Similar to the many farms hit with the October storms, milk volumes are well back compared with the same period in 2016 on the Greenfield Farm in Kilkenny. On average, the herd are delivering an estimated 12.5 litres/day at the moment. The last test results delivered Thursday were 5.92% fat and 4.12% protein.
Similar to the many farms hit with the October storms, milk volumes are well back compared with the same period in 2016 on the Greenfield Farm in Kilkenny.
On average, the herd are delivering an estimated 12.5 litres/day at the moment. The last test results delivered Thursday were 5.92% fat and 4.12% protein.
The test results prior to that one had the fat at 5.70% and the protein at 4.20%.
Essentially these figures mean the herd are averaging just over 10% solids at 12.9kg/day or 1.3 kg milk solids (MS)/cow/day.
The herd is on 4kg of meal, grass and some baled silage.
Lactose is currently running at 4.69%.
In terms of milk quality, the average somatic cell count (SCC) is high, with the average at 310,000 cells/ml and 15 total bacteria count (TBC) on the last collection. This is setting off alarm bells and individual cows are being looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Volumes back
Compared with the same period in 2016, volumes produced are back by at least 10% to 15%. Nationally, the Irish Farmers Journal estimates that milk supply for October could be back by as much as 20%, which will result in lower milk cheques for October milk.
Milk test results for the same weekend last year were 5.5% fat and 4.30% protein. Lactose was the same at 4.69% but SCC was 110,000 cells/ml.
The topless cubicle project is nearing completion and without this facility the last two very wet weeks would undoubtedly have been more difficult.
Farm grass cover is back to 850kg DM/ha so the key now is to be very careful not to drop below the 700kg target closing cover yet graze out the remaining heavy covers.
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