Is it worth it ?

[lazy farmer]

Normally cows leave the paddock at 3 o’clock and are released back to the paddock about 515. The last few days I have tried to let them go as they are milked. It is nice to see about 10% of the herd already leddown when I go to shut them in at 5:30. However to exit the cows are turning 180° and walking back past the collecting yard. There is a lot of blaring and a fair bit of shuffling around. I like a nice quiet milking And this isn’t it. Should I persevere hoping the cows will get used to it? Or should I give in for the sake of peace in our time.

 

[Green Grass]

They'll get used too it.
Ours get released after 4 rows get the odd moo but nothing distressing.

 

[betweenthelines]

The more time they're in the field, the more grass they can eat.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

They'll get used to it very quickly. Two hours is as long a gap as you would want between first and last cows getting back to grazing.

 

[Beef farmer]

If we could let them go after every milking there is no way we would hold them.
Road crossing means half the day feeds they need to be held, pure pia. They will get used to it. Should speed up flow too

 

[Cowmansam]

They get used to it

 

[farmboy]

Ours go straight back out from the start of milking, cows in the collecting yard pay no attention generally, just what they get used to.

 

[Rossymons]

I always kept them back and let them all go after milking. I didn't like the idea that come cows had a 2 hour headstart on the grass and leaving the timid cows with the rubbish. As the herd got bigger I couldn't fit them all in the same yard in one go so would go out halfway through and shut the rest of the milkers in and let the others go. It was a halfway happy but honestly can't say I noticed a difference either way. Do whatever makes you feel happy is my advice.

 

[Jdunn55]

Mine drop by a litre a cow if they have to be held in the yard as they're going across the road, I'm dreaming of a pair of cattle grids but permission would be near impossible

 

[lazy farmer]

Have tried it before. Cows always have to be held in the mornings.
Have yet to notice a difference in yields. It maybe because I accept higher Residuals? Or because they are used to waiting.

 

[dowcow]

We don't even ram them all into the collecting yard in one go, just don't like them crammed up. Then half way through we shove the slackers into the collecting yard and let the first ones out before they get too crowded also. Having them all crammed up just leads to cows slipping and letting them go at a slower pace leaves them more chilled out and less stressed. Many will go out and just lie down after milking and even then there's some who don't get back to work without loafing around the yard for sometime too. It also helps that if there's a cow or heifer new calved and a bit unsteady or nervous looking like she needs some more space, we can go ahead of her in the exit passages and make sure there's no bully cow waiting to flatten her.

 

[Paprika1]

Heifers and last cows to be milked loose contition if you let the cows out straight in my opinion last 20% of cows enter paddock 50% of the best grass is gone!! Depending on how long your milking is though!!

 

[In the pit]

In milked and back to field
Holding in yard means more chance of slipping and more crap to scrape

 

[In the pit]

Heifers and last cows to be milked loose contition if you let the cows out straight in my opinion last 20% of cows enter paddock 50% of the best grass is gone!! Depending on how long your milking is though!!

Ha ha ha

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Cows will get used to anything except grazing the paddock next to the milking parlor. That will always get them wild.

If you are so concerned with all cows getting an equal amount just split your breaks in half and lift it when you lock them up. The cows will be depositing their manure in the field and standing time on concrete will be reduced.

 

[deleted user 837354]

In milked and back to field
Holding in yard means more chance of slipping and more crap to scrape

More fighting/jostling and more time stood being attacked by flies.

 

[jimmer]

@lazy farmer , they'll get used to it, it will be fine
On the subject of is it worth it......
Spending between 5 and 10k on infrastructure so that cows can freely go between parlour and grazing without obstacles and a batt latch could be used.....

 

[lazy farmer]

@lazy farmer , they'll get used to it, it will be fine
On the subject of is it worth it......
Spending between 5 and 10k on infrastructure so that cows can freely go between parlour and grazing without obstacles and a batt latch could be used.....

Me or you ?
Here it would cost at least 100k to make that happen including an underpass.

 

[jimmer]

Me or you ?
Here it would cost at least 100k to make that happen including an underpass.

Me

 

[lazy farmer]

Me

How long is your FBT?