Cows are housed fully on many farms, and most other farms are just counting the days before housing. With grass out of the diet, does it pay to milk on? Based on milk prices and the costs of feeding cows, it makes financial sense to milk on indoors for another few weeks, with the potential to make almost €1.50/cow/day over the costs of labour, feed and parlour running costs, based on a herd milking 10litres/day and milk price of 34c/l.

However, decisions must be made in light of the milking facilities, body condition score and the availability of quality silage. It makes no sense to be using up all the good-quality silage now, only to be left with poorer-quality or pit silage next March or April if grass is tight and when cows are in early lactation. All spring herds should be dried off by early to mid-December, unless planning to milk on empty cows or very late calvers.

In this week's dairy management notes, Aidan Brennan also looks at the steps involved in tubing cows and the milk-price outlook for next year.