Thinking of getting out of dairying

[Clay52]

They are doing it for the love of it without profit most of the time but yes I know it does sometimes not work and have know it to break a family up.

Opportunity cost.

It's not free.

 

[Baling Hay]

Opportunity cost.

It's not free.

Like x 100!!!!

 

[vulcan]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

 

[Baling Hay]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

I have two relatives who quit ten years ago and have since started again as it is the only thing that pays!

 

[Jamesni]

If you go out of milk I would say look at jobs away from full time farming. Beef isn't overly profitable, to make it pay reasonably in my opinion you need a fairly high turnover of stock which probably will need an investment in buildings.
Maybe you just need a break for a year? Sell milkers and keep replacement heifers so you can go back into it if desired, or just sell them when they calve if you don't want to start again.

 

[Flossie]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

Round here, I don't think I can think of anyone who's packed up and regretted it. Everyone I can think of runs beefers or lambs a few yows to keep the grass down while working on various other farms/, or just let the land out while they go out to work.

 

[yin ewe]

+1 for robot, will free up time to spend with your young family and the extra milk produced from 3x milking will help with the repayments.

 

[kiwi pom]

Will 140 acres be enough to live on, now and in the future if you pack up?
Beef on that acreage would only be a part time job would it not, would you have to work away from the farm as well?
People I know that have gone into dairying round here have done so because they say they want to be on the farm to see their kids grow up and spend time with them.
Seems to be the opposite on here

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

But the choice between milking cows and a 8am-5pm job is simple too....

 

[Tarw Coch]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

Dad packed up milking when I was a lad but was glad to get back in a few years later after moving farm and getting some quota. We've certainly made more money in milk than out but then again there is a lot more work, tie and commitment. With no successor I don't intend growing old milking cows but as for when I pack it in, that's more difficult, having seen the other side of the fence I don't expect it to be particularly profitable.

 

[Irish NZ]

I have two relatives who quit ten years ago and have since started again as it is the only thing that pays!

No no no your wrong no money in cows....*



*according to people who/don't milk cows

 

[supercow]

Cow's are less hassle than people!

Much rather work with a kicking Hiefer than a twit of a human!!! I would convert old buildings to fit a bobcat,borrow money for a parlour shed go up to 150 cows but that's just me. Was thinking last night pushing the silage in at 11 o'clock and checking Calvers.. It's so constant, 365 days a year, every day there is something not right, a lame cow that u can't fix a cow that u can't get in calve, a calve struggling with phnemonia, a stirk not thriving.. But that's the challenge. I do actualy get bored of everything is going swimmingly and smooth! A challenge is addictive .

 

[William Mellor]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

Relatives packed in milking 12 years ago, they always tell me at the time it was the right thing todo but have since regretted it but they were milking no more that 40

 

[supercow]

+1 for robot, will free up time to spend with your young family and the extra milk produced from 3x milking will help with the repayments.

If robots free up time ur overstaffed and missing problems!

 

[Clay52]

When thinking about robots making dairy easy to get away from. With a normal parlour milking is two hours twice a day and then that job is over. With a robot, milking never finishes, you are on call for a breakdown 24 hours a day. Does it really make it easier to get away from the farm?

Then you have people talking about milking extra cows to make the repayments. More cows, more problems.

 

[supercow]

Cows need a lot of time spent on them, u just can't get round that it's just the way it is, sometimes I think people put robots in to make life easier, I personally can't think of anything worse chasing cows into a robot all day. Get a couple relief milkers handy and ul not get a better quality of life than a good parlour

 

[multi power]

When thinking about robots making dairy easy to get away from. With a normal parlour milking is two hours twice a day and then that job is over. With a robot, milking never finishes, you are on call for a breakdown 24 hours a day. Does it really make it easier to get away from the farm?

Then you have people talking about milking extra cows to make the repayments. More cows, more problems.

I have came to the conclusion that if you just want to do less hard work and more pottering around then this is where a robot would be useful, but no good if you want to spend time away from the farm

 

[Rossymons]

Anyone packed in milking on here and gone on to regret it or no of anyone that has?All round here that have gone out over the years wish they had done it sooner!!!

I used to clip cows for herd sales. I would often go back a couple weeks later as chances are they would have some stock held back from the sale for whatever reason and I would buy them privately.

None of them regret selling up and moving on but NONE of them have remained in farming neither. They all had a plan of what they wanted to do after the sale and have done it.Thats what you would need to think about.

 

[William Mellor]

When thinking about robots making dairy easy to get away from. With a normal parlour milking is two hours twice a day and then that job is over. With a robot, milking never finishes, you are on call for a breakdown 24 hours a day. Does it really make it easier to get away from the farm?

Then you have people talking about milking extra cows to make the repayments. More cows, more problems.

Was talking to the lads who service my palour and they said the same you are never finished milking

 

[pappuller]

Cows need a lot of time spent on them, u just can't get round that it's just the way it is, sometimes I think people put robots in to make life easier, I personally can't think of anything worse chasing cows into a robot all day. Get a couple relief milkers handy and ul not get a better quality of life than a good parlour

Not quite sure where you get the idea of chasing cows all day ?