Today's “crisis” is 90% all input related. More specifically, the high energy costs. And more specifically, the high cost of fossil fuels. Let's face it: Oil, gasoline and diesel are “energy sources” just like fertilizers and concentrates. And in fact the cost of good production – (when you are in the business model, aimed at the highest possible milk production)The use and maintenance of machines are in the first place 'energy costs'.
Everything we do within the livestock farm kan gemeten worden aan de energie dat het kost.
The volume and cost of the energy we use – especially fossil fuel energy – has a direct impact on our profitability of the dairy farm.
And right now there's someone who says, “Damn, every dummy knows that. If the costs of fertilizer, concentrates and fuels rise, our profits fall.”
But to be honest, that's not how we run our dairy farm. Because we strive for ever higher input because production has to be run, we want to achieve an ever higher level of production of dairy per cow.
It's time to think differently
The future revenue model and future economic success of your dairy farm will strongly depend on the magnitude of your input 'energy' that you use to produce, control or reduce a liter of milk. This is the fundamental mindset you have to look for ways to reduce the amount of energy you use.
It is extremely difficult to make minor changes to the current High-input High-output system to come up with a new modern system that uses less 'energy'. The best dairy farmers will require significant structural adjustments and changes in their businessmodel and those changes will include taking advantage of more solar energy and less energy from fossil fuels.
Some ideas to consider
Move to a more seasonal business model, where your herd's energy needs are matched to grass growth, grazing and less on input. If you just need/want to maintain the permanent herd of cows, rather than the wild action; Get rind of year-round calving livestock and buy spring-calving livestock.
Look for livestock that is able to produce the best possible product with the lowest possible input. And that the roughage that you grow with the help of solar energy in the most efficient way possible. Match the total roughage production of your company to the demand.
If you are interested in aligning your company with the lowest possible input, I advise you to participate in the Pure Graze grazing course. In this course we will teach you, among other things, how you can best match your roughage production to the demand.
The results in the first year are:
1. Concentrate savings of 3 to 5kg p/cow p/day
– In a herd of 100 dairy cows:
3kg p/cow x 100 cows x 365 days x €0.50 = €54,750,-
2. Green fodder production increase from 3,000kg to 5,000kg d.s. p/ha
– If you graze on a house plot of 20 hectares, this will save you on costs of:
3,000kg x 20 hectares x €0.50 = €30,000
3. Extend grazing season by 2 to 3 months
– On average, a cow per month in the barn costs: €200
– We assume 100 cows here
– When we can continue grazing for 2 months per year, this results in a saving of:
100 cows x €200 x 2 months = €40,000
If we add up the above savings, by focusing on maximizing grazing, we arrive at a saving of:
€54.750,- + €30.000,- + €40.000,- = €124.750,-
There is now a temporary 15% discount on the Course: Grazing in Summer!
