Northern Ireland farmers continue to expand with cow numbers rising each year and increasing amounts of purchased feed and herds moving to full or partial confinement systems.
Ulster Bank, Genus and Jason McMinn from Farmgate Consultants teamed up to host a conference on the subject in Co Tyrone recently.
Are farmers right to house cows and feed more meal, and what is the effect on production, health, welfare and economics?
Cormac McKervey from Ulster Bank chaired the session, which looked at the pros and cons of each system.
Jason McMinn is an independent farm consultant working with farmers who are in both high and low input systems.
He said: “The gist of making profit, no matter what system you are in, is to maximise your resources and get as much milk from forage as possible.
“I have clients who do good and bad things, and farmers in both systems not making much money. As Northern farms expanded, there are now more cows per farm and, in general, farmers are working much harder..
“While there is more mechanisation – it’s all good stuff like robots, heat detectors, machines, etc. – farmers must remember that they all wear and tear and will need to be replaced.
“About 45% more meal is fed and more cows are being housed and more acres are turned into silage.”
Jason explained that, in his opinion, a system should fit your farm and your cow should fit your system.
He said many farmers have moved into autumn calving to produce more milk from a restricted land base and, if cows calve in August and September, then they go out to grass in spring as they go stale.
“Many farmers do this for cashflow reasons so they can meet bank loan repayments and often it means farmers are confusing cashflow with profit but we have to make a distinction between the two.”
JASON'S 2014 CHALLENGES
Price volatility – milk/meal ratio
Jason explained that meal price in Northern Ireland should be 85% of milk price if you want to make money.
“Last year, it was over 1:1, therefore it was costing more to feed than kg of milk was worth. At the moment, the ratio is in the 70s, but this depends on the farmers’ own arrangements.”
Conacre land
Most land leased in Northern Ireland is done on a year-to-year basis.
“It’s like driving with the handbrake on and is a major problem in this country. If I was in charge, I’d make it that those leasing shouldn’t get tax benefits unless land is rented out in five-year blocks.”
Bull calves in dairy herds
Jason explained: “Holstein Friesian bull calves normally lose money if kept and they become a cashflow problem with money sitting on your overdraft. Farmers need to focus on what is important – most farmers use six to eight times more feed than fertilizer.
“Most of the time, between my clients there is a 3p/l different between low and high quality milk so farmers must breed for more fat and protein. In the tough times, that 3p/l makes a big difference.
“If cows are indoors full-time, then you need to be aware that it takes 11 to 12 litres per day to feed the cows on silage.
“If indoors full-time, you need 9,000 litres at least to be sustainable and, even then, I don’t advocate it, I’d never push it.”
Some farms are moving to a system where they keep the lower yielding cows outdoors and the higher yielders stay inside all the time.
Jason said: “There is a lot more work with this system and I feel it only works well when feeding in the parlour. When buffer feeding cows, you have to be aware that a cow will train you to give you more silage and lie on the grass.”
Silage costs and fertility
“Up around here, I estimate the cost of grass silage is £100/tonne of dry matter and, if you need 2t per cow, then that’s £200 per cow.
“In the indoor system, making good or bad silage will make or break you each year. Good fertility is vital. You have to keep an iron grip on fertility if inside. Have a policy on what cows are to be culled or do not breed cows and stick to it. The stock bull won’t have a list.”
Labour management
Jason said: “If you have a large herd and lots of staff, make sure all staff have clearly defined roles and each one is responsible. If short of land, consider putting replacements on a straw-based diet or at least compare that option to contract rearing.”
Quotes from Dr Gareth Arnott, Dairy Research Fellow, Queens University Belfast, who has undertaken an AgriSearch-sponsored review of global dairy science literature to examine the advantages and disadvantages of total confinement and pasture systems.
“When comparing cows on grazed systems versus cows indoors, the housed cows definitely produce more milk.” “Clear benefits of milk composition from cows on grazed grass. Higher CLA in all milk...”“In terms of cow health, there is definitely increased lameness when cows are continuously housed. Digital dermatitis is increased and mastitis is also a bigger issue...” “Three studies recently published tracking the environmental advantages incorporating the total life cycle of all feeds, including feeds imported, etc., show that pasture-produced milk is more efficient per litre, per acre and per cow.”“There are advantages and disadvantages of each system and, with the conventional Northern Ireland system, are we trying to do the best of both worlds?”“95% of consumers in a UK study think it’s unacceptable to keep cows indoors.”“Paying more for milk from grass is likely to be an area that will increase.”“Sustainable intensification – don’t sleepwalk into one system or the other. If intent on indoors milk, knowing the total costs is critical.”
Northern Ireland farmers continue to expand with cow numbers rising each year and increasing amounts of purchased feed and herds moving to full or partial confinement systems.
Ulster Bank, Genus and Jason McMinn from Farmgate Consultants teamed up to host a conference on the subject in Co Tyrone recently.
Are farmers right to house cows and feed more meal, and what is the effect on production, health, welfare and economics?
Cormac McKervey from Ulster Bank chaired the session, which looked at the pros and cons of each system.
Jason McMinn is an independent farm consultant working with farmers who are in both high and low input systems.
He said: “The gist of making profit, no matter what system you are in, is to maximise your resources and get as much milk from forage as possible.
“I have clients who do good and bad things, and farmers in both systems not making much money. As Northern farms expanded, there are now more cows per farm and, in general, farmers are working much harder..
“While there is more mechanisation – it’s all good stuff like robots, heat detectors, machines, etc. – farmers must remember that they all wear and tear and will need to be replaced.
“About 45% more meal is fed and more cows are being housed and more acres are turned into silage.”
Jason explained that, in his opinion, a system should fit your farm and your cow should fit your system.
He said many farmers have moved into autumn calving to produce more milk from a restricted land base and, if cows calve in August and September, then they go out to grass in spring as they go stale.
“Many farmers do this for cashflow reasons so they can meet bank loan repayments and often it means farmers are confusing cashflow with profit but we have to make a distinction between the two.”
JASON'S 2014 CHALLENGES
Price volatility – milk/meal ratio
Jason explained that meal price in Northern Ireland should be 85% of milk price if you want to make money.
“Last year, it was over 1:1, therefore it was costing more to feed than kg of milk was worth. At the moment, the ratio is in the 70s, but this depends on the farmers’ own arrangements.”
Conacre land
Most land leased in Northern Ireland is done on a year-to-year basis.
“It’s like driving with the handbrake on and is a major problem in this country. If I was in charge, I’d make it that those leasing shouldn’t get tax benefits unless land is rented out in five-year blocks.”
Bull calves in dairy herds
Jason explained: “Holstein Friesian bull calves normally lose money if kept and they become a cashflow problem with money sitting on your overdraft. Farmers need to focus on what is important – most farmers use six to eight times more feed than fertilizer.
“Most of the time, between my clients there is a 3p/l different between low and high quality milk so farmers must breed for more fat and protein. In the tough times, that 3p/l makes a big difference.
“If cows are indoors full-time, then you need to be aware that it takes 11 to 12 litres per day to feed the cows on silage.
“If indoors full-time, you need 9,000 litres at least to be sustainable and, even then, I don’t advocate it, I’d never push it.”
Some farms are moving to a system where they keep the lower yielding cows outdoors and the higher yielders stay inside all the time.
Jason said: “There is a lot more work with this system and I feel it only works well when feeding in the parlour. When buffer feeding cows, you have to be aware that a cow will train you to give you more silage and lie on the grass.”
Silage costs and fertility
“Up around here, I estimate the cost of grass silage is £100/tonne of dry matter and, if you need 2t per cow, then that’s £200 per cow.
“In the indoor system, making good or bad silage will make or break you each year. Good fertility is vital. You have to keep an iron grip on fertility if inside. Have a policy on what cows are to be culled or do not breed cows and stick to it. The stock bull won’t have a list.”
Labour management
Jason said: “If you have a large herd and lots of staff, make sure all staff have clearly defined roles and each one is responsible. If short of land, consider putting replacements on a straw-based diet or at least compare that option to contract rearing.”
Quotes from Dr Gareth Arnott, Dairy Research Fellow, Queens University Belfast, who has undertaken an AgriSearch-sponsored review of global dairy science literature to examine the advantages and disadvantages of total confinement and pasture systems.
“When comparing cows on grazed systems versus cows indoors, the housed cows definitely produce more milk.” “Clear benefits of milk composition from cows on grazed grass. Higher CLA in all milk...”“In terms of cow health, there is definitely increased lameness when cows are continuously housed. Digital dermatitis is increased and mastitis is also a bigger issue...” “Three studies recently published tracking the environmental advantages incorporating the total life cycle of all feeds, including feeds imported, etc., show that pasture-produced milk is more efficient per litre, per acre and per cow.”“There are advantages and disadvantages of each system and, with the conventional Northern Ireland system, are we trying to do the best of both worlds?”“95% of consumers in a UK study think it’s unacceptable to keep cows indoors.”“Paying more for milk from grass is likely to be an area that will increase.”“Sustainable intensification – don’t sleepwalk into one system or the other. If intent on indoors milk, knowing the total costs is critical.” 
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