YIELDS LIFTED BUT WITHOUT HEAVY BILLS

1 February 2002




YIELDS LIFTED BUT WITHOUT HEAVY BILLS

A simple system without complete diet feeding can result

in profitable milk production, according to the manager

of one college unit. Robert Davies reports

BUYING a mixing wagon proved difficult to justify on a Gwynedd dairy unit, so alternative ways to improve cow margins had to be found.

Eurwyn Edwards, who combines the management of Glynllifon Colleges 100-cow, 7700-litre herd with directing student training – baulked at the estimated bill of £100,000 for a mixer and alterations to buildings.

"We were assured that average yield could be pushed up if we changed, but the costs involved, including leasing extra quota, were simply too high."

Instead, Mr Edwards negotiated competitive prices for high quality summer and winter concentrates with his feed supplier.

He also started growing maize, despite the Caernarvon unit being in a marginal area. Four varieties are grown and last year 350t of silage was made from 8.4ha (21 acres).

Quality priority

Grass silage quality was also given a higher priority when he became responsible for day-to-day management three years ago. First cut fed this winter is 24.9% dry matter, has a D-Value of 71, is 19% crude protein with a metabolisable energy (ME) of 11.3 MJ/kg DM. Second cut is drier, contains 17% crude protein and has an ME of 10.9.

In winter, cows yielding up to 25 litres/day receive equal quantities of maize and grass silage, supplemented with a 21% protein concentrate in the parlour. In summer an 18% protein concentrate is used.

Better yields

Yields have improved steadily, but Mr Edwards believes the colleges feeding system needs to be tweaked again for cows to reach their full potential.

"The problem is balancing feed quality and price with milk price. We could increase average yield, but this would only be worthwhile if the economics were right. The dairy herd is important for student education, but the farm is expected to make a profit."

The most recent costings show rolling annual concentrate use was 0.22kg/litre, or 1.68t/cow. Almost 55% of milk was produced from home-grown forage, while milk protein averaged 4.24% and milk fat, 3.32%.

Bactoscan and cell count figures were good at 3000 and 126,000/ml respectively, so Mr Edwards only real concern is getting higher yielding cows back in calf.

In December, the quarterly rolling calving index was 398 and it took an average of 1.65 services and 130 days to conception. This compared with a rolling annual index of 387 days and 1.56 services and 113 days to conception. But the concern is that herd fertility could deteriorate as yields increase.

"There is no doubt that infertility is on the increase, even in herds where the level of stockmanship is high. Our average yield has increased to 7744 litres/cow and each rise has put the cows under increased stress.

"With year-round calving, any cows that have to be served several times can stay in the herd, but bull inseminations are costly and slippage harms production.

"We have to work closely with our feed supplier and vet to ensure that increasing production does not lead to a poor calving index or an expensive replacement rate."

In November, the rolling margin over total concentrates was £1364/cow and 17.6p/litre. This could put the herd well on the way to again topping the league table of local herds costed by the farms feed supplier.

The last half-year table showed the Glynllifon herds rolling annual margin over total concentrates of £1294/cow and 16.7p/litre were the best in the area. The figures were £324/cow and 2.4p/litre higher than the 25 herd average.

Above average

While the 7736 litre/cow yield was bettered by four herds, it was well above the 6744-litre all-herd average. And at 55%, milk production from grass was 19% above the average and 3% better than in the next best herd.

Bonuses earned by selling milk with good compositional and hygiene quality to the South Caernarfon Creameries co-op allowed the college to average 19.7p/litre compared with the league table average price of 18.6p/litre.

"Our system is simple and we try to get as many things as possible right.

"To keep fixed costs in check every investment is looked at closely by the farm committee."

Mr Edwards believes strong downward pressure on milk prices will provide opportunities for efficiently run herds. He would like to keep another 20 cows, but only if it will be profitable. &#42

Negotiating competitive prices for concentrates has helped improve cow margins, says Glynllifon College herd manager Eurwyn Edwards.

Cows receive equal quantities of maize and grass silage in winter.

&#8226 High quality milk sold.

&#8226 Good use of grass.

&#8226 High quality silage.

&#8226 Future focus on fertility.

Yield 7736 litres

MOPF/cow £1294

MOPF/litre 16.7p/litre


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