Staffing levels

frederick

Member
Location
south west
Forgot to mention calf rearer at calving time. 60 point rotary, cows out 11 months of year, tracks to every paddock on a Batt latch. Keeping staff motivated keeps the job running smooth plus our old cowman who has been on the farm for 50 years still does a bit 😂
So if that's 160 hours a week. It's 6 man minutes a week per cow or 25 seconds a milking allocated to each cow that is efficient in extreme.
Makes my 1 minute 50 a cow seem really spoling for them
 

Dead Rabbits

Member
Location
'Merica
So if that's 160 hours a week. It's 6 man minutes a week per cow or 25 seconds a milking allocated to each cow that is efficient in extreme.
Makes my 1 minute 50 a cow seem really spoling for them
I was allocating 12 seconds per cow per day and couldn’t quite get my head round it. OAD would make it doable but still no slack.

I’ve milked 1600 grazing cows 2x in a 50 bail rotary and found it anything but a doddle. Not to mention milking, breeding, calving, health issues and running the business.
 

Conrod96

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co. Antrim
Running 400 autumn Calvers, myself, dad, brother, and full time man. Granda still doing work at 81 and have another guy comes on a Friday. Doing all own young stock and most of the field work apart from mowing, raking and lifting of silage. Family farm so sometimes sure we all end up working to many hours but get every 3rd weekend off and 2/3 mornings a week off milking
 

DairyGrazing

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North West
I was allocating 12 seconds per cow per day and couldn’t quite get my head round it. OAD would make it doable but still no slack.

I’ve milked 1600 grazing cows 2x in a 50 bail rotary and found it anything but a doddle. Not to mention milking, breeding, calving, health issues and running the business.

Had the misfortune of milking 1900 x2 through a 50:100 swing over for a few weeks when all the power went out in Canterbury. Still upset I didn't get a medal.
 
I think people should have to video themselves working and post on youtube to back up some the claims they make on here.

I guarantee you things would get more realistic real quick!

We had our first real discussion group meeting in nearly 18 months this week. It was good to get out and see people. Everyone seemed to be doing a lot less milk than those on here and have a lot more problems. Either we're a really sh!t bunch of farmers or just a bit more honest.
 

Kiss

Member
Location
North west
320 springs
200 young stock

I’d say we are 3, probably a little less, 2 full time and one Made up of part time and family infills mainly at calving


The best operators I visited in NZ were 1000 cows 4 labour units, contractors for the lot, replacements off at 100kgs

we are very busy at times but equally once the bulls are in and calves off milk a weekend afternoon can be one person comfortably
 

DairyGrazing

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North West
320 springs
200 young stock

I’d say we are 3, probably a little less, 2 full time and one Made up of part time and family infills mainly at calving


The best operators I visited in NZ were 1000 cows 4 labour units, contractors for the lot, replacements off at 100kgs

we are very busy at times but equally once the bulls are in and calves off milk a weekend afternoon can be one person comfortably

Did they have centre pivots and rotaries? Was one of the four doing financial budgets, paper work etc?
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
Had the misfortune of milking 1900 x2 through a 50:100 swing over for a few weeks when all the power went out in Canterbury. Still upset I didn't get a medal.
Mate did 1600 though a 20:40 for a year before they moved farms, farm was Going for development just outside Hamilton NZ 😳 think it was switched off for a couple of hours a day🙈
 

vantage

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembs
Mate did 1600 though a 20:40 for a year before they moved farms, farm was Going for development just outside Hamilton NZ 😳 think it was switched off for a couple of hours a day🙈
7 minute rows, for 20+ hours a day, that is going some. Obviously no cow health issues or machine problems.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 78 43.1%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.8%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.6%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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