Search results

  1. S

    Alternative ways to pay for forager.

    we use a small contractor, who farms a 250 dairy as well. labour around us, is desperate, so we help with a tractor and man/son. This is great for him, as oft times he just cannot get another driver. in return, we get our silage done at ideal stage, and part paid for. Also happy to do small...
  2. S

    "Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

    permanent fencing can be very 'restrictive', temp gives you flexibility, to stock available grass, which differs through the season. best thing we did, was to put a network of cow tracks in, not so viable for beef though. water, pipe on top of ground, and portable troughs, unless you can...
  3. S

    Aggressive cows. What am I doing wrong?

    You need a strong maternal instinct, to allow cow to bond with calf. if predation could be a problem, you need a 'protection' mode. you cannot have everything, so just accept hormone balance is out of normal, and could cause a temporary problem, and just be sensible and careful around cattle...
  4. S

    Aggressive cows. What am I doing wrong?

    we mustn't forget cattle are domesticated wild animals and at times of 'stress' they can revert to instinct and maternal instinct, is one we want, it occasionally goes haywire. Then, run like feck !
  5. S

    Aggressive cows. What am I doing wrong?

    electrocution, not elocution, would definitely sort it out, permanently.
  6. S

    Aggressive cows. What am I doing wrong?

    not a lot of experience with longhorns, but when we had some nice kind walker, leaving gates open behind him/her/it, leaving us with mixed up lots of cattle/ sheep, l went and bought 5 l/horn cows and calves, and put them in the '1st' field trouble started from, never caught the sod. 4 cows...
  7. S

    All things Dairy

    beef at sky high prices then comes a BSE scare...........................
  8. S

    Agricultural holding numbers.

    it is on the 'market sticker' they put on the passport, to show the movement on. you are only required to register your 'off' movement, to the mkt, mkt registers the on movement, and the new owner, registers the 'on' movement, some mkts will do the next 'on', for the new owner. we move a lot...
  9. S

    "Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

    not many industries are completely reliant on the weather, to the extent farming is, and no other industry is so important to maintain life. and despite those two points, a large number of people seem to think they can manage without us. Ironic, isn't it ? quite like the martial arts master...
  10. S

    "Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

    a lot of the time, weather dictates what options there are.
  11. S

    Calf rearing costs..

    as l said before, buying straight off farm, is great, but trust is needed. bought a big bunch off 1 farm, pre-warned there could be 'problems', so only paid a large deposit, as requested. calves duly arrived, less 7 strong lim calves, and plus 5 new born AAx. And problems with haulier loading...
  12. S

    "Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

    we have to set stock some away ground, no alternative. Grass growth all winter, late turnout, lots of grass, trampling it all in, just looks like waste. but what else can you do.
  13. S

    BSE confirmed in Ayrshire

    ah, but what did they call it ? not mad cow disease ! it would be interesting to see, which ethnic group, if any, vCJD is traced to.
  14. S

    "Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

    milkers are leaving the thistles, but shredding the docks :) our problem, to much grazing grass, and not enough stock to eat it, certainly leaving a very good residual, good third, but, eating those dock leaf's, are their choice, must be looking for something. but carefully planned grazing...
  15. S

    BSE confirmed in Ayrshire

    painkillers dull the brain but stopped me drinking, hangovers were horrendous, anything over 2 pints. future wife stopped me smoking some 45 yrs ago life can be sooooo boring at times
  16. S

    All things Dairy

    bad udders, temp was ok, fertility was terrible, and fertility wise, we run a very tight ship. 4 bulls used, several hfrs couldn't get in calve, same with those that calved. yet 1 that came in a group, no trouble at all. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
  17. S

    BSE confirmed in Ayrshire

    not a politically correct answer we mustn't upset other friendly countries beliefs etc. and they don't eat cows anyway
  18. S

    All things Dairy

    look good, in the fattening sheds :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;);) have tried fleks, 4 different sires, and have to say, we did not get on with them.
  19. S

    All things Dairy

    totally agree, had to wire off to many. the solution, vet techs do that, and vaccinations. And l don't even begrudge them the money. mind you, a bit of blood occasionally, livens things up.
  20. S

    All things Dairy

    and a beard.
Top