Description
Guylaine and Gilbert Tromeur are organic farmers in the commune of Collorec, Finistère. They run a herd of 120 Jerseys in a once a day milking, spring calving and grass only system.
For the past 4 years, they have been practicing once a day milking all year round, which saves them an estimated 3 hours a day compared with twice a day milking. It was a desire to have more family time available in the evenings and to reduce working hours. Once a day milking has modified the feeding system, as the animals go directly out to the pasture after the milking in the morning. They do rotational grazing eight months a year, staying from one to two days on 2 ha paddocks. They have stopped giving maize silage. Now, the animals have access to grass all year round. In winter, they are supplemented with haylage.
From an economic point of view, once a day milking has led to a reduction in milk volume of only 14% when milk solids are taken into accounts, as the production of these increased. Moreover, the economic analysis was carried out taking into account the energy savings associated with once a day milking (milk tank, electricity, forage savings due to reduced feed intake). The overall economic loss compared to twice a day milking was only -2%. Finally, the herd size was increased with the switch to once a day milking. Before taking the plunge, Gilbert and Guylaine recommend carrying out a technico-economic study and getting support from advisors.
