Farmer Focus: Data-driven dry cow therapy decisions under way
Ewan McCracken © Steffan Hill With only a couple of weeks until dry-off, we are focusing on selective dry cow therapy and culls.
Both of these have been determined by our milk recordings and health data, identifying the bottom 10% of the herd on all constituents of milk quality and health.
See also: How to reduce mastitis ahead of spring calving
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Using advice from third-party consultants, we will have a list of those requiring only teat sealant (about 75% in 2024).
These animals must have an annual somatic cell count below 170,000 cells/ml and no clinical cases, with the rest of the herd requiring antibiotics as well.
This year has been a model for grassland management when it comes to utilising extra grass.
High growths and heavy covers in May and June on the grazing platform meant we had to bale excess forage to use later.
With minimal stress from droughts, we have used this silage in late lactation when grazed grass only fills half the diet.
This high-quality, baled silage has allowed us to maintain yield at 15 litres a cow when ground conditions limit us to only few hours of grazing a day.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: milk price. For us, bonus payments for milk solids insulate us from the severe cuts others might feel.
I know it’s hard to be optimistic when the general consensus is bleak, but let’s look at our options.
First, maximising grazed grass in the diet.
The ratio of cost of concentrates to milk price will dictate most of our decisions, so if the milk price continues to fall to 30p/litre or below, it would be financially irresponsible to feed more than is necessary.
Second, how can we operate as leanly as possible?
If we were to run this year’s stocking rate of 3 livestock units/ha again next year, any drop in grass growth from extreme weather events would quickly deplete grass surpluses, and without a buffer from purchased feed, we would soon graze ourselves into a “desert”.
With only 50 replacement heifers entering into the herd this coming season (instead of the usual 60-plus), a decision to lower stocking rate has already been made for us.
Another option is to trim our capital expenditure. Extra reseeding and farm infrastructure improvements completed this year means that spending in 2026 is not as crucial.
Our primary aim over the next 12 months will be to focus on the factors we can control.