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

baaa · Jul 7, 2019

hendrebc said:
That might be what the abattoirs still want but what I see now is a push for dairy cross beef. Supermarkets want consistent pieces of meat to fit in the plastic trays.
I think it's the first step towards an integrated supply chain like the pig and poultry job. Dairy farm has contract to supply so many calves, ex suckler farmers like us are contracted to rear so many calves a year up to a certain weight by a certain time to sell to a finisher for a contracted price. Mr Tesco/Asda / whoever has beef that comes into their shops in a consistent way they know about and can budget for. There will be major penalties for not meeting targets and the beef price can be controlled from the top. There will be no winners in this apart from Mr Tesco/Asda/whoever. But that's the way it's going to go.

I tell friends and people I know that the future of eating and food supply is to know who grows it and who raises it. Visit the farm, see how it lives, and buy local and direct from the farmer. Now I can add buy local from someone holistically managing their grazing and save the planet. I just hope it catches is on, maybe if we all did it ....

Amazingly my new fencing unit is reaching the top of the tester and keeping the sheep where I want them. I am hoping they will remember the sensation when I move them across the road to a battery powered unit later this week. We have been setting up fences in every spare hour in the last few weeks, and have finally achieved the goal of having 8 one hectare paddocks in my largest parcel, and a track around the outside for riding around to check the sheep. ( Green transport!) I have had woofers to help. I showed them Allan's Ted talk today, so now they know why we were going to all the effort.
I have not yet set up a water system so I just deliver it everyday. Following my sheep shearing lesson a couple of weeks ago, I sheared my first 4 sheep today. They belonged to a neighbour who had left them for several years without shearing. Let's just say I won't be putting my shearer out of a job anytime soon!

Kiwi Pete · Jul 7, 2019

holwellcourtfarm said:
That's the bit I'd like to try to help with once we get comfortable in Newstrayla

The area in question has shallow soils over a deep base of alluvial material (very porous) and thus has all types of farming in the catchment. However nitrate levels in the groundwater have risen and so the attempts are being made to trace where exactly it's coming from (although a toddler could work it out

)
They did call a meeting, to discuss the measurement / data from the sampling bores dotted around the catchment.

The part that made me laugh (but also groan) was that the DairyNZ rep wished to remove all the sample bores that were showing very low nitrate levels, and put them somewhere else - rather than make any attempt to look into the farming practices that were keeping N in the upper horizons

Which is about where the regen farmers left the building and went to the pub

holwellcourtfarm · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
The area in question has shallow soils over a deep base of alluvial material (very porous) and thus has all types of farming in the catchment. However nitrate levels in the groundwater have risen and so the attempts are being made to trace where exactly it's coming from (although a toddler could work it out )
They did call a meeting, to discuss the measurement / data from the sampling bores dotted around the catchment.

The part that made me laugh (but also groan) was that the DairyNZ rep wished to remove all the sample bores that were showing very low nitrate levels, and put them somewhere else - rather than make any attempt to look into the farming practices that were keeping N in the upper horizons
Which is about where the regen farmers left the building and went to the pub

None so blind as those that don't WANT to see

Treg · Jul 8, 2019

RushesToo said:
This reinforces the insanity of small animal charities that neuter males. Like that is going to stop any problem.

How can the dam not count?what special kind of intelligence thinks this is logical. Is it really a requirement - the sire has to be the breed - really?

The only thing you can be of certain of is the dam.

Yes that is the requirement for the AA & Beef Shorthorn schemes, it's just the sire that counts, I think must be named on passport as well so they can check.
I agree it may not be logical, maybe easier to check sires as most are now DNA tested at birth. (so actually they can only be certain of the sire used ).
There's not a large number of pure bred Angus & Shorthorns out there so I suppose it's the only way they can start these schemes, at the moment their still needing more numbers but when they get enough maybe then tighten up eligibility? Morrison's pumping a lot of money into the Beef Shorthorns, they pay for my herd to be classified & I don't even supply them (Thank you Ms) ,they pay for DNA testing & supply subsidised semen.
That's partly how I think there will be a future for suckler beef + the fact that Sucklers use less antibiotics & tend to be more grass fed.

Kiwi Pete · Jul 8, 2019

holwellcourtfarm said:
None so blind as those that don't WANT to see

DairyNZ are a right bunch of twits.

The odd jewel amongst a sea of beige, I struggled with their motives ten years ago and I still do, here is an example that Environment Southland can actually learn about catchment management and the dairy rep. wants to change the goalposts partway through

Henarar · Jul 8, 2019

holwellcourtfarm said:
None so blind as those that don't WANT to see

Agenda some won't or can't see past it,
This forum is a real eye opener for it, quite funny actually especially when its done deliberately

Kiwi Pete · Jul 8, 2019

Henarar said:
Agenda some won't or can't see past it,
This forum is a real eye opener for it, quite funny actually especially when its done deliberately

It's all around us... I think one thing that probably differentiates between the clued-on and the rest, is the ability to critically assess information, even if confirms/counters our own beliefs really strongly.
Many just don't do this, if it goes along with what they already think then they go with the new bit of info/idea?
Or, will argue until blue if it is similar to something else they've discussed before, without being in possession of all the new facts, or a particular context.

It really pays to question everything... especially yourself.

Henarar · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
especially yourself

important bit

Kiwi Pete · Jul 8, 2019

Henarar said:
Its actually surprising how much grass is in it and how good it looked when I baled it, I didn't take a photo but will take one of the bales
I have some to bale tomorrow that has a lot of fleabane in it and I usually little bale it to feed out to some cattle we keep out till jan/feb in an old orchard but this year I am going to round bale it and roll it out down the field for them to graze
we take a few bits of keep where there is a fair bit of what some would call rubbish in the sward and I find that although its not really very good as silage/haylage its surprising how it "comes back" when made to hay, we keep a bale in a feeder in the corner of the yard so the cows and calves can pick at it and its surprising how they eat it rather than the better quality silage at times and I think it does them good to have something that isn't pickled to eat

Too right it does.
(Just having a catchup on here)
I believe I read about cows in Switzerland?? that are not to be fed any fermented feed whatsoever to produce some top-notch cheese.

The fact remains that although we may not make hay, nature will make hay every year if possible. So it must be good

I just bought 20 rounds today (wrapped hay, no barn on the place so they cured it outside and put a wrap on it to keep the rain off. Cattle outside had been getting some silage every few days, but went absolutely crook when they got hay.... they were rolling and scratching in it, and running around like idiots.... good for the soul!

I am unrolling it down the slope in the paddock I grew peas in, I think all the N may have cooked the soil a little, as it grew like stink last year and made up for it this year

so I assume the bacteria ate up the free N and then turned on the carbon and fungi.
20 bales of hay should help matters, just need to get all the bales up the top while the ground is firm

I think it was a fairly light crop as I can unroll a 4-footer about 140 metres or so, full of seed and yet a fair bit of leaf.

Kiwi Pete · Jul 8, 2019

Henarar said:
important bit

Our self is about all we can change!

Yet if we do change for the right reasons, everything else changes too.

I'm just contemplating how relaxed I feel this winter, compared to any I can remember. No stress... very few worries.
In fact my main worry at the moment is I am wearing odd socks

For the first time in my life, I feel in control of the things I'm meant to be in control of

Henarar · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
Too right it does.
(Just having a catchup on here)
I believe I read about cows in Switzerland?? that are not to be fed any fermented feed whatsoever to produce some top-notch cheese.

The fact remains that although we may not make hay, nature will make hay every year if possible. So it must be good

I just bought 20 rounds today (wrapped hay, no barn on the place so they cured it outside and put a wrap on it to keep the rain off. Cattle outside had been getting some silage every few days, but went absolutely crook when they got hay.... they were rolling and scratching in it, and running around like idiots.... good for the soul!

I am unrolling it down the slope in the paddock I grew peas in, I think all the N may have cooked the soil a little, as it grew like stink last year and made up for it this year so I assume the bacteria ate up the free N and then turned on the carbon and fungi.
20 bales of hay should help matters, just need to get all the bales up the top while the ground is firm

I think it was a fairly light crop as I can unroll a 4-footer about 140 metres or so, full of seed and yet a fair bit of leaf.

I suppose if they are put at the top of the hill so they roll out the opposite way they were rolled up they will go further

I forgot to take a photo of the bales am baleing the last bit of hay today so hopefully that's another job done, don't think it will be long till we are baleing barley straw

Crofter64 · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
For the first time in my life, I feel in control of the things I'm meant to be in control of

Long may it last

holwellcourtfarm · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
For the first time in my life, I feel in control of the things I'm meant to be in control of

Now you MUST be making it up

Kiwi Pete · Jul 8, 2019

Crofter64 said:
Long may it last

Thankyou!

I'm not silly enough to believe that nothing will go wrong (tomorrow

) but I "get" why a pilot has a checklist and a flight plan;
- Then we may not need the parachutes -

I think it does us good to look at the positives, especially over winter; a good plan is a positive thing.... especially when you have been flying by the seat of your britches for 3 years, trying not to go broke.... lots of different grazing experiments, though!

Crofter64 · Jul 8, 2019

Henarar said:
important bit

Difficult bit

Bury the Trash · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
Too right it does.
(Just having a catchup on here)
I believe I read about cows in Switzerland?? that are not to be fed any fermented feed whatsoever to produce some top-notch cheese.

The fact remains that although we may not make hay, nature will make hay every year if possible. So it must be good

I just bought 20 rounds today (wrapped hay, no barn on the place so they cured it outside and put a wrap on it to keep the rain off. Cattle outside had been getting some silage every few days, but went absolutely crook when they got hay.... they were rolling and scratching in it, and running around like idiots.... good for the soul!

I am unrolling it down the slope in the paddock I grew peas in, I think all the N may have cooked the soil a little, as it grew like stink last year and made up for it this year so I assume the bacteria ate up the free N and then turned on the carbon and fungi.
20 bales of hay should help matters, just need to get all the bales up the top while the ground is firm

I think it was a fairly light crop as I can unroll a 4-footer about 140 metres or so, full of seed and yet a fair bit of leaf.

how does the wrapped hay get on ,? how many layers , and... surely it would sweat a bit

or is it so dry …..

Samcowman · Jul 8, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
Our self is about all we can change!

Yet if we do change for the right reasons, everything else changes too.

I'm just contemplating how relaxed I feel this winter, compared to any I can remember. No stress... very few worries.
In fact my main worry at the moment is I am wearing odd socks

For the first time in my life, I feel in control of the things I'm meant to be in control of

What’s wrong with odd socks!! I won’t wear them as standard but I’ll only ever chuck one away and will keep its mate for that day when I run out of socks for whatever reason then I can grab a pair of friendless socks out of the bottom drawer and I’m sorted.
Let me know how being in control goes for you. I might get there one day.

Kiwi Pete · Jul 9, 2019

Bury the Trash said:
how does the wrapped hay get on ,? how many layers , and... surely it would sweat a bit or is it so dry …..

Not too bad, I think it's been baled fairly fit.
Not quite enough wrap really, there's the odd wee patch on the bottoms that has had moisture (but waaay cheaper than building a shed)

Henarar · Jul 9, 2019

Bury the Trash said:
how does the wrapped hay get on ,? how many layers , and... surely it would sweat a bit or is it so dry …..

if you let it make before wrapping it then its fine, wrap it directly after baling and you may get problems

Henarar · Jul 9, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
Not too bad, I think it's been baled fairly fit.
Not quite enough wrap really, there's the odd wee patch on the bottoms that has had moisture (but waaay cheaper than building a shed)

short term yes it is, we use to do it with hay and straw, tried sheeting it to, we have a shed now, yes it cost a bit but when you consider it should see me out I suspect it adds up quite well considering the number of bales it has and potentially will keep dry not to mention the other things it keeps dry when its not full of bales

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

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