Make changes and cash in

There can be as much as six pence per litre price difference between the highest and lowest price paid to farms on the same contract - that adds up to an astonishing £60,000 for a one million-litre producer, according to Hugh Black, Midlands extension officer with the Milk Development Council.

So why is that some farmers make more of their contract than others and how do they address the problems?

"There are many things a producer can do to make the most of their current contracts to ensure they get the highest price possible for their milk," he said.

Producers need to carefully analyse their contract and adjust production and management to suit their buyer's requirements.

"Consider when your buyer needs the milk - are there payment caps or seasonality penalties? What are you being paid for in terms of milk constituents and quality?" he questioned.

Controlling cell counts is a good place to start as many farms are penalised heavily for missing cell count targets.

"In one MDC Diary Business Club in the Midlands, the 20 producer members between them were missing out on £50,000 of milk income because of lost cell count bonuses," he said.

Many producers, in their bid to rapidly expand herd numbers, have seen cell counts rise because they have not culled chronically infected cows.

"Continue to cull these persistent offenders no matter what they are yielding and control environmental mastitis by strictly adhering to your parlour teat preparation and teat dipping or spraying routine," he advised.

Next on the list is feeding; producers may need to make changes that will improve milk yields, fat and protein to enhance their milk cheque

"Ensure cows are rationed to produce the type of milk required by your buyer. If you aren't being paid for fat and protein, don't feed for those constituents but make changes gradually and don't compromise herd health by underfeeding.

"It's a delicate balance - adjusting your feeding system to alter milk quality at the same time as maintaining overall performance and herd health."

Last but not least is the calving pattern - are your cows producing milk at the right time or do you need to change your calving pattern to suit your milk profile?

"Several things can be done to tighten calving interval. Letting the calving interval slip from the optimum 365 days will be costing dairy farmers £3 per cow per day in lost milk income and lost calf sales.

"Failing to meet first service targets is one of the major reasons for long calving intervals so improve your heat detection technique and consider using heat detection aids. The MDC produce a DVD guide to heat detection which is available to dairy farmers free of charge."

In the longer term, herd fertility can be improved by avoiding bulls with poor fertility. Fertility Index is published for Holstein and Friesian bulls and can be used to select bulls that transmit better fertility to their daughters. It may also be worth considering changing breed or cross breeding.

Hugh Black is based at Leominster and can be contacted on 01568 614310 or 07966 237818 or email hugh.black@mdc.org.uk