Dual-purpose Fleckvieh breed boosts milk from forage

The Fleckvieh breed is allowing a low-cost dairy farming enterprise to exploit milk production from forage and cash in on calf and cull cow values.

Marcus Ferraro and his father Richard set up an autumn-calving dairy unit in Ceredigion two years ago, operating a flying herd of cross-breds and Jerseys.

Although both breeds were a good match for their cheese contract with Glanbia, calf values were disappointing.

“We don’t rear our own replacements, so a good beef calf is an important income stream for us – it is our 13th milk cheque,’’ Mr Ferraro explains.

See also: Fleckvieh genetics provide dairy profitability

They researched dual-purpose breeds and were impressed with the Fleckvieh, so much so that last March they imported 15 in-calf cows and heifers from Austria.

Fleckviehs are similar to Simmentals, but is a breed that has been selected for milk.

“We were attracted to the breed because of its versatility,’’ says Mr Ferraro. “We went to Austria to select the type of animals that would work in our system. We were looking for animals with a bit of strength, good conformation and milky traits. The Fleckvieh is a bigger cow than the type we are used to, but they are not like the Holstein – they can take a bit more punishment.’’

The breed is a good fit with the low-cost dairying system the Ferraros operate at Sychpant Farm, near Newcastle Emlyn. The emphasis is on getting as much milk from forage as possible rather than achieving high yields.

“The Fleckvieh is an excellent converter of forage and we wanted a breed that was easy-care,’’ says Mr Ferraro.

The Fleckviehs cost an average of £1,500 an animal delivered to the yard from Austria. Mr Ferraro calculates it would have cost him £1,300 to buy a cow from Ireland at that time and £1,400 from Holland.

“There was a £100-£200 difference, but the Fleckvieh is a larger-framed animal, so we will get a good cull value at the end. The right cull animal is worth having.

“The Fleckvieh takes the best of the Friesian with conformation and shape and the good fat and protein levels from the Jersey and meets somewhere in the middle. The fertility should be fantastic.’’

Thirteen cows have already calved. “We are very pleased with the calves. They are vigorous and immediately get up and go,’’ Mr Ferraro reports. “The cows produce quite big calves, but they calve quite easily too.’’

Newborn calves receive colostrum from the dam, followed by fresh milk for two days. They are then grouped in pens of 25 and receive eight litres of milk replacer from a computerised feeder.

Calves are sold at four weeks old through the local livestock markets. They have so far averaged £230-£260, depending on their size.

The Ferraros are pleased with the breed’s performance. The cows and heifers are averaging 6,000 litres at 4.5% butterfat and 3.6% protein.

“We were looking for an animal that would average 6,500 litres, but if they produce a bit less in litres, they are gaining in butterfat and protein,’’ says Mr Ferraro.

“If we can find a way of keeping the fat and protein levels up and getting a good cull value, it is a win-win situation.’’

The Fleckviehs, which account for 15% of the 100-cow herd, will now be served to British Blue or Simmental sires.

Mr Ferraro says the plan is to buy more Fleckviehs, but numbers won’t increase beyond 20%.

“They can be a bit slow – they take their time about everything. The rest of the herd will be in the parlour and milked before the Fleckviehs get there. I think I would lose all my hair if I had 100 of them!’’

But they are a good mix as a percentage of the herd, he says.

The Ferraros farm 67ha, of which 55ha are owned. Richard had exited the milk industry in 2000. He needed to update the milking facilities at Sychpant, but the milk price at that time did not make this financially viable. The dairy herd was sold and the business focused on beef and arable production.

But when Mr Ferraro left school, the family had a rethink and made the decision to re-establish the dairy unit.

A flying herd was the best option for their situation because it allowed the farm to carry sufficient cows to support Richard and Marcus, but also freed up Marcus to do other jobs off-farm.

“With the current milk price it is really important for us to have a flexible system. If we had youngstock it would be another job to be done,’’ says Mr Ferraro.

“Also, by buying in we can be selective and choose the best animals to suit the milk price and our contract at any given time.

“Solids is the way to go now, but if the market went the other way, towards liquid milk, we could change things quite quickly. If Glanbia told us it needed more milk, I could quickly react and have Holsteins here within a week.’’

The herd is wintered in sand-bedded cubicles and fed silage in central passageways. Cows have access to pasture as soon as a pregnancy diagnosis has confirmed they are in calf. “If it is dry and frosty, they will be out in January to loaf and graze from February onwards,’’ says Mr Ferraro .

The herd calves outside from the end of August to mid-December. “We are a dry farm and our soils are light, so we can get the cows out at grass early and they graze late into the season. It gives us the flexibility to keep our costs low,’’ Mr Ferraro explains.

“We don’t run a mixer wagon in the winter, we just put blocks of silage down the central passage.’’

The milking cows get the best pasture by grazing ahead of the dry cows. “When they start calving we don’t graze them too hard because we are pushing for milk production rather than managing the grass. Wherever possible we graze the cows on the aftermath as they calve.’’

Cows are milked twice a day and receive up to one tonne of concentrates in the parlour.

Mr Ferraro admits introducing the Fleckvieh into the herd was an experiment, but believes it is one that has paid off. “We like to be a bit innovative and to move with the times.’’