Hi there lads and ladies
I don't know if this is a stupid idea or what but I was thinking of starting milking on a small/medium scale 25 to 30 cows
I am 40 and married with 4 kids from 4 to 14 and we both have full time jobs. We have decent pay but money from milking would help with college for the lads and children as ye know are the most costly thing to ever have!
I currently have about a mix of
limousin and limx sucklers about 20 cows and keep the heifers to sell as I calf and also buy 20 suck calves to finish each year. I have a slatted shed for 30,calving pens straw shed and outbuildings
Own 25 and rent 25 long term acres and was wondering about buying 20 British freisan heifers and rearing a few calves, buying a second hand 6 unit parlour and bulk tank and putting it into an existing shed.
I would be able to graze all my 25 - 30 cows on the owned 25 acre block and put them in to the shed when it is wet
My neighbour has a zero grazer and would bring a few loads into the shed for me when I'm too wet or short on grass ect from my leased land
I would cut silage on the rented land
I would half the cost by selling all my own stock to pay for the new dairy heifers and I saw cheap 6 unit parlour on done deal for about 5000 euros with everything included (feeders ect)
A bit of labour for a week and I could put in the parlour as I'm handy at welding as well as a few fabricators
I did the costs up and it is about 45k including upgrading water
I halve that by selling stock, have 15k savings and short term loan the rest
I was thinking I would have a fine milk check each year as I won't have to pay for grazing at 300 euros an acre like the 200 cow men
Also labour is fine as I have a 14 year old son and 12 years old who are mad for farming
Sorry for the long rant, wondering if it might be interesting to discuss and might seem a cost effective way of making a loss making hobby into a tidy profitable part time job for many other 20-25 cow suckler men
Thanks
I don't know if this is a stupid idea or what but I was thinking of starting milking on a small/medium scale 25 to 30 cows
I am 40 and married with 4 kids from 4 to 14 and we both have full time jobs. We have decent pay but money from milking would help with college for the lads and children as ye know are the most costly thing to ever have!
I currently have about a mix of
limousin and limx sucklers about 20 cows and keep the heifers to sell as I calf and also buy 20 suck calves to finish each year. I have a slatted shed for 30,calving pens straw shed and outbuildings
Own 25 and rent 25 long term acres and was wondering about buying 20 British freisan heifers and rearing a few calves, buying a second hand 6 unit parlour and bulk tank and putting it into an existing shed.
I would be able to graze all my 25 - 30 cows on the owned 25 acre block and put them in to the shed when it is wet
My neighbour has a zero grazer and would bring a few loads into the shed for me when I'm too wet or short on grass ect from my leased land
I would cut silage on the rented land
I would half the cost by selling all my own stock to pay for the new dairy heifers and I saw cheap 6 unit parlour on done deal for about 5000 euros with everything included (feeders ect)
A bit of labour for a week and I could put in the parlour as I'm handy at welding as well as a few fabricators
I did the costs up and it is about 45k including upgrading water
I halve that by selling stock, have 15k savings and short term loan the rest
I was thinking I would have a fine milk check each year as I won't have to pay for grazing at 300 euros an acre like the 200 cow men
Also labour is fine as I have a 14 year old son and 12 years old who are mad for farming
Sorry for the long rant, wondering if it might be interesting to discuss and might seem a cost effective way of making a loss making hobby into a tidy profitable part time job for many other 20-25 cow suckler men
Thanks