Spray reseeds: I know there are still a few farmers completing the last of the reseeding for 2014, but those that did get the reseed job completed in July and August should try and spray the new crop of seedling weeds, if at all possible. It is by far the best spray to control weeds that you can do. The key point is don’t leave it too late. Spray when the weeds are about the size of a small matchbox. It is too late when the grass begins to shade the weeds.
Cull cows: I’ve been talking to more farmers this week on cull cows and what to do with spring-calving cows not in calf. Most agree swinging them around from one year to the next is not on, for one reason or another. They get too fat, get mastitis or simply don’t go in calf next time around. Therefore, you either:
Sell them out of the parlour now or in December, as milking cows to somebody who wants to milk them over winter. Continue to milk them yourself if quota allows and then sell or keep them for fattening over winter. Some are in the scenario where they are over quota so they are deciding to dry not in-calf cows off now and start to fatten outside with a view to finishing for January. If you have fresh young cows not in calf and plenty of good silage, then it might make sense for you.
While green barley is selling for €155 off the combine, the average retail price for a simple two-way mix of barley and gluten is still relatively expensive at €215/t, not the €180/t quoted last week that some seem to be able to get.
In terms of the effect of selling or fattening cull cows, my accountant friends tell me the effect on taxable profit actually depends on the value of cows in your farm inventory. If they are valued low and you sell them high, it will increase profit. Conversely, if they are high value in books and you sell them as canners, it will reduce profit. In any case, tax should not be the main reason for keeping them – it’s the opportunity to make profit on them that should decide.
Somatic Cell count: If your bulk tank reading is over 200,000 cells/ml at the moment, then you need to take action. Is this year the ideal year to try and take out or cure the offenders? For September milk supplies, the top 15 mainly spring farmers at this time of the year will average around 100,000 cells/ml for the bulk tank collections. Compare that with 200,000 for those 6,000 dairy herds involved in milk recording (see page 40 and 41).
I hear of in-calf high EBI heifers making €1,300 to €1,400 at the moment. In my book, that’s great value for money relative to what a cull cow will make. There is no excuse for retaining consistently poor cell cows, especially now the quota brakes are coming off. If once-a-day milking, mark high cell count cows and maybe even create a separate herd for them so you can manage them at the end of milking.
Spray reseeds: I know there are still a few farmers completing the last of the reseeding for 2014, but those that did get the reseed job completed in July and August should try and spray the new crop of seedling weeds, if at all possible. It is by far the best spray to control weeds that you can do. The key point is don’t leave it too late. Spray when the weeds are about the size of a small matchbox. It is too late when the grass begins to shade the weeds.
Cull cows: I’ve been talking to more farmers this week on cull cows and what to do with spring-calving cows not in calf. Most agree swinging them around from one year to the next is not on, for one reason or another. They get too fat, get mastitis or simply don’t go in calf next time around. Therefore, you either:
Sell them out of the parlour now or in December, as milking cows to somebody who wants to milk them over winter. Continue to milk them yourself if quota allows and then sell or keep them for fattening over winter. Some are in the scenario where they are over quota so they are deciding to dry not in-calf cows off now and start to fatten outside with a view to finishing for January. If you have fresh young cows not in calf and plenty of good silage, then it might make sense for you.
While green barley is selling for €155 off the combine, the average retail price for a simple two-way mix of barley and gluten is still relatively expensive at €215/t, not the €180/t quoted last week that some seem to be able to get.
In terms of the effect of selling or fattening cull cows, my accountant friends tell me the effect on taxable profit actually depends on the value of cows in your farm inventory. If they are valued low and you sell them high, it will increase profit. Conversely, if they are high value in books and you sell them as canners, it will reduce profit. In any case, tax should not be the main reason for keeping them – it’s the opportunity to make profit on them that should decide.
Somatic Cell count: If your bulk tank reading is over 200,000 cells/ml at the moment, then you need to take action. Is this year the ideal year to try and take out or cure the offenders? For September milk supplies, the top 15 mainly spring farmers at this time of the year will average around 100,000 cells/ml for the bulk tank collections. Compare that with 200,000 for those 6,000 dairy herds involved in milk recording (see page 40 and 41).
I hear of in-calf high EBI heifers making €1,300 to €1,400 at the moment. In my book, that’s great value for money relative to what a cull cow will make. There is no excuse for retaining consistently poor cell cows, especially now the quota brakes are coming off. If once-a-day milking, mark high cell count cows and maybe even create a separate herd for them so you can manage them at the end of milking.
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