Q&A ... Do you want to be a dairy farmer?
Concluding this week, these are the answers to the ‘50 frequently asked questions’ from new entrants to dairying, compiled as part of the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme.
To see the 50 questions and answers in full, go to http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2014/3242/New_Entrants_to_Dairying-50Q&As.pdf
One-person units can manage 100 cows, plus followers, by using casual labour in the spring time, with adequate farm facilities, and using contractors at peak periods.
This is where another farmer takes the heifer calves (usually at about three months) and rears them to about 22 months of age. They are then returned to the dairy farmer. The rearer is paid a fee per day for contract rearing.
All jobs have down-sides in them. Dairy farming is no exception. But it also has a lot going for it, now, thanks to research and farmers’ innovative approach. By comparison with other employments, dairy farmers can have very good family lives. Farmers can have many more hours, per day, of contact with their children, being available to take, and collect, them from school, etc.
Dairy farmers can have reasonable working hours, time management helps, and they have a little freedom to come and go as the need arises. These may be funerals, emergencies, etc, in the neighbourhood.
As milking takes up 30% to 40% of a dairy farmer’s day, it is important to apply all research work, and knowledge and technology, to minimise the length of time spent milking.
A 16:8-hour milking interval (milking at 8am and 4pm ) doesn’t have any effect on milk yield.
At certain times of the year (late), milking 13 times per week (taking Sunday evenings off) and once-per-day milking can be practiced.
Calf-rearing is very laborious, but, with an automatic calf feeder, once-per-day feeding and calves at grass from early March, much of the hardship can be removed.
A good, reliable contractor is worth his weight in gold; you don’t have to do everything yourself. Casual labour must be seen as an essential component of dairy farming. Most farmers should budget to spend €6,000-9,000 on relief milking, calving/calf rearing, maintenance work, account keeping, general work, etc. Grass-based systems are a lot less demanding, and a fertile cow to suit the system is a must.
This is where the herd is milked once every day, rather than twice daily. Production is lowered by about 20%, but milking costs are also lower. The two reasons for OAD are quota restrictions and lifestyle. Cows can be milked at any time, but herd SCC should be low, initially.
Contact your local Teagasc advisor or office.
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) issue EBI reports. Ask a farmer for the report when stocks are being purchased.
The Animal Health Ireland (AHI) website contains farmer friendly factsheets on diseases affecting dairy farmers.
If you were starting from a greenfield site, it could cost over €4,000-5,000 per cow to set up a dairy enterprise. This cost will be reduced where existing stock is available to sell, slurry storage is already in place, reseeding has been carried out, second-hand equipment is purchased, etc. No two farms will have the same set-up costs. Individual farmers have spent between €2,200 and 5,000 per cow place.
Use your own assets (stock, cash), and, in many situations, a loan will be required. A full physical, and financial six-year plan, will be required. Talk to your bank representative early on, because, where required, finance can take longer than expected to acquire.
There are three essentials — get the right type of cow, get the grass land area set up to produce and utilise grass, and have a financial plan for your farm that you understand.
Talk to your local Teagasc dairy advisor and your local co-op.
Talk to profitable dairy farmers, who enjoy dairying as a lifestyle.
Join a local dairy discussion group.
Start milking cows for a profitable dairy farmer, who enjoys dairying as a business and a lifestyle. Visit open days and field events. Join a dairy discussion group. Prepare a business plan for your farm, using your own costs/quotes.
Purchase the ‘Teagasc Dairy Manual’ (a 310-page manual) from your local dairy advisor.
Go to www.teagasc.ie and www.greenfielddairy.ie sites.
