Maize ration aids milking for Ian Ratcliffe

Having had a long, hard winter, it’s nice to think spring is coming, although it’s taking its time.

The winter has gone by without too much drama. Cows have milked well once we settled on a good, high maize ration. Initially we tried to stretch out our good first cut with poorer second and third cut, but we found cows struggled with body condition and yield. As a result, we pulled out the poorer grass and increased maize and brewers grains, resulting in pleasing yields and fertility performance.

We started serving on 29 October with AI and put bulls in just before Christmas. First-service conception rate was good at 43%, but we were aiming higher. The ration change and the dreaded Schmallenberg virus are the likely culprits.

This year we decided to buy three bulls and use them in rotation, as we struggled last year with two bulls and lameness. This year’s bulls were older and used to concrete, having been working at other farms. Because of this we gave them a full MOT and clean-up to prevent any diseases being passed on.

We also fertility-tested the bulls, which showed one was struggling with poor semen motility. We treated him and gave him three week’s rest, then retested, and he was back firing well. Using the bulls for 12 hours and having one on a week’s rest has worked well, with all of them staying on their feet and always keen.

Despite the wet weather we managed to get the cows out on 17 February, which was six days later than last year. There was not a lot for them, but it was nice to get them out for a few hours and save some silage. With the ground so sandy, they haven’t made a mark.

Ian Ratcliffe, 27 took on the family farm in Cheshire comprising 121ha on 1 April 2011. He aims to calve 230 in an autumn block averaging 7,000-8,000 litres a cow a year, maximising milk from forage