100 likes | 217 Views
A FARMER SPEAKS. Pat Ryan, Cappagh, Dungarvan. Married, Pauline Five children 18-3 years of age Third level education through to Primary Pauline works full-time in the home. FARM. Owned 109 ha Rented 16 ha Total 125 ha– all grassland. MILK QUOTA. 1.015m litres (223,400 gallons)
E N D
Pat Ryan, Cappagh, Dungarvan Married, Pauline Five children 18-3 years of age Third level education through to Primary Pauline works full-time in the home
FARM • Owned 109 ha • Rented 16 ha • Total 125 ha– all grassland MILK QUOTA • 1.015m litres (223,400 gallons) • Spring Milk Production – compact calving over a 13-week season from end January/early February to combine with grass growth. Dry off late November
LIVESTOCK Dairy: Calve Down 250 Milk 200 0-1 y.o. 80 1-2 y.o. 80 Beef: No Beef Enterprise Milk Production per cow: 5,550 litres Stocking Density: 2.24 l.u.’s/ha (c. 190kgs Org. N/ha)
HISTORY/DEVELOPMENT OF FARM • 1981 Qualified as Farm Apprentice • 1996 Became a shareholder in Family Partnership • Milk Quota has been static for past ten years, with no growth • Impact of Inflation/price-cost squeeze partially offset by efficiency gains • Capital Invested (1996-2005) • Reseeding/Roadways • Effluent/Slurry Controls €150,000 • Milking Parlour Upgrade • New Bulk Tank Required c.€30,000 • No Investment in Machinery/Buildings
FARM EFFICIENCY 2004 • Dairy Common Costs 12.54 cpl • Dairy Common Profit 20.54 cpl Excluding: Leasing, Interest, Labour • This profit figure is in the top 10% of c. 700 farmers that participated in 2004 Profit Monitor Programme • Labour Employed • 1½ full-time + self • 406,000 litres per labour unit
BREEDING, FERTILITY AND MILK SOLIDS (2005) • Overall Herd EBI €67 • Calving Interval 374 Days • Start/End Calving 28th. January/28th. April • Six week Calving Rate 74% • Empty Rate 10% • Milk Butterfat 4.04% • Milk Protein 3.69% • Total Solids Yield 426kgs F&P • Target Solids Yield 500kgs
KEY INGREDIENTS OF MY FARMING SYSTEM • Grassland Management – Reseeding – Measurement • 2005 – 293 days at grass – calved cows go straight to grass • AI – EBI Based • Milk Recording • Fixed Costs Control • Labour Saving Practices – Fertiliser, Slurry, Topping, Winter Feeding, Outdoor Calf Rearing • Profit Monitor/Cash Flow Budgeting • Discussion Groups
THE FUTURE • Personal Goal • Expand the Dairy Farming Operation either through Joint Ventures/Partnerships. Grow own quota utilising rented tillage land • Off-farm investment • Quotas – How long will they continue? • Partnerships – rules excessively restrictive • Age structure is a concern • Business must grow to reward effort and labour employed – cost inflation continuing to grow
Supplier Information Seminars January 2006 “MaximisingReturns from Milk”