Isn’t it amazing how modern dairy genetics can bounce in milk solids when fed properly. On the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny, the milk protein percentage lifted from 3.18% in early April to over 3.70% by 20 April. That’s a 0.5% of a lift in protein in less than two weeks. The latest protein test came in at 3.78% protein (Figure 1).
In late March/early April, the cows were still getting some baled silage and, despite the fact it was good baled silage, it is nothing compared with quality grass. Even as milk yield increased through April, the protein percentage has continued to increase. In April, over 185,000 litres were delivered.
As the cows have consumed more leafy grass, the fat percentage has dropped. In early April, the fat percentage was closer to 5%, but by the end of the month the fat percentage had dropped closer to 4.5%. Somatic cell count averaged 130,000 cells/ml for the month and the latest TBC is five.
It goes to show once you deliver proper quality feed combined with the best genetics for milk solids, the cows will deliver and respond to proper feed. Remember, this herd isn’t an established herd that has been refined for quality for the last 30 years. It was cobbled together from all parts of the country in 2010 and, by a combination of a high cull rate and a high replacement rate, the herd has been transformed. It is still a relatively young herd, with almost 50% of the cows in their first and second lactation, so expect performance to improve with more mature yields.
What about the money?
Looking at the latest Glanbia milk statement, it shows that the Glanbia group average fat percentage for April milk was 4.20%, while the Greenfield average was 4.89%. Similarly, the Glanbia group protein percentage average was 3.24%, while the Greenfield average came in at 3.48%. For me, this is the price premium that every dairy farmer must strive to deliver. Even at the pathetic base price of €3/kg milk solids which dairy farmers are getting at the moment, this milk solids premium is worth €4,000 for the April milk cheque. If you could do that for every month, you can see what the milk solids premium is worth in a year.
If milk price was a more respectable €4/kg milk solids, the better fat and protein would be worth well over €5,000 on the April milk cheque, and over €6,500 if we had a milk price closer to €5/kg milk solids. Any time you get a €5,000 cheque for buying less feed and using more grazed grass, it must make you sit up and take notice.
At this stage, there is a fair percentage of Jersey crossbred genetics in the herd and the policy of criss-crossing with high EBI genetics continues. Have a look at the video and pictures online and see the herd as they grazed a paddock on Monday.
Not all genetics
Of course, genetics are only part of the milk solids equation. At this time of the year, the herd is going into paddocks of 1,400kg DM/ha (six to eight inches high) leafy grass with a mix of clover and cleaning them out to the floor in three or four grazings, depending on the grass cover. There are no strip wires or no restrictions, except one in three or four grazings and quality to the floor.
What’s crucial at this time of the year is getting the fertiliser right and keeping the grass moving to maximise growth now while stocking rate is high. The silage paddocks have been dropped out of the farm cover and this year they have been rolled. There were a lot of loose stones in these paddocks, so the contractor will be pleased. When I walked the paddocks last weekend, the rolling had not repaired the holes from the early season grazing damage. Rightly or wrongly, my synopsis was that rolling was probably a bit too late into the dry period and the ground was a bit too hard to have real impact. There is a cover of about 800kg to 900kg across the silage paddocks, so while yield is behind they should bulk up this week and they are well fertilised and leafy green, so they should soak up sunshine this week.
Breeding season
The breeding season is 10 days old at the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny today (Thursday) and, on average, 17 cows have been bred per day. In total, almost 200 cows of the 320 available have been bred to date with all cows served to dairy AI.
The breeding season for the maiden heifers started on the same day, 10 days ago. If you include the maiden heifers submitted for breeding today, there are 85 of the 95 maiden heifers bred so far. Despite the difficult spring, submission rates are on track and cows are showing strong signs of heat. However, the real proof of good fertility will be the conception rate to these served in the first three weeks and it will take another four to five weeks to determine that.
About 50 cows of the 320 are on once-a-day milking as condition score on this subset of cows is below the 2.5 threshold. Farm staff have a tape on the tails of cows not to be milked in the evening and they stay in the main herd but the clusters don’t go on. Farm staff suggest that you can see a visible difference in condition score within days.
Lameness is an issue at the moment and this is part of the lower condition score on some cows. Why? The wet weather is affecting cows’ hooves and roadways to some extent but, on the farm, we need to be better equipped to manage lame cows sooner rather than waiting for external expertise all the time.
Greenfield
open day
There is a public open day planned for the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny on Wednesday 18 May. On the day there will be a review of financial performance for the last seven years, an update on current performance, an opportunity to see the herd and grassland management at a crucial time of the year, as breeding progresses, along with much more. Parking will be on the farm.
The April protein bounce - April protein percentage lifted from 3.20% in early April to over 3.70% towards the end of April.April milk cheque €4,000 better with milk solids premium above co-op average.Grazing management – take down the strip wire to deliver more milk solids.Breeding – submission rates good so far two weeks into breeding.
Isn’t it amazing how modern dairy genetics can bounce in milk solids when fed properly. On the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny, the milk protein percentage lifted from 3.18% in early April to over 3.70% by 20 April. That’s a 0.5% of a lift in protein in less than two weeks. The latest protein test came in at 3.78% protein (Figure 1).
In late March/early April, the cows were still getting some baled silage and, despite the fact it was good baled silage, it is nothing compared with quality grass. Even as milk yield increased through April, the protein percentage has continued to increase. In April, over 185,000 litres were delivered.
As the cows have consumed more leafy grass, the fat percentage has dropped. In early April, the fat percentage was closer to 5%, but by the end of the month the fat percentage had dropped closer to 4.5%. Somatic cell count averaged 130,000 cells/ml for the month and the latest TBC is five.
It goes to show once you deliver proper quality feed combined with the best genetics for milk solids, the cows will deliver and respond to proper feed. Remember, this herd isn’t an established herd that has been refined for quality for the last 30 years. It was cobbled together from all parts of the country in 2010 and, by a combination of a high cull rate and a high replacement rate, the herd has been transformed. It is still a relatively young herd, with almost 50% of the cows in their first and second lactation, so expect performance to improve with more mature yields.
What about the money?
Looking at the latest Glanbia milk statement, it shows that the Glanbia group average fat percentage for April milk was 4.20%, while the Greenfield average was 4.89%. Similarly, the Glanbia group protein percentage average was 3.24%, while the Greenfield average came in at 3.48%. For me, this is the price premium that every dairy farmer must strive to deliver. Even at the pathetic base price of €3/kg milk solids which dairy farmers are getting at the moment, this milk solids premium is worth €4,000 for the April milk cheque. If you could do that for every month, you can see what the milk solids premium is worth in a year.
If milk price was a more respectable €4/kg milk solids, the better fat and protein would be worth well over €5,000 on the April milk cheque, and over €6,500 if we had a milk price closer to €5/kg milk solids. Any time you get a €5,000 cheque for buying less feed and using more grazed grass, it must make you sit up and take notice.
At this stage, there is a fair percentage of Jersey crossbred genetics in the herd and the policy of criss-crossing with high EBI genetics continues. Have a look at the video and pictures online and see the herd as they grazed a paddock on Monday.
Not all genetics
Of course, genetics are only part of the milk solids equation. At this time of the year, the herd is going into paddocks of 1,400kg DM/ha (six to eight inches high) leafy grass with a mix of clover and cleaning them out to the floor in three or four grazings, depending on the grass cover. There are no strip wires or no restrictions, except one in three or four grazings and quality to the floor.
What’s crucial at this time of the year is getting the fertiliser right and keeping the grass moving to maximise growth now while stocking rate is high. The silage paddocks have been dropped out of the farm cover and this year they have been rolled. There were a lot of loose stones in these paddocks, so the contractor will be pleased. When I walked the paddocks last weekend, the rolling had not repaired the holes from the early season grazing damage. Rightly or wrongly, my synopsis was that rolling was probably a bit too late into the dry period and the ground was a bit too hard to have real impact. There is a cover of about 800kg to 900kg across the silage paddocks, so while yield is behind they should bulk up this week and they are well fertilised and leafy green, so they should soak up sunshine this week.
Breeding season
The breeding season is 10 days old at the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny today (Thursday) and, on average, 17 cows have been bred per day. In total, almost 200 cows of the 320 available have been bred to date with all cows served to dairy AI.
The breeding season for the maiden heifers started on the same day, 10 days ago. If you include the maiden heifers submitted for breeding today, there are 85 of the 95 maiden heifers bred so far. Despite the difficult spring, submission rates are on track and cows are showing strong signs of heat. However, the real proof of good fertility will be the conception rate to these served in the first three weeks and it will take another four to five weeks to determine that.
About 50 cows of the 320 are on once-a-day milking as condition score on this subset of cows is below the 2.5 threshold. Farm staff have a tape on the tails of cows not to be milked in the evening and they stay in the main herd but the clusters don’t go on. Farm staff suggest that you can see a visible difference in condition score within days.
Lameness is an issue at the moment and this is part of the lower condition score on some cows. Why? The wet weather is affecting cows’ hooves and roadways to some extent but, on the farm, we need to be better equipped to manage lame cows sooner rather than waiting for external expertise all the time.
Greenfield
open day
There is a public open day planned for the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny on Wednesday 18 May. On the day there will be a review of financial performance for the last seven years, an update on current performance, an opportunity to see the herd and grassland management at a crucial time of the year, as breeding progresses, along with much more. Parking will be on the farm.
The April protein bounce - April protein percentage lifted from 3.20% in early April to over 3.70% towards the end of April.April milk cheque €4,000 better with milk solids premium above co-op average.Grazing management – take down the strip wire to deliver more milk solids.Breeding – submission rates good so far two weeks into breeding. 
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