Once a day milking

[easy farming]

I not sure you could do it,moving from one of the best herds in the country to grazing rabbits,I know I couldn't do it.

Definition of "best herds " if your cows suit your farming system that is a good herd they might be a disaster in someone else's.

 

[easy farming]

Went to a farm in NZ on 1x day milking. He said yield had dropped by 15% so he was milking 15% extra cows

That was the first philosophy on OAD milking. But if you do not grow 15% more feed what do the extra cows eat. The thoughts now are to keep the same number of cows and cull the unsuitable ones, in our case about 8% in year one, too slow milking, dried themselves off etc.

 

[Blue.]

Definition of "best herds " if your cows suit your farming system that is a good herd they might be a disaster in someone else's.

True,although a grazing rabbit will do better in a 365 day housed system than vice versa.

 

[easy farming]

True,although a grazing rabbit will do better in a 365 day housed system than vice versa.

Agreed

 

[Stinker]

True,although a grazing rabbit will do better in a 365 day housed system than vice versa.

I'm not claiming a holstein will be better suited but they should have greater persistence, better udder capacity and better udder conformation. All of these are important traits in a once a day cows. My bf and proteins are already comparable with nz fresians. Fertility is my main concern.

 

[jendan]

I'm not claiming a holstein will be better suited but they should have greater persistence, better udder capacity and better udder conformation. All of these are important traits in a once a day cows. My bf and proteins are already comparable with nz fresians. Fertility is my main concern.

I would never even attempt it with high yielding holsteins such as yours.You will lose much more than you will gain.It should be a pleasure milking high yielding cows twice a day.

 

[jendan]

Arla. No there are a few hundred in the UK doing the same Spring calving I know of about 30 plus milking OAD. Never heard of any supplying liquid dairies as all will be high solid milk. Seasonality can hurt though.

What does your cell count level out at? When i tried OAD it was an absolute disaster.Just like i was drying them all off.Yield went down at least 50%,and cell count through the roof.Never ever again for me! And these were Friesian type cows with a little holstein in.

 

[Stinker]

I would never even attempt it with high yielding holsteins such as yours.You will lose much more than you will gain.It should be a pleasure milking high yielding cows twice a day.

It's only a small scale experiment. I don't need the extra milk at the moment and if you never try something you will never know and this job is all about trying new things. I always like to keep an open mind about new ideas and I'm surprised by the strong opinions voiced. I generally thought people might be interested to see hear how it went. I'm sorry I offended so many people with the idea.

 

[Clay52]

That was the first philosophy on OAD milking. But if you do not grow 15% more feed what do the extra cows eat. The thoughts now are to keep the same number of cows and cull the unsuitable ones, in our case about 8% in year one, too slow milking, dried themselves off etc.

Cows should eat a bit less feed on once a day though. So you should have some extra feed to feed some more cows when you switch.

 

[Clay52]

It's only a small scale experiment. I don't need the extra milk at the moment and if you never try something you will never know and this job is all about trying new things. I always like to keep an open mind about new ideas and I'm surprised by the strong opinions voiced. I generally thought people might be interested to see hear how it went. I'm sorry I offended so many people with the idea.

I like it. You gotta try these things for yourself. It's the only way you'll find out.

 

[Clay52]

What production is achievable on once a day. I would have thought a 20lt average for the lactation is achievable. That's 6000lt. Not that far from 7000 which is what I think @Stinker said his production was anyway

 

[Stinker]

I like it. You gotta try these things for yourself. It's the only way you'll find out.

Everyone says it can't be done but I've not met anyone say they tried it from calving, fed the cows properly and it failed. So I'm going to find out myself.

 

[Clay52]

Everyone says it can't be done but I've not met anyone say they tried it from calving, fed the cows properly and it failed. So I'm going to find out myself.

I can't really see it failing. Obviously there is going to be less production than 2x but people seem think that udders are going to be exploding with Holstein's trying to produce 70lt on OAD. It won't happen. It's not like they are going to be getting 15kg of grain either.

You said you were worried about fertility. How come. Was it an issue on 2x.

 

[bigw]

The cows will adapt better than the people I would think @Stinker good luck with it.

 

[Stinker]

I can't really see it failing. Obviously there is going to be less production than 2x but people seem think that udders are going to be exploding with Holstein's trying to produce 70lt on OAD. It won't happen. It's not like they are going to be getting 15kg of grain either.

You said you were worried about fertility. How come. Was it an issue on 2x.

If I was to scale it up I would like everything calving down in 12 weeks at the latest. Fertility is improving every year but I couldn't currently do that without culling more than I would like.

 

[Clay52]

If I was to scale it up I would like everything calving down in 12 weeks at the latest. Fertility is improving every year but I couldn't currently do that without culling more than I would like.

Similar situation. I'm in the process of tightening my calving blocks right up now. It's a slow process when you come from a poor fertility base, which I did, you can't expect it to happen from one year to the next.

If fert is improving every year just keep working away at it.

 

[Stinker]

Holstein fertility has surpassed my crossbred fertility last year

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Im definitely interested in how it goes and best of luck with it.

 

[Clay52]

Holstein fertility has surpassed my crossbred fertility last year

Yeah in the last 12 months I am the same, that also is without even taking out the fair amount of sexed semen that goes into the Holsteins.

I seem to be making consisten gains on Holstein fertility but crossbreeds have stalled out.

I have a fresh monty crossbreed doing 2lt at the moment. Haha.

 

[robin banks]

Your fertility will massively improve. If I got thin cows not in cycling put them on oad and within 2 weeks they will cycle. Scc is biggest issue but depends how good yours is already. Any trials I read biggest issue is heifers can have a reduced lifetime production. Think milkier cows do better. More british fresian types can dry off too early.