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<blockquote data-quote="farmerjan" data-source="post: 1547781" data-attributes="member: 25884"><p>We used to have Va milk base. Which was separate from the milk base that farmers "built up" with the dairy company they were selling to. Like an extra "insurance" type thing that they would get more for their milk. It was a "guarantee" to get better prices for milk. It sold well and was a farmers "insurance" as they would get the best prices for their milk base milk. Yes, the federal milk marketing orders were in place and it did help to balance out the cost/production of milk. 20-30 years ago, farmers did "build" their milk base in the fall months...most were Aug-Sept-Oct. That's when they wanted the most milk to coincide with kids going back to school... It all changed about 10 years ago, and for a little bit it seemed they wanted more milk in the spring but there were no "base months" like the fall. Now all of a sudden DFA is pushing, and basically requiring farmers to go back to a fall "base" like before. And severely penalizing farmers that "overproduce " outside of that base. They didn't give them enough notice for many to get their breedings "refigured". It's been a real trial for most. </p><p>At one time Va milk base could be purchased. There was a set amount available. It was in high demand when a farm was selling out. Got up to over $2.00 and now most cannot barely give it away. Don't know what the future will bring for that. Maybe will be worth something again with going back to "fall base". I had one farm that sold out had milk base in Land-o-Lakes, and he got that sold to another farm that shipped to L-o-L when he sold his cows. That farmer was able to expand and still get the top price for his milk because he had the base. </p><p></p><p>Maybe you can run 2 c/cf pairs to the acre with rotational grazing. Here the best grass farmers that I talk to, cannot. I go to alot of forage/grass meetings, pasture walks, you name it. 1 c/cf pair to the acre is good, most figure 1 1/2 acres. </p><p>Yes there is a market for some of the premium beef. And right now there is an uptick in demand due to the "economy being soo good"....... If these farms have been in beef production for awhile, they have been able to ride the CAB.... The certified Hereford beef was actually the first of it's kind but never got the same exposure, backing or whatever. But CAB isn't really about ANGUS as it will take any black hided animal that meets certain criteria.... have studied some of the rules. It is a branded name used as a marketing tool. VERY BRILLIANT. I am all for ANYTHING that helps to sell beef, but have a hard time accepting that it isn't really "all angus" beef. That's my problem. But when nearly every breed has "gone black" in order to ride that train, there is something wrong.....</p><p></p><p>Quality sells. I totally agree. There is a place for commercial animals as well as the purebreds. Dairy beef is one of the best marbling there is. Jerseys have consistently hit the top at marbling and tenderness trials. Look at the Wagyu... they look like a black dairy type animal..... yet I like to look at a beef animal that has a good round butt on it. </p><p>Unless you can get tied into a feedlot and finishing operation, it is hard to get feed back when you are selling feeders. There are alot of smaller groups getting organized that will "market" your better animals, and get feedback through them. But if you can't get enough of a premium to pay you for your time and input, you are just as well off to just sell at the weekly sale barn. We've done both....And an extra 5 cents per pound will not pay me for an extra $50 input into a calf, plus my time to do it. We are thinking seriously about trying another group next year, just to see if it can add enough value. Especially with our "colored calves". </p><p>We buy good registered bulls to use to improve our calves, improve the females we keep as replacements. Cull harder for things like late breed back, etc. But we also need cattle that can work in our environment. And we can not do multiple inputs as most are out on pasture and not easily gotten in when they are on rented places. </p><p>Maybe the small cattleman like us are going the way of the small dairies. The beef will all be cookie cutter like the chickens and turkeys and hogs. We are losing our genetic diversity, and will lose some of the traits that have kept some of these breeds viable. Maybe progress, maybe the kiss of death, if there are disasters and these consistently conforming animals cannot deal with other challenges. Time will tell. But the small dairyman will be greatly missed down the road as they were the ones that were "real dairyman". The cows nowadays are normally good for maybe 2 lactations. Bulls are in the bull studs based on their "genomics" but many do not have any good records on their dams anymore. Just because the genomics say they are superior.... until the cows have done it, there is no guarantee.... I want to see production records.... not that they are out of so $ so family so they "ought to be the best"..</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="farmerjan, post: 1547781, member: 25884"] We used to have Va milk base. Which was separate from the milk base that farmers "built up" with the dairy company they were selling to. Like an extra "insurance" type thing that they would get more for their milk. It was a "guarantee" to get better prices for milk. It sold well and was a farmers "insurance" as they would get the best prices for their milk base milk. Yes, the federal milk marketing orders were in place and it did help to balance out the cost/production of milk. 20-30 years ago, farmers did "build" their milk base in the fall months...most were Aug-Sept-Oct. That's when they wanted the most milk to coincide with kids going back to school... It all changed about 10 years ago, and for a little bit it seemed they wanted more milk in the spring but there were no "base months" like the fall. Now all of a sudden DFA is pushing, and basically requiring farmers to go back to a fall "base" like before. And severely penalizing farmers that "overproduce " outside of that base. They didn't give them enough notice for many to get their breedings "refigured". It's been a real trial for most. At one time Va milk base could be purchased. There was a set amount available. It was in high demand when a farm was selling out. Got up to over $2.00 and now most cannot barely give it away. Don't know what the future will bring for that. Maybe will be worth something again with going back to "fall base". I had one farm that sold out had milk base in Land-o-Lakes, and he got that sold to another farm that shipped to L-o-L when he sold his cows. That farmer was able to expand and still get the top price for his milk because he had the base. Maybe you can run 2 c/cf pairs to the acre with rotational grazing. Here the best grass farmers that I talk to, cannot. I go to alot of forage/grass meetings, pasture walks, you name it. 1 c/cf pair to the acre is good, most figure 1 1/2 acres. Yes there is a market for some of the premium beef. And right now there is an uptick in demand due to the "economy being soo good"....... If these farms have been in beef production for awhile, they have been able to ride the CAB.... The certified Hereford beef was actually the first of it's kind but never got the same exposure, backing or whatever. But CAB isn't really about ANGUS as it will take any black hided animal that meets certain criteria.... have studied some of the rules. It is a branded name used as a marketing tool. VERY BRILLIANT. I am all for ANYTHING that helps to sell beef, but have a hard time accepting that it isn't really "all angus" beef. That's my problem. But when nearly every breed has "gone black" in order to ride that train, there is something wrong..... Quality sells. I totally agree. There is a place for commercial animals as well as the purebreds. Dairy beef is one of the best marbling there is. Jerseys have consistently hit the top at marbling and tenderness trials. Look at the Wagyu... they look like a black dairy type animal..... yet I like to look at a beef animal that has a good round butt on it. Unless you can get tied into a feedlot and finishing operation, it is hard to get feed back when you are selling feeders. There are alot of smaller groups getting organized that will "market" your better animals, and get feedback through them. But if you can't get enough of a premium to pay you for your time and input, you are just as well off to just sell at the weekly sale barn. We've done both....And an extra 5 cents per pound will not pay me for an extra $50 input into a calf, plus my time to do it. We are thinking seriously about trying another group next year, just to see if it can add enough value. Especially with our "colored calves". We buy good registered bulls to use to improve our calves, improve the females we keep as replacements. Cull harder for things like late breed back, etc. But we also need cattle that can work in our environment. And we can not do multiple inputs as most are out on pasture and not easily gotten in when they are on rented places. Maybe the small cattleman like us are going the way of the small dairies. The beef will all be cookie cutter like the chickens and turkeys and hogs. We are losing our genetic diversity, and will lose some of the traits that have kept some of these breeds viable. Maybe progress, maybe the kiss of death, if there are disasters and these consistently conforming animals cannot deal with other challenges. Time will tell. But the small dairyman will be greatly missed down the road as they were the ones that were "real dairyman". The cows nowadays are normally good for maybe 2 lactations. Bulls are in the bull studs based on their "genomics" but many do not have any good records on their dams anymore. Just because the genomics say they are superior.... until the cows have done it, there is no guarantee.... I want to see production records.... not that they are out of so $ so family so they "ought to be the best".. [/QUOTE]
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