Benchmarking figures for 2019 indicate that Frank Goodman, Co Monaghan, had the lowest feed rate across all programme farmers in phase two of Dairylink Ireland.
The figures, which were compiled by Dairylink adviser Aidan Cushnahan, show that cows in the Goodman herd averaged 6,950l from 1.4t of concentrates last year.
It equates to a feed rate of 0.21kg/l and marks a significant reduction from 0.32kg/l in 2018.
In terms of milk from forage, Frank’s cows produced an impressive 3,766l from grazed grass and homegrown fodder last year.
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Factors that helped improve feed efficiency on the Goodman farm in 2019 include a focus on improving the quality and quantity of grass grown on the milking platform, through weekly grass measuring and budgeting.
In 2019, milk yields were back by around 15% compared with 2018 levels, due a to a number of factors
Cows also got out to grass early in February 2019, due to the good spring, and Frank has been making good-quality grass silage, as well as homegrown maize silage, for the milking herd to help improve feed efficiency.
In 2019, milk yields were back by around 15% compared with 2018 levels, due a to a number of factors.
Firstly, Frank is moving from an 80/20 split spring/autumn-calving system to 100% spring. He had fewer cows calving down last autumn, which meant there was less milk sold in the latter part of the year.
Frank switched to once-a-day milking during December
Difficult grazing conditions in September and October resulted in yields dropping back quicker than planned, as spring-calving cows entered late lactation. A third factor was that the lower feed rate meant that less concentrates were fed last year and milk yields moved back as a result.
Finally, Frank switched to once-a-day milking during December, which reduced milk output from the cows that were still going through the parlour. That said, it is estimated that this had a relatively small impact on milk output across the full year, reducing annual yields by around 0.5%.
Milk protein levels were effectively on par with 2018 and averaged 3.38%
Another change made on the Goodman farm during 2019 was a 28-percentage point increase in average butterfat levels to 4.04%. Butterfat content appeared to decline from April to June, but it started to increase in July after Frank included some additional sugar beet pulp in the concentrate ration.
Milk protein levels were effectively on par with 2018 and averaged 3.38%. Breeding indices for milk components are now a key factor for Frank when selecting sires, as the aim is to lift both butterfat and protein levels over the coming years.
Finances
The benchmarking exercise also included an analysis of the financial performance of the farm business. A breakdown of farm working expenses is outlined in Figure 1.
Like all Dairylink farms, concentrates made up the largest single cost on Frank’s farm, with dairy feed equating to 5.5c/l. Fertiliser and lime, veterinary expenses, machinery running costs and contractor charges were the other main contributors to the cost structure for the farm.
Total farm working expenses were estimated to be €189,726
Frank points out that machinery and contractor costs were higher than normal last year, as a significant amount of land reclamation and reseeding work had been carried out.
Total farm working expenses were estimated to be €189,726 (32.49c/pl), while total receipts for the business (excluding basic payment) were estimated to be €229,234 for 2019. Assuming an allowance for personal drawings of €30,000, this left €9,508 available for loan repayments, capital expenditure and tax.
Maintaining feed rate and lifting milk output
The plan for the Goodman farm going forward is to maintain the current levels for feed rate, lift butterfat and protein levels and increase milk yields per cow.
A business plan, which was drawn up at the start of the Dairylink project, aimed to increase cash reserves through an improvement in feed efficiency and an increase in milk output.
Feed efficiency gains have been achieved and now attention has switched to lifting milk output. This will be done by targeting additional feed to early lactation cows and keeping extra cows on the farm.
Production figures are also being benchmarked monthly through DAERA’s margin over concentrate calculator, to ensure that feed rates are being maintained. Target levels of production for the farm during the 2020 calendar year are:
A review of other costs within the main farm working expenses is also planned, to examine opportunities to reduce machinery, contractor and veterinary costs on the farm.
Some costs have already decreased. For example, while the move to once-a-day milking in December reduced milk yields slightly, Frank has estimated that electricity costs decreased by approximately €800 during the period. Similarly, the installation of a borehole last year is expected to reduce water costs on the farm.