Margin per cow

[Grassman247]

Where do you farm, annual rainfall, summer rainfall, soil type?

Cheshire, heavy clay, 28 inches annual rainfall and summer rainfall these past few years has been very varied most years the farm is burning up

 

[Durry cows]

So spring calving, cows are New Zealand friesian, now crossing to Norwegian red, aim to be out at grass around the 15th of feb but haven’t managed this year being so wet but be out next week. Cows calve down on grass silage and chopped straw, then go onto grass silage, maize and brewers grains mix from one pit plus 8 kg of 16% cake in the parlour which is pulled back gradually to 3.5kg as we get more grass into the cows, aim to be out at grass day and night by 1st April. Then on grass all year until 20th October when they come in at night onto the Grass silage, maize and brewers grains mix again including the 3.5kg of cake, they stay on that until drying off and out in the day until 1st December. Butterfat 4.5, protein 3.5 and average cell count is 92. Mastitis is at 11% lameness 14% and last years empty rate 18% fertility is an area I’m working on although it’s difficult with so many litres.

Yield has gone from 6,500 to 8,100 by less mastitis and lameness and better grazing management.

Only make two cuts of silage and the rest of the grass is eaten by younstock to keep them out until Christmas

Did you say 1000 cows in another thread?

 

[lazy farmer]

No I’d say 6,000 litres from forage, brewers grains and cake makes up the other 2,100 litres

Isn’t it 5.3me to a litre of milk ?

 

[Grassman]

What is your grass system anyway?

Haylage production.

 

[Bossfarmer]

how have the cereal price rises affected these margins? has the milk rise made up for it?

 

[coomoo]

Feed through the roof, fuel up and as I’m finding electricity’s up up up. Milk price find out this week but stand on again

 

[Bossfarmer]

Feed through the roof, fuel up and as I’m finding electricity’s up up up. Milk price find out this week but stand on again

is there still a decent margin left though?

 

[More to life]

is there still a decent margin left though?

Personally I don't think I'm going to make much this winter.

 

[Happy at it]

Getting a turn Bossfarmer, but can't get my head round the money being spent at the minute, and the confidence it must take to do it.......

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Feed rep said need an extra 2.5/3ppl just to cover extra feed cost this winter. Glad we are not the only ones finding the cost of electric going up then.

 

[coomoo]

Feed rep said need an extra 2.5/3ppl just to cover extra feed cost this winter. Glad we are not the only ones finding the cost of electric going up then.

What’s your electric looking like? Mines is up end if November so going to try some brokers but not holding out much hope. @Bossfarmer im 25% back in cow numbers the now heifers to come in October/November. Would’ve bought a load as I’ve loads of silage but until I get some more positive signals I’ll sit tight, maybe sell silage at Christmas new year time instead. All that’s happening here is nearly monthly big ones are increasing which can only go on so long to cover up the lack of margin.

 

[Crusty]

Last winter we were purchasing 65ish% of our feed, had a purchased feed cost of 9-9.5ppl and a margin of 195quid a month at around 28ppl milk price
Since mid June we've been purchasing 85% of our feed, have a purchased feed cost of 10.2ppl and a margin of 200quid a month at 30ppl milk price
Purchased feed cost includes purchased forage

If the milk price was 20 ppl we'd probably sell some cows and get a job

 

[pappuller]

Extra feed purchases will cost 2ppl here, but it has enabled us to keep nos the same, dont know if thats the correct approach or not but our replacements will have cost on average £200/head less this year over last year.
Our leccy is up in January and I haven't even looked yet.
Wont be troubling the tax man greatly on this yrs accounts.

 

[meekers]

Getting a turn Bossfarmer, but can't get my head round the money being spent at the minute, and the confidence it must take to do it.......

Certainly plenty confidence around here. One large producer has purchased an arable farm over 200 miles away to produce his own feed/straw.

 

[Fergieman]

Certainly plenty confidence around here. One large producer has purchased an arable farm over 200 miles away to produce his own feed/straw.

200miles that will take a bit of haulage! (and management)

 

[More to life]

Last winter we were purchasing 65ish% of our feed, had a purchased feed cost of 9-9.5ppl and a margin of 195quid a month at around 28ppl milk price
Since mid June we've been purchasing 85% of our feed, have a purchased feed cost of 10.2ppl and a margin of 200quid a month at 30ppl milk price
Purchased feed cost includes purchased forage

If the milk price was 20 ppl we'd probably sell some cows and get a job

Don't forget your own forage has cost way more.

 

[meekers]

200miles that will take a bit of haulage! (and management)

Putting his own lorries on for the job. Fellow Arla producer!

 

[Crusty]

Don't forget your own forage has cost way more.

We have our own tackle and make bales so will be not as bad as some with choppers per acre etc but yes will be dearer

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Did my leccy in the summer, but cant for the life of me remember what it was.
It was a 2 year deal, one of those jobs that goes straight out of my head when complete.

Clamps are full and surplus has been baled. Cost for this is up. All good stuff though.
Cake up, but im told should settle back.
Haven't got any fert booked for next year yet, that may be a stinger.

Plod my way into the new year and see whats about as i may have a space or 2 in the cubicle shed and the feed for them.

 

[coomoo]

Putting his own lorries on for the job. Fellow Arla producer!

13th payment for new member Another local big un taking on two more dairies aswell?