"You need time out, every one should be taking more time off " that was the opinion of Kevin Ahern who was speaking at the Teagasc event on resilient dairy farming at Shinagh farm which he manages. Speaking at a stand on labour efficiency, he stressed that regardless of herd size, everyone needs to take time off. He recommended having a back up who knows your system, a phone call away. "Nobody knows when anybody is going to get sick" he said, adding that casual labour is available, there are people coming out of Ag college, they need a bit of cash.They won't commit to full time work but they will commit to a few evenings. Life outside the farm was important to Ahern.
"I'd be strict that clusters have to be on for seven in the morning but I'd be even more strict that they have to be on for four in the evening so we can all be out the gate for six," he said.
On average they are working 19 hours per cow per year at Shinagh. Paidi Kelly of Teagasc said hours/cow/year is a more important discussion than how many cows can an individual manage.
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Tailored to demand
With 50% of the hours worked in a year on Shinagh farm confined to three months, labour is tailored to meet this demand. Kevin manages the farm and for eight months of the year is the only full time staff member with relief workers available when required.In spring there's three staff present five days a week and they have a roster which sees everyone getting every second weekend off. A second in command is around full time in February and March and return to do morning milking in May. A student on placement for three months starts in February. Ahern spoke positively of students.
"We find students who have been here come back as relief millers. I respect and appreciate the effort they put into the farm."
Heifers are contracted reared leaving the farm as weaned calves in early May. All machinery work is contracted out from fertiliser to feeding silage. Silage feeding is done by contractor every second to third day with pushing in silage in between these days being the principal tractor work undertaken by Kevin and his staff.
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"You need time out, every one should be taking more time off " that was the opinion of Kevin Ahern who was speaking at the Teagasc event on resilient dairy farming at Shinagh farm which he manages. Speaking at a stand on labour efficiency, he stressed that regardless of herd size, everyone needs to take time off. He recommended having a back up who knows your system, a phone call away. "Nobody knows when anybody is going to get sick" he said, adding that casual labour is available, there are people coming out of Ag college, they need a bit of cash.They won't commit to full time work but they will commit to a few evenings. Life outside the farm was important to Ahern.
"I'd be strict that clusters have to be on for seven in the morning but I'd be even more strict that they have to be on for four in the evening so we can all be out the gate for six," he said.
On average they are working 19 hours per cow per year at Shinagh. Paidi Kelly of Teagasc said hours/cow/year is a more important discussion than how many cows can an individual manage.
Tailored to demand
With 50% of the hours worked in a year on Shinagh farm confined to three months, labour is tailored to meet this demand. Kevin manages the farm and for eight months of the year is the only full time staff member with relief workers available when required.In spring there's three staff present five days a week and they have a roster which sees everyone getting every second weekend off. A second in command is around full time in February and March and return to do morning milking in May. A student on placement for three months starts in February. Ahern spoke positively of students.
"We find students who have been here come back as relief millers. I respect and appreciate the effort they put into the farm."
Heifers are contracted reared leaving the farm as weaned calves in early May. All machinery work is contracted out from fertiliser to feeding silage. Silage feeding is done by contractor every second to third day with pushing in silage in between these days being the principal tractor work undertaken by Kevin and his staff.
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