Latest Results on Alternative Low Cost Winter Accommodation and Crossbreeding Studies at Moorepark
Moorepark Dairy Levy Research Update
Location: Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre
Date: Thursday / Friday 1st / 2nd February 2007
Download a copy of the complete seminar proceedings (PDF 2.8MB)
Contents
Introduction
The ability of the dairy farmer to remain profitable into the future is dependent on having information to make informed decisions which would allow increased efficiency and scale of production. Acquiring and applying newer skills and knowledge for more efficient milk production are essential. New technology will allow dairy farmers to increase scale while at the same time reduce the unit cost of production.
Milk production systems in Ireland are based mainly on seasonal calving, with the vast majority of milk being produced from grazed grass. To exploit fully the seasonal grass production profile, a high pregnancy rate following a planned start of mating and subsequent short time interval is needed to achieve a concentrated calving pattern in the following season. Similarly, this type of cow needs to be an efficient converter of grazed grass into milk solids. The question arises as to whether a cross-bred cow (Holstein-Friesian x alternative breed) may offer a better means of optimising resources on mainstream Irish dairy farms. A cross-breeding programme may allow dairy farmers to combine desirable traits, and, at the same time, take advantage of any hybrid vigor. Two studies are under way at Moorepark to investigate the potential role of alternative breeds/crossbreeding. The first, at the Ballydague Research Farm is focused on assessing the biological and economic efficiency of Holstein-Friesian, Jersey and Holstein-Friesian x Jersey cows under two grass-based spring milk production systems. The second is an on-farm study comparing Holstein-Friesian, Norwegian Red and Holstein-Friesian x Norwegian Red cows. The results for the first year of these two studies are now completed. The implications of these results are very relevant to dairy farmers given that the upcoming breeding season is only a number weeks away and ICBF have just launched their crossbreed genetic evaluation index.
It is now accepted that the EU milk quota regime will be removed by 1 April 2015. To allow for expansion, extra housing and milking facilities will be required on many Irish dairy farms. The capital cost of conventional housing systems at present for a 100 cow herd is estimated at approximately €250,000. Recent innovations in using out-wintering pads and earth bank tanks have shown huge potential as alternative reduced cost housing and effluent management facilities for dairy cows. A major advantage of low capital cost wintering systems is that it allows farmers with limited resources to put facilities in place and, thereby, gain control over the consolidation or expansion of their business. The specifications for the construction of these structures have recently been agreed with the relevant Government bodies and these should be eligible for grant aid under the new Farm Waste Management Scheme. At the open days in Moorepark these specifications will be discussed in detail and the results from the research on cow performance and health will be presented.
These Open Days provide an opportunity for dairy farmers and the service industry to farming to discuss these recent developments in technology with Teagasc research and advisory staff. The financial support for the research programme from state grants and dairy levy research funds is gratefully acknowledged.
Pat Dillon,
Head, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre
Wintering Options for Dairy Stock
Padraig French and Laura Boyle
Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre
Executive Summary
- The total cost of wintering dry, spring-calving dairy cows in conventional sheds and fed grass silage ranges between €240 and €375/cow/year depending on grant rate available on the initial capital investment
- It is anticipated that grant aid will be available for low-cost accommodation systems (clay lined out-wintering pads (OWPs) and slurry tanks) in 2007
- The wintering systems compared had very little impact on milk production or reproductive performance in the subsequent lactation
- Self-feeding grass silage on clay lined OWPs with clay lined tanks for slurry storage will be the most economically and labour efficient systems for wintering cows at approximately €170/cow/year
- Further significant cost savings (€40/cow/year) can be made by grazing forage crops in-situ. However, underfoot conditions will restrict this to suitable soil types, particularly with high yielding crops such as fodder beet and swedes
Specification for Out-wintering Pads
Padraig French, Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre and Heater Scully, Teagasc Grange Beef Research Centre
Executive Summary
- Out-wintering pads (OWPs) will be eligible for grant aid but will require planning permission and must be built to a standard specification
- A site assessment will be required to determine the suitability of the site and most appropriate design
- Effluent collected from all pads shall be regarded as slurry and shall require appropriate storage facilities
- Out-wintering pads may be lined with soil if the site is suitable or otherwise must be lined with an approved plastic
- Out-wintering pads can be designed to allow animals to feed on the pad or on a separate appropriate facility
Crossbreeding the Dairy Herd - The Way to Go?
Frank Buckley, Noreen Begley, Robert Prendiville, Billy Curtin and Noel Byrne Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre
Executive Summary
- The cow required for future Irish milk production systems must be robust and ‘easy care’ as well as being capable of producing high milk solids, the majority of which must come from grazed grass.
- Crossing the Holstein-Friesian with an alternative dairy breed sire can provide farmers with an alternative opportunity to increase overall animal performance by increasing herd health, fertility and milk value. This is due to the introduction of favourable genes from another breed and through hybrid vigour.
- Genetic gain must not be neglected i.e. only the best sires of both breeds should be used when crossbreeding. That means using high EBI.
- Two studies are currently under way at Moorepark evaluating the potential of dairy crossbreeding: one study is evaluating the Norwegian Red and Norwegian Red crossbred cows across 46 commercial dairy herds, and the second trial is evaluating the Jersey and Jersey crossbreds at Ballydague. In both studies the cows have just completed 1st lactation.
- Early results from the Norwegian Red on-farm study suggest that Norwegian RedxHolstein-Friesian cows produce similar milk yields with similar milk composition compared to Holstein cows. The yield of milk produced by the pure Norwegian Reds was slightly lower, with lower fat content. Crossbred cows also displayed similar live weight to the Holstein-Friesian but had higher body condition score at all stages of lactation. Fertility and udder health were also in favour of the Norwegian Red and crossbred cows.
- The first year results from the Ballydague Jersey trial show that milk volume was highest with the Holstein-Friesian and lowest with the Jersey. However, a substantial lift in milk constituents with the Jersey and Jersey crossbred resulted in a similar yield of solids for all three breed groups. Jersey and Jersey crossbred cows were lighter than Holstein-Friesian cows but maintained higher body condition score at all stages of lactation. Fertility performance was in favour of the Jersey and JerseyxHolstein-Friesian cows.
- Both Norwegian Red and Jersey calves are easily born and early maturing.
- To present economic comparisons for the studies presented at this point is considered premature. However, these preliminary data suggest that crossbreeding with the Norwegian Red or Jersey are real options for Irish dairy farmers.
Earth-Line Slurry/Effluent Stores
Research conducted by Teagasc and a summary of Department of Agriculture and Food Specification (S131)
Heather Scully, Teagasc, Grange Beef Research Centre
Executive Summary
- An earth-lined tank is a storage system to store organic fertilisers and farmyard effluents, constructed using soil which is sufficiently impermeable
- Earth-lined slurry stores have been proven to be an environmentally secure method of storing slurry and soiled water when constructed to the appropriate specification
- Earth-lined slurry stores will be eligible for grant aid but will require planning permission and must be built to a standard specification
- A site assessment will be required by a trained site assessor to determine the suitability of the site and most appropriate design
- All earth-lined slurry store construction will need to be overseen and certified by a chartered professional
