Ending up under quota
Ending up under quota
DESPITE feeding large quantities of our milk to calves and selling some barren cows in order to avoid exceeding our quota by too much, Vimer has ended up under quota, writes Tim Green.
Following predictions about a surge in autumn milk production made mid-way through last season, dairy producers in our area reined back on production to ensure they were within the forecast maximum allowance of 10% extra quota.
As in turned out, the final figures from our dairy showed production to be only 9.5% over the allowable extra quota. It was too late in the day for Vimer to make up the 0.5% shortfall and we finished 925 litres below target. Although it is churlish to complain because we were expecting to be fined for exceeding quota, it is also frustrating because we could have achieved the target easily.
Foot-trimming
For the first time in our 18 years in France, we have experienced a few cows with overgrown feet which require attention. We are not sure about the reason. It may be due to last years wet weather or the polished concrete in our worn out housing. Either way, because we never seem to have any spare time and our cattle crush is not suited ideally for foot trimming, we decided to call in the foot trimming offer provided by our milk recording service.
Using its all-singing, all-dancing, motorised turn-over crate, the foot trimming process was a relative doddle and we were very impressed with the results.
The service cost £8.40 for the visit, plus £4.20/pair of feet. The fee is on a sliding scale starting at £6.53/pair falling to £3.26/pair for 20 animals. The cows did not appear stressed by their experience and were all walking extremely well afterwards, so it is an operation that we would not hesitate to repeat.
The same contractor also runs a de-horning service for adult cattle for the same visiting fee, plus £2.42/animal treated, and carried out our freeze branding before turn-out. That cost £11.20/visit, plus £1.87/animal and £14.50/hr. Nobody else we know in our area uses freeze branding as a means of identification. But because we are experiencing more livestock controls, the technique provides added security and proof of identity.
Having just experienced our second check on all livestock ear-tags, sheep numbers and movement records in six months, we are even more convinced that the ministry means business. Its staff was more accommodating than last time because not only did they ring beforehand, they even changed the day of the visit so that it did not coincide with the days we had hired a mobile saw bench and its operator.
However diligent we are, we always miss some livestock during the check – this time it was a batch of heifer calves, so we will go back and see how we can foolproof the system.
Out at night
Cows have been out at night since mid-April. They are still being offered some maize silage mainly because the silo needs emptying for repair work and because there is insufficient silage remaining for it to store well.
The problem the herd now faces is more normally associated with the mid-July period. Because the weather is so hot and dry, grass growth has virtually stopped and there is a serious danger we may run out. On Mar 24 the wind was from the east which everybody says points to a thin year. Dont laugh, because generally the saying does comes true.
Despite that, the glorious weather has been a godsend for lambing. With the exception of a disproportionate number of hung lambs and feet problems in some housed ewes, it has gone fairly smoothly.
Lamb numbers are low with not one set of triplets, although this year that was not such a bad thing because I was alone for the peak of lambing due to unplanned staff holidays and a student off with back problems.
It is difficult to fathom out why numbers were down when the ewes were tupped in good condition on good grazing. Perhaps it had more to do with our old flock.
Finished calving
My wife Chrissie is on her "holidays" now because we have finished calving until the autumn and our cross-bred Limousin calves are not being kept for rearing. After some health problems in the calf house, the last of the calves were reared in some of our older buildings where they promptly thrived.
The last calf out of the calf house was sold for £20 while Chrissie sold the ones from the unofficial residence for prices ranging between £112 and £160.
Maize drilling has been very easy so far with seedbeds turning to dust at the touch of the cultivator. With the ground being so dry, the stones have seriously worn the plough this year, as all the lads who came for the recent ploughing match at Vimer soon noticed.
Some of their ploughs suffered more wear and tear while ploughing an area the size of a good garden, than they did all year at home. *
Getting to the point of the problem at Vimer. Dry weather in Normandy has exacerbated stone damage on the plough points, says Tim Green. During a recent ploughing match on the farm, some ploughs suffered more damage operating in an area the size of a large garden than they incurred during a whole year working at home.