The last time I remember drying off all milkers before Christmas was over 30 years ago. We didn’t always have autumn calvers, but the first would have been due in early January – the first would regularly be early. With a bull running with the herd for five months there were always late calvers and year round supply.

In that year we did dry off there was of course a calving three weeks ahead of the rest on St Stephen’s Day! The holiday didn’t last long.

There’s a better chance of a break this year, with nothing due till February.

The whole herd got a lice treatment over the last week and I made use of the job to assess body condition. Nothing fancy or official, just separating a few lighter heifers into a separate group.

Winter plans

My slatted shed has double slats at one side and only a single slat width at the other. The original idea was fatteners at one side and weanlings at the other. The narrow side gives the weanlings enough head feed space to all eat together and less chance of being bullied. The cows are also in two groups in the cubicles.

The diet for the month before calving needs extra fibre and protein. Too much energy has the potential to grow the developing calf too quickly and cause calving difficulty. This year I’m using rape straw in the feeder due to wheaten straw not being available. The bales are easier to break up for loading accurate weights and apparently the extra oil content is good for dry cows too.

Farmer health

Then of course there’s the minor detail of my own condition score. We farmers spend more time on cow nutrition and health than our own. I learned the hard way last spring when the work and pressure took its toll on my health.

Last winter, with short feed supplies and twice as many groups, I did not get much chance to celebrate Christmas. I can confirm that Christmas 2018/19 was well and truly celebrated! I’m a non-drinker but I make up for it in chocolate. My diet is now being supplemented by the selection of cheeses that arrived as presents.

While the January media is a constant stream of gym membership and diet offers I am happy to have built up a reserve to take me through the calving season.