WHEN it comes to optimising both milk production and animal welfare, dairy farmers should look to optimise their current facilities before making substantial investments in new sheds or parlours.
Ian Ohnstad, director of the Dairy Group, focuses on optimising the milking system and ensuring a balance between high yield, high herd health and excellent milk quality. He recommends AHDB Dairy's online tool Parlour Wizard.
The tool allows farmers to input information about their system and then compare their current milking efficiency against standard systems. They can then examine the impact of changes in herd size, parlour size, milking routine, number of operators and level of automation on parlour throughput.
AHDB Dairy extension officer Sharon Lauder said: "The effects of such changes on litres per man or litres per hour is often not what farmers expect. Milking routine and level of automation being the biggest influencing factors of parlour throughput, rather than the number of milking units."
Market round-up
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 4978 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £110 per head and 242p per kg to average 170p (+1.5p on the week).
Another large show of 5078 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £156 for a Texel and average £73.80 (+43p), while light ewes peaked at £72 for Blackfaces and levelled at £41.50 (+78p). Rams sold to £138 for a Texel and averaged £80.02.
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