What makes you efficient?

[Farmer_1994]

Every dairy farm is different, we all manage differently. With the current economic climate I’ve just been wondering what others are all doing to get even more efficient?

Rightly or wrongly we’ve decided to go from 3 times a day milking down to twice daily. Looking forward to the simpler schedule and not dealing with so much staff and the accompanying pay cheques and headaches they bring!

 

[lazy farmer]

Block calving. With definite cut off dates and simple systems.

 

[easy farming]

Block calving. With definite cut off dates and simple systems.

In their case though I don't think milk from grazed grass will be a major KPI

 

[jerseycowsman]

Block calving, cow tracks and grazing as much grass and clover as possible, keep it simple

 

[Farmer Keith]

Simplicity and cows that suit the farm not building a farm/system to suit the cows.

 

[jondear]

Starting that tractor for anything now makes you think!

 

[Horn&corn]

Doing a job well the first time. Now to take notice of my own advice

 

[early riser]

Simple system that is not dependent on lots oflabour.

Majority of tractor work done by contractors so that I can focus on the cows and not have lots of capital tied up in depreciating machinery

The above two things are applicable to both low input and high input systems

 

[Kidds]

Having tractors and machinery in good order. Doesn't have to be the latest, greatest or biggest but does need to start, stop and do what it is supposed to do in between.
Nothing more time consuming than messing about with crap equipment.

 

[vantage]

Mrs vantage barking at me because we're going to be late!

 

[Scholsey]

A ‘can do’ attitude and not reading farming/dairy magazines anymore.

 

[sidjon]

After this morning, probably staying in bed.......

 

[Enry]

Having a big push on accurate recording of all sorts of data - with a view to then use that to identify hidden costs and waste. Rear the right number of heifers, have data to back up decisions whether to keep serving cows, management accounts with a tight grip on what we are actually paying for every input. I'm guilty of often not knowing enough about our day to day costs and want to be more on it. I expect to cull more ruthlessly, drive preg rate up, use vet more effectively not necessarily more. Also soil testing and grazing youngstock more effectively

 

[early riser]

I would say that one of the biggest drivers of efficiency on all units is knowing the sweet spot for your farm i.e. how many cows can the land comfortably support.

See far too many farms simply carrying too many cows, then spending a lifetime dragging silage in one way and slurry out the other. Or carrying far too many heifers that eat into profits.

I’ve been as guilty as anyone of the above, but have come to realise that ‘less is more’ in many circumstances

But cutting numbers doesn’t keep up with the Jones’s……….

 

[Princess Pooper]

We are very inefficient in many ways, most of which we are aware of.

But one thing that we are proud of that does help overall efficiency is healthy cows and calves. If you can keep a lid on things like pneumonia and scours and difficult calvings then it's good for the animals, good for the bottom line, good for carbon footprint, good for morale, and happy workers are more efficient.

 

[coomoo]

Simple system that is not dependent on lots oflabour.

Majority of tractor work done by contractors so that I can focus on the cows and not have lots of capital tied up in depreciating machinery

The above two things are applicable to both low input and high input systems

 

[Bald Rick]

Bed by 9pm

 

[Kiss]

I’m not sure we should be changing much in fairness money spent regardless of economic climate has to show a return

banning the dairy supplies van where nothing is priced and all goes on account is probably the easiest win, same as general living convenience has a cost,

 

[Farmer_1994]

Bed by 9pm

I aim to be asleep by then as well!

 

[Enry]

I would say that one of the biggest drivers of efficiency on all units is knowing the sweet spot for your farm i.e. how many cows can the land comfortably support.

See far too many farms simply carrying too many cows, then spending a lifetime dragging silage in one way and slurry out the other. Or carrying far too many heifers that eat into profits.

I’ve been as guilty as anyone of the above, but have come to realise that ‘less is more’ in many circumstances

But cutting numbers doesn’t keep up with the Jones’s……….

I see smaller herds with fantastic attention to detail and big ones where corners are cut and economy of scale is all they go on about. One not too far must have over 1000 cows now, hauls maize miles and same with slurry, heifers reared some 20 miles away and dry cows on different farms. Lots of machinery and by all accounts a lot of stress - not for me! Keeping animals alive and healthy has to be a big win on all aspects, also sometimes just having the time to stop and take stock