Later calving hurting milk yield by 25%

LATER calving in dairy herds could be costing more than 25% losses of potential milk yield.

As the emphasis swings to payment based on milk solids, analysis of milk composition by Teagasc researchers has revealed that cows on Curtins Farm at Moorepark average 150 kg more milk solids than the national average.

According to George Ramsbottom, Teagasc, the calving pattern is the single largest contributor to the average farm missing out on this potential. He said three quarters of the milk solids are lost before the end of June, due to late calving.

More than two-thirds of the Curtins herd was calved before March, and virtually all were calved by the end of April. But fewer than two in five in the national herd are calved by the end of February, and 14% after April.

“Forget gallons or litres per cow, the new goalposts for the dairy farmer are kilos of fat and protein. In the foreseeable future the milk price will be based entirely on the levels of these milk solids.”