

 

[Conrod96]

Fair enough but I know Leprino here don’t want any more spring milk. It still might be worth the conversation with your buyer as you’re radically changing your milk profile

Majority over here lean towards an autumn calving profile so can’t see them turning down some spring milk I’d say

 

[mixed farm]

I would go split calving blocks(September/October and February to April)for 2 reasons, 1,: there's a huge difference in work and organisation in two blocks versus AYR so you might end up being happy with that. And 2, if you're not happy with that push your autumn to November in year 2 and to January in year 3.

 

[daveydiesel1]

First thing to do is speak with your milk buyer to be sure they will stand by you before you make any changes.

I moved from AYR to 1st February start spring block over three years.
12 week February start spring block and a 12 week August block in yr one, in yr 2 moved the August block to start in October for 12 weeks.
Yr 3 served all cows from 1st may for 12 weeks.

If I were to do it again I would sell anything calving out of proposed block and buy cows that fit.

The financial hit will be hard but the financial reward will be much quicker coming.

Was there any change on litres produced once you got completely into the block calving system compared to ayr?

 

[daveydiesel1]

I would go split calving blocks(September/October and February to April)for 2 reasons, 1,: there's a huge difference in work and organisation in two blocks versus AYR so you might end up being happy with that. And 2, if you're not happy with that push your autumn to November in year 2 and to January in year 3.

Its either 1 block or continue ayr, 1 of the reasons is to get a period i can go on holiday with no need for relief milkers