August 2017 Newsletter

Milk Price

The Board of Directors have increased the milk price for the month of July by 1.0 cent per litre - bringing the price to 36.25 cpl (164.79 cents per gallon) at 3.60% butterfat and 3.30% protein, including Summer Somatic Cell Count (SCC) bonus of 0.5 cpl and VAT at 5.4%.

The average price paid for the month is 38.70 cents per litre. This is based on the average butterfat of 3.94% and protein of 3.43%, including SCC and VAT.

Milk Volumes 2017

Milk supply from January to the end of July 2017 is up 8.8 million litres approx. compared to the same period in 2016. This represents an increase of 7.73% in milk volume from 2016 to 2017. There is a 7% increase in milk solids over the same period.

SDAS Penalty

As previously announced any supplier that has not completed their first SDAS audit will receive a penalty of 5.0 cents per litre on their milk supply starting from July 1^st 2017 until such time as they achieve certification.

Any supplier that is ready to have their audit or requires any assistance should contact Tim Regan/ Darren Lynch.

Processing Charge and SDAS Bonus

Up to now milk the processing charge in the Society was 3.7 cents per litre for every litre of milk collected. The processing charge makes up the C part of the A + B minus C milk pricing system. The SDAS bonus was 0.15 cents per litre. In future the processing charge will be 3.55 cents per litre and there will be no SDAS bonus. The processing charge is being reduced to compensate for ceasing the SDAS bonus. All milk will now effectively receive the SDAS bonus through a lower processing charge.

Reseeding Demonstration

Please see this month’s Management notes for more information on the upcoming reseeding demonstration.

T.B. Reactors/Inconclusives

Milk suppliers are reminded that milk from reactor and inconclusive cows should not be offered for sale. When a reactor or inconclusive cow is disclosed on a farm, the Co-Op is informed by the Department. These animals should be isolated and their milk discarded.

The Co-Op must keep records to demonstrate the measures taken to ensure that milk from reactor or inconclusive cows is not collected. The Department may inspect a suppliers collection records for compliance with this directive.

CellCheck Tip of the Month

If your bulk tank somatic cell count is starting to creep up slightly - don’t ignore it. It is likely to be because the number of infected quarters in your herd is starting to increase a little, which in turn can lead to more infected quarters, and so on. High herd SCC in late lactation is generally because of spread of infection during the summer, not ‘just late lactation’.

Don’t assume that small bulk tank SCC increases during the summer will ‘settle down’- act now, and set your herd up for late lactation, with minimal mastitis infections and maximum milk production.

The financial impact of a ‘creeping’ SCC should not be underestimated. At a milk price of 30c/L, if the average SCC of a 100-cow herd increases from 150,000 to 250,000 cells/ml, it reduces the overall farm profit by approx. €8,200.

What To Do?

Milk record the whole herd now, and identify any high SCC cows i.e. SCC>200,000cells/mL

1. These high SCC cows should be marked and milked last to minimise disease spread.

2. Discuss a treatment plan with your vet

3. Remove the source of infection - Dry off individual quarters i.e. simply stop milking it, do NOT use a dry cow tube.

Gurteen Share Farming Open Day

Wednesday 6^th September @ 10.30 am

Shinagh Estates, Gurteen Dairy Farm, Bandon

In 2015, Teagasc set up a new share farming demonstration farm in conjunction with Shinagh Estates (owned by the four West Cork Co-ops) at Bandon, Co.Cork.

The objective is to show how share farming can generate a good return for a farmer and allow a person without land to farm in their own right. Shinagh Estates provided the land (34ha) and invested in a new farmyard and grazing infrastructure.

A share farmer, John Sexton from Donoughmore, provided 95 cows and is responsible for managing the farm on an on-going basis.

Come along on the day to hear how one of Ireland’s first share farming arrangements is progressing.

Topics covered will include:

• Farm owner and share farmer perspectives
• Positioning yourself for share farming
• Development costs for setting up a new 100 cow farm
• The Gurteen share farming agreement
• Physical and financial performance to date, including return for both parties
• Other collaborative farming arrangements

Signposted off the main Bandon – Dunmanway road

All welcome to attend