The difficulties in the dairy sector helped to bring a large number of farmers to a recent farm walk hosted by Robin Clements at Keenogue Road, Trillick.

A turnout of 140 dairy farmers from Fermanagh and Tyrone attended and heard how Robin and his family converted from beef to dairying in 2011 and now milk 125 dairy cows.

The focus of the evening was on efficient milk production with emphasis on producing and utilising quality grass and breeding for high cow fertility.

The event was organised by the local CAFRE dairying advisory team supported by National Milk Records (NMR). The speakers included Jason McFerran, CAFRE, looking at technical efficiency and cashflow.

He told those attending that now more than ever, dairy farmers should be keeping a close eye on their farm finances. The question is, what can be done to manage the situation where the price being received for milk is less than the cost to produce it.

With cashflow the main issue, there must be enough cash available each month to cover the costs, which probably means extending the overdraft limit. There is no simple solution but, the following three areas should need to be considered: - technical efficiency; getting the most from every input. Concentrate feed, the largest single input cost, must be targeted where possible. Ensure cows are getting only what they need. Batching high and low yielding cows will help with this. Make the most of forage by keeping stock out at grass where possible.

- cost reduction; spend only what must be spent. Every cost contributes to the bottom line, so must be considered seriously. If it is feasible to postpone a purchase or to do without something altogether, it will help the cashflow situation. However it may be a necessary cost, so always consider the knock-on effects to technical efficiency, animal health or fertility.

- cost recovery; selling assets. Any cows with issues such as high somatic cell counts or fertility problems could be sold as they are not paying their way. Other surplus calves or heifers can also be sold to bring cash into the business.

Knowing your costs is the first step to managing your finances and is vital if you need to speak to your bank manager to discuss your overdraft.

John Graham, from National Milk Records, covered the monitoring and management of herd fertility.

He began by covering the information provided in the milk recordings with a focus on the fertility events and information that NMR actively collect on farm to provide management lists with each set of recording results.

He said it was important to have the cow in calf to guarantee production for the following lactation. He referred to the seasonal calving system which Robin is working with and the importance of good heat detection to ensure the maximum number of cows are served at the right time and how Robin is currently using Silent Herdsman to maintain and further improve this. This system has developed over the years and there has been great success with the new health alert functions which monitor feeding and rumination and provide backup during heat detection. He then looked at the NMR’s Pregnancy Test which is done using the same milk sample as at recording time which provides the farmer with a quick and simple method of monitoring his service success.

John encouraged dairy farmers to try to not cut corners by cutting costs but to use the tools and information provided for them to run their businesses more efficiently.

Robin Clements, the host farmer, assisted by the Dairylink adviser Conail Keown spoke about the performance of the dairy herd.

The Clements family converted from suckler cows to dairy production in 2011 and now Robin and Heather with their two sons, Matthew and Stephen, milk 125 cows on the farm and rear all replacement heifers. They farm a total of 73 hectares including rented land with 40 hectares of this suitable for grazing by the herd.

From the outset high cow fertility was identified as a key ingredient for the production system adopted on the farm. Cows calve between August and December and are bred to high EBI bulls with particular emphasis on cow fertility. On an annual basis the cows produce 7000 litres at 4.30% Butterfat and 3.35% protein, a total of 551kgs milk solids.

Robin identified top quality grazed grass and silage as critically important for maintaining output and minimising concentrate input on the farm. He has therefore targeted significant investment into the grazing area over the past three years, and maintains the investment in infrastructure which included laneways, water, reseeding, and fencing has been a good investment and helped reduce production cost on the farm.

Robin Clements works closely with his local CAFRE Dairy Development Adviser Trevor Alcorn and is involved with a project with Dairylink Ireland, co-ordinated by Conail Keown of CAFRE. The main focus of this project is to improve farm efficiency and profitability. This project is sponsored by IFJ, Lakeland Dairies, Devenish, AFBI, CAFRE and Teagasc.

Currently going through a challenging time, the large turnout of interested dairy farmers appreciated the relevant and current topics and enjoyed the social aspect and the mutual support. A barbecue concluded the evening, generously funded by NMR and Lakeland Dairies.