Spring calving systems
The reduction in milk price has encouraged some dairy farmers to pursue a system based on late winter/spring calving in an effort to cut the costs per litre of milk production. Some dairy farms are better suited to a spring calving system of milk production than others:
- Farms ideal from a grazing perspective (sufficient good quality land in close proximity to milking facilities, good infrastructure, in other words roads and fencing, adequate – not excessive - rainfall so as not to limit grass growth over the normal growing season).
- Farms with limit facilities for winter milk production (outdated cubicle accommodation, inability to conserve high quality silage).
- Farms where the milk quota is limited relative to the area available for grazing.
- Where the manager has an off-farm job (milk quota is filled during the spring summer and autumn months).
- Farmers wishing to maximise margin per litre through best use of grass.
- Farmers wishing to gain a satisfactory return on investment while obtaining lifestyle benefits from spring calving.
