Getting ready for the busy springtime

THE milking parlour is where income on a dairy farm is generated through the harvesting of milk in a safe, clean and efficient manner.

Milking machines spend many hours connected to the most valuable part of your farm – the cows.

So making sure they are serviced regularly is essential so that they don’t contribute to mastitis in your herd and have a negative impact on your potential income.

Book in your service before spring time with a registered Irish Milk Quality Co-operative Society (IMQCS) technician – a list of these in your local area is available at: www.milkquality.ie/TechnicianRegister.

Get the service technician to go through the report fully with you – it is important to have an understanding of how the machine is functioning, and why certain recommendations may have been made.

Carry out any repairs needed immediately. Start the season with a new set of liners and book your next service. Your milking machine should be serviced every six months.

In addition don’t forget about the teat sprayers. Check that these are working fully and replace any nozzles that are blocked or faulty. More information is available online at www. cellcheck.ie and in the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control.

Most of our soils are moving in the wrong direction in terms of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and lime. Increased levels of milk production deplete soil reserves of these important nutrients. Soil sampling every two years will allow you to update your farm fertiliser programme and to maximise your fertiliser P allowance. If you haven’t already done so, take the opportunity over the coming weeks to soil sample your farm. Now is a good time to take samples in advance of the permitted fertilizer and organic manure spreading date of January 16.

Start planning for the upcoming calving workload. Now is the time for planning and preparing. It takes time to change practices/habits, so use the present to organise for the busiest time on your farm. Order and have available all necessary veterinary supplies.

Assess your calving and calf-rearing facilities and if you have adequate space for all expected calves? A calf in the first weeks of life needs a floor space of 1.7m2. It’s too late to build a new facility, but you may be able to modify existing houses if you need the additional space. You must also prepare yourself for calving. It’s not a bad idea to take stock of the upcoming workload and see if additional help is needed and where it might be available.

Indeed it might not be a bad idea to take a break or short holiday to recharge before the busy springtime!