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What ‘type’ of labour will best suit my farm this spring?
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<blockquote data-quote="Agriland RSS" data-source="post: 6644939" data-attributes="member: 105608"><p><img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.thefarmingforum.co.uk/images/agrilanduk.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Written by Agriland Team</p><p></p><p>It is never too early to begin preparations for the busy spring-calving period. This year, in particular, farmers will need to put a lot of thought into what labour they will need for spring 2020; in case of a scenario where farmers have to keep bull calves for a longer period of time on farms.</p><p></p><p>Now, and not this spring, is when farmers should begin searching for the required labour they will need for their farm.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/how-to-make-your-farm-a-more-attractive-place-to-work/?utm_source=Agriland&utm_medium=also-read-inline&utm_campaign=also-read-inline" target="_blank"><strong>Also Read:</strong> How to make your farm a more attractive place to work</a></p><p>Reflecting back on previous years should help you decide how much labour you will need, as well as the type of farm labour that will best suit your farm – to reduce the workload this spring.</p><p></p><p>Also, looking back on previous years will help you to see where improvements can be made in terms of labour efficiency.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Night time calver</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>A night time calver is someone who usually comes in the evening and stays overnight on the farm – until early the next morning – doing any of the night-time duties.</p><p></p><p>Some larger farms employ a night-time calver for the busiest six weeks, while smaller farms may only employ a night-time calver for a few nights a week. </p><p></p><p>In other cases, two or three farmers may share a night-time calver for that busiest period of the spring. But, situations can vary.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>A relief milker</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>A relief milker can come in handy on larger farms – during the spring – in addition to another labour unit; or else on a smaller farm that may not have the cow numbers to require a full-time labour unit for the spring period.</p><p></p><p>In such instances, these farmers may benefit from a relief milker doing a proportion or all of the milkings during the busiest weeks; freeing up time for the farmer to focus on other things, such as calf rearing.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>A calf rearer</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>In New Zealand, it is common for dairy farms to have a full-time calf rearer – solely dedicated to the rearing of the calves.</p><p></p><p>Here, on some larger farms, this is also the case. However, this could also be an option for smaller farms, as having a designated calf rearer can also allow the farmer to focus on other jobs.</p><p></p><p>As well, calves benefit from a consistent feeding pattern and routine – which a designated calf rearer can bring.</p><p></p><p>If considering getting a calf rearer, a strict calf management plan should be in place, which the rearer can follow.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Contracting out machinery work</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Contracting out some of the machinery work on the farm – such as the silage feeding, fertiliser spreading or slurry spreading – will reduce the demand for labour in the spring.</p><p></p><p>Approach your contractor now to ensure that he/she is booked in advance.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Besides sourcing help</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Upgrading facilities before the spring period can help to improve labour efficiency and reduce the hours worked on farm.</p><p></p><p>In addition, once-a-day (OAD) milking and OAD calf feeding are also ways of reducing the workload in the spring.</p><p></p><p>Contract rearing is another option; but only if you intend on increasing cow numbers. Where contract rearing is already carried out, perhaps arranging for the rearer to take the calves a couple of weeks earlier could be an option.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Sourcing labour</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Finally, when sourcing spring help, you must be proactive. Placing adverts online – or elsewhere – contacting recruitment agencies and/or colleges are all good places to start.</p><p></p><p>Another option is to approach a dry-stock farmer in your area, to see if he/she may be interested in helping for a few hours per day or in doing a few milkings per week on your farm.</p><p></p><p>The post <a href="https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/what-type-of-labour-will-best-suit-my-farm-this-spring/" target="_blank">What ‘type’ of labour will best suit my farm this spring?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.agriland.co.uk" target="_blank">Agriland.co.uk</a>.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/what-type-of-labour-will-best-suit-my-farm-this-spring/" target="_blank">Continue reading on the Agriland Website...</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Agriland RSS, post: 6644939, member: 105608"] [img]https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.thefarmingforum.co.uk/images/agrilanduk.JPG[/img] Written by Agriland Team It is never too early to begin preparations for the busy spring-calving period. This year, in particular, farmers will need to put a lot of thought into what labour they will need for spring 2020; in case of a scenario where farmers have to keep bull calves for a longer period of time on farms. Now, and not this spring, is when farmers should begin searching for the required labour they will need for their farm. [URL='https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/how-to-make-your-farm-a-more-attractive-place-to-work/?utm_source=Agriland&utm_medium=also-read-inline&utm_campaign=also-read-inline'][B]Also Read:[/B] How to make your farm a more attractive place to work[/URL] Reflecting back on previous years should help you decide how much labour you will need, as well as the type of farm labour that will best suit your farm – to reduce the workload this spring. Also, looking back on previous years will help you to see where improvements can be made in terms of labour efficiency. [SIZE=5][B]Night time calver[/B][/SIZE] A night time calver is someone who usually comes in the evening and stays overnight on the farm – until early the next morning – doing any of the night-time duties. Some larger farms employ a night-time calver for the busiest six weeks, while smaller farms may only employ a night-time calver for a few nights a week. In other cases, two or three farmers may share a night-time calver for that busiest period of the spring. But, situations can vary. [SIZE=5][B]A relief milker[/B][/SIZE] A relief milker can come in handy on larger farms – during the spring – in addition to another labour unit; or else on a smaller farm that may not have the cow numbers to require a full-time labour unit for the spring period. In such instances, these farmers may benefit from a relief milker doing a proportion or all of the milkings during the busiest weeks; freeing up time for the farmer to focus on other things, such as calf rearing. [SIZE=5][B]A calf rearer[/B][/SIZE] In New Zealand, it is common for dairy farms to have a full-time calf rearer – solely dedicated to the rearing of the calves. Here, on some larger farms, this is also the case. However, this could also be an option for smaller farms, as having a designated calf rearer can also allow the farmer to focus on other jobs. As well, calves benefit from a consistent feeding pattern and routine – which a designated calf rearer can bring. If considering getting a calf rearer, a strict calf management plan should be in place, which the rearer can follow. [SIZE=5][B]Contracting out machinery work[/B][/SIZE] Contracting out some of the machinery work on the farm – such as the silage feeding, fertiliser spreading or slurry spreading – will reduce the demand for labour in the spring. Approach your contractor now to ensure that he/she is booked in advance. [SIZE=5][B]Besides sourcing help[/B][/SIZE] Upgrading facilities before the spring period can help to improve labour efficiency and reduce the hours worked on farm. In addition, once-a-day (OAD) milking and OAD calf feeding are also ways of reducing the workload in the spring. Contract rearing is another option; but only if you intend on increasing cow numbers. Where contract rearing is already carried out, perhaps arranging for the rearer to take the calves a couple of weeks earlier could be an option. [SIZE=5][B]Sourcing labour[/B][/SIZE] Finally, when sourcing spring help, you must be proactive. Placing adverts online – or elsewhere – contacting recruitment agencies and/or colleges are all good places to start. Another option is to approach a dry-stock farmer in your area, to see if he/she may be interested in helping for a few hours per day or in doing a few milkings per week on your farm. The post [URL='https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/what-type-of-labour-will-best-suit-my-farm-this-spring/']What ‘type’ of labour will best suit my farm this spring?[/URL] appeared first on [URL='https://www.agriland.co.uk']Agriland.co.uk[/URL]. [url="https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/what-type-of-labour-will-best-suit-my-farm-this-spring/"]Continue reading on the Agriland Website...[/url] [/QUOTE]
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