Fair points there Pete, it's more as they would be young - 7days+ and on milk so I think a combined group might end up with the older ones bullying around the feeder, and later on the bull would be in with the older group. I was thinking that the calves can run ahead and eat all the seed heads etc that help their rumen to develop and the older ones could be held tighter to trample better. I do run one or two retired dairy cows and their calves with the calves which helps to keep them well behaved and possibly teaches them grazing too. I would like to use some old cows and multisuckle, but it's difficult to justify loosing some grazing against feeding waste milk which is effectively free
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
forgot you would have little new calves at this time of year. That makes sense, our heifers are bulling and would still walk the length of the farm to suck a feeder Good to see my big speckly heifer getting plenty of attention from her new boyfriend, if she doesn't calve it won't be for lack of coitus
Up looking out into the rain, worthy of a cuppa and a TFF surf, been a while since it's been heard on this roof
ShooTa
Member
- Location
- Denbighshire - In the vale of Clwyd!
welp back from ORFC - bit of an eye opener .. some good stuff on soil and some interesting seminars - nothing new to me and alot of self massage welldone type feel - had good chats with several other mob grazers and soil bods - seems like funding weill be partially based on SOC and theyre heavily looking at aggregate and worm counts can be indicators = cheap farmer testing.
do ask questions if you have any - dunno how accurate i can answer them however lots of videos over on this YT page.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaospnsEWzAk8kxWdsOvPA/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaospnsEWzAk8kxWdsOvPA/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/realfarmlife/videos
do ask questions if you have any - dunno how accurate i can answer them however lots of videos over on this YT page.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaospnsEWzAk8kxWdsOvPA/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaospnsEWzAk8kxWdsOvPA/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/realfarmlife/videos
texas pete
Member
- Location
- East Mids
Been for a wander here a couple of times recently. As an organisation they can have some funny ideas, but someone is using their head here. Walkers and dogs everywhere too.
but someone is using their head here. Walkers and dogs everywhere too.
- Location
- Derbyshire
R2's eating their way through a text book paddock of deferred grass+ 3 bales/day to leave a nice patch ready for a spring re-seed
Does he have any calves on the ground? Biggest wreck I've had was with a Shorthorn bull. Would never put one over heifers.
I was enchanted in Cambridge when we were strolling along the canals and going for a boat trip. Loved their herd of Longhorns right in the middle of the city! But couldn't afford these special "Cambridge Longhorn Steak" at the local restaurantBeen for a wander here a couple of times recently. As an organisation they can have some funny ideas,
- Location
- Devon
So, daughter number 2 has applied for agri uni and has to get some more work experience. I'd really like her to see some holistic farming, and it fits with her interests/ ideals.
Whilst I've dabbled a little, and intend to go a lot further down that road, I don't know anyone locally who's taken that approach.
Anyone on here who'd be prepared to take her for a week? Or know someone who would? Probably would need accommodation too.
@Agrispeed
@Treg
@The Ruminant
Honest truth is I'd love a chance to have a look myself at someone who's got a few years experience farming like this.
Much as I'd love to pop down and see what you're up to Pete, I think Kiwiland is a bit far for a week's work experience
Whilst I've dabbled a little, and intend to go a lot further down that road, I don't know anyone locally who's taken that approach.
Anyone on here who'd be prepared to take her for a week? Or know someone who would? Probably would need accommodation too.
@Agrispeed
@Treg
@The Ruminant
Honest truth is I'd love a chance to have a look myself at someone who's got a few years experience farming like this.
Much as I'd love to pop down and see what you're up to Pete, I think Kiwiland is a bit far for a week's work experience
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
No, he's only a yearling.
Will be "interesting" to say the least, however I'm working on the assumption that (like most of them) being AI'd in there, he won't have bad calving traits or his sire wouldn't have been in any dairy farmer's tank.
Don't worry, it was an agonising decision, but here's hoping LIC can pick them OK.
ShooTa
Member
- Location
- Denbighshire - In the vale of Clwyd!
@Poorbuthappy you could also try the renisons - theyre mainly on twitter tho. https://twitter.com/NRenison theyre 4 years in i think
- Location
- Devon
Said daughter's just sent me this, from her A level environmental studies work - with her conclusion written below.
This is what they teach them in a levels.
Even if it weren't used as bedding, surely it's a bare minimum as organic matter to be put back instead of depleting the soil totally.
This is what they teach them in a levels.
Even if it weren't used as bedding, surely it's a bare minimum as organic matter to be put back instead of depleting the soil totally.
So, daughter number 2 has applied for agri uni and has to get some more work experience. I'd really like her to see some holistic farming, and it fits with her interests/ ideals.
Whilst I've dabbled a little, and intend to go a lot further down that road, I don't know anyone locally who's taken that approach.
Anyone on here who'd be prepared to take her for a week? Or know someone who would? Probably would need accommodation too.
@Agrispeed
@Treg
@The Ruminant
Honest truth is I'd love a chance to have a look myself at someone who's got a few years experience farming like this.
Much as I'd love to pop down and see what you're up to Pete, I think Kiwiland is a bit far for a week's work experience
We often have WWOOFers and work experience people for a week or two. I will speak to the farm owner (and my business partner) when he's back from the ORFC but it should be ok. Accommodation should be possible too. PM me if you want.
Anyone is always welcome to visit. I often think I learn more from showing people around than they do!
texas pete
Member
- Location
- East Mids
I was enchanted in Cambridge when we were strolling along the canals and going for a boat trip. Loved their herd of Longhorns right in the middle of the city! But couldn't afford these special "Cambridge Longhorn Steak" at the local restaurant
I have read about the Cambridge cattle, grazing common land I think. The Longhorns are a wonderful old breed.
I lived in Cambridge for a while. It's quite unnerving walking home from a night out being followed by a herd of steers, especially when you're surrounded by a city!
- Location
- Devon
That's great thanks.We often have WWOOFers and work experience people for a week or two. I will speak to the farm owner (and my business partner) when he's back from the ORFC but it should be ok. Accommodation should be possible too. PM me if you want.
Anyone is always welcome to visit. I often think I learn more from showing people around than they do!
Will pm you.
Not just heifers, snapped this today.
#stupidbitch
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
I know this to be true! Hence we take every opportunity to show people around, it helps reinforce the why and the what and the how - it's easy to get comfortable and stagnate.I often think I learn more from showing people around than they do!
The thing I learnt is that townies actually ask the questions that farmers already know, or think that they know - as I've mentioned, the vegetarian lesbian neighbours love what we are doing enough to knock on the door and buy a couple of steaks for a birthday meal, and had a leg of our lamb for Christmas dinner.... which was actually quite special for us, our ethics must get their approval.
- Location
- Devon
Not sure I can offer a weeks experience as don't feel I do alot ( only little beef suckler farm) , but your more than welcome to pop down the A30 & have a visit.So, daughter number 2 has applied for agri uni and has to get some more work experience. I'd really like her to see some holistic farming, and it fits with her interests/ ideals.
Whilst I've dabbled a little, and intend to go a lot further down that road, I don't know anyone locally who's taken that approach.
Anyone on here who'd be prepared to take her for a week? Or know someone who would? Probably would need accommodation too.
@Agrispeed
@Treg
@The Ruminant
Honest truth is I'd love a chance to have a look myself at someone who's got a few years experience farming like this.
Much as I'd love to pop down and see what you're up to Pete, I think Kiwiland is a bit far for a week's work experience
As others have mentioned above I learn as much from people visiting questioning what I'm doing as they do from me.
I will pm you a local mixed Organic farm who do take students & have heard good things about