A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

There has been a rise in the levels of interest in once-a-day milking (OAD) across Irish dairy farms. As the name suggests, OAD involves cows milked once every day as opposed to twice daily (TAD) as is the case on most farms throughout the country (and, indeed, the world). For some time now, OAD milking has been used on a temporary basis, usually in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions. But it can also be employed as a permanent alternative to TAD and should be food for thought for dairy farmers. But what’s involved in this process and, more importantly, is it beneficial?

Teagasc adviser Brian Hilliard certainly sees advantages to OAD milking, but ultimately warns that the approach does not suit all situations. “I’m fully for once-a-day, but it’s not for everyone – it needs preparation,” he says. “[Those taking up OAD] would want to be good managers, have good quality grass, and put effort into breeding as well.”

Considerable planning and preparation is required in the transition from the twice-a-day method to OAD, but should farmers decided to take on this challenge there are several benefits. An obvious one is that farmers will have more time for themselves and their own lifestyles (or elsewhere on the farm), given that they are spending half the amount of time milking than they otherwise would be. There are multiple benefits for the animals too.

“Cows are healthier as there’s less stress on them,” Hilliard suggests. “Cows would have better body condition, which would lead to better fertility. There’s less lameness because they’re only walking to and from the yard once-a-day – there’s a lot less lameness compared to twice-a-day.”

There are challenges to consider. OAD milking can take years of planning to implement and there will be a reduction in yields, particularly at the beginning. “The initial effect would be that there’s an approximately 25 per cent drop in milk yield, and a 20 per cent drop in milk solids,” says Hilliard. “It varies

ONCE-A-DAY MILKING (OAD) IS A METHOD GROWING IN POPULARITY AMONG DAIRY FARMERS. TIERNAN CANNON SPEAKS WITH TEAGASC ADVISER BRIAN HILLIARD AND DUNGARVAN FARMER GILLIAN O’SULLIVAN TO DISCOVER ITS PROS AND CONS. with the breed as well – the more Frisian-type cows are affected more than, say, a more Holstein-Friesian type or a Jersey-cross cow. Also, cows in their first lactation are more affected than mature cows.” The reduction in yields can be manageable, particularly when given time to adjust to the new method, though generally speaking it is very difficult to return to TAD levels. But, with the right breed of cows and over enough time, the gap can close and yields recover, if not all the way then quite close. Moreover, the reduction in yield could see a higher fat content in the milk, which brings its own advantages. “The thing is, because of the reduction yields, the fat and protein content of the milk goes way up, which in turn can lead to 4c or 5c extra in the price per litre, because of the higher constituents,” says Hilliard. “That helps to compensate somewhat for a drop in yields.”

PRACTITIONERS OF THE METHOD

Ultimately, it’s down to the farmer to decide whether or not the advantages that come with OAD are worth the hit in yields. One proponent of this method is Gillian O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan and her husband Neil have been milking once-a-day on their farm in Dungarvan, Co Waterford since April 2009, making 2018 her tenth season using OAD. O’Sullivan maintains a herd of 110 cows on a 41-hectare milking platform, having taken control of the farm under tragic circumstances. She and her husband had initially trained as vets and were working in Dublin but, following the unexpected death of her brother Vincent in 2008, the two took over the management of the farm in order to help out Gillian’s father. Given these difficult circumstances, it was decided that OAD was the most appropriate method of milking available to them. “In our first year, our milk solids yield dropped by 20 per cent per cow and we came to the realisation that not all cows were suited to OAD,” Gillian recalls. “We sold unsuitable cows to TAD herds at the end of the year, and in the second year our yields jumped 15 per cent. By our third year in 2011, we were back at

the same levels of production as our last year TAD, producing 366kg milk solids per cow. Since then we have continued to improve and will be on target to produce 390kg milk solids per cow this year.”

As Brian Hilliard suggested, OAD can have a negative impact on milk yields (with the potential to return to former levels with planning and care), alongside improvements in animal health and losses offset by savings in other areas – such as labour. Has the latter been the experience for O’Sullivan?

“I would say that OAD has a positive impact on all issues as there is naturally less stress on cows, especially in early lactation,” she says. “OAD results in better energy balance in early lactation with a knock-on effect of better fertility performance. Our herd consistently has a six-week calving rate close to 90 per cent – we aim to breed for ten weeks each year and have an average empty rate of 7-8 per cent. At dry-off, the cows are in excellent body condition and wintering costs are significantly reduced.”

O’Sullivan also points to the benefits available in relation to lameness and the animals’ somatic cell count (SCC), which refers to the total number of cells per millilitre in milk. As the number of those cells rises, yields are likely to fall. “For herds that milk OAD, lameness is reduced due to halving the amount of walking daily,” she notes. “In terms of udder health, SCC is something that must be closely monitored, as herds have had trouble with SCC issues when milking OAD. For us, we realised early on that a strict parlour routine, cluster disinfection between cows, culling persistent offenders and breeding better udders has kept things under control.”

OAD is by no means suitable for every farmer, but in certain situations it can prove to be extremely advantageous. O’Sullivan has seen the benefits to her animals first-hand, but moreover has planned for it carefully and is enjoying the benefits that it brings to her personal life.

“OAD isn’t for everyone but I would highly recommend it,” she says. “We have three young children and the ability to really enjoy time with them is fantastic.”

Gillian and Neil O’Sullivan

Gillian O’Sullivan

“IN OUR FIRST YEAR, OUR MILK SOLIDS YIELD DROPPED BY 20 PER CENT PER COW, AND WE CAME TO THE REALISATION THAT NOT ALL COWS WERE SUITED TO OAD.”

POADII DISCUSSION GROUP

Gillian O’Sullivan is a part of the Pioneering Once A Day [milking] in Ireland (POADII) Discussion Group, which is facilitated by Teagasc’s Brian Hilliard. The group is made up of farmers who are milking OAD. As O’Sullivan puts it: “It’s a fantastic, diverse, broad-minded group of people who are innovative in their thinking and I always find attending OAD meetings to be incredibly motivating. Sharing ideas, concepts and farm practices has been brilliant and each farmer hosts a farm diary on our WhatsApp group at various times in the year. It is a great way of seeing how each farm operates and allows a broad question and answer session as the day progresses.”