- Location
- Ardrossan Ayrshire
As far as I can tell all the work has been done on maximising yield with inputs and looking tidy. We need to maximise output without inputs, but there is no profit in that for the supply industry.
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
- Location
- Derbyshire UK
Good article is that, thanks for signposting.
Thinking of getting cows into the arable rotation this winter and grazing the oat/linseed stubble with undersown clover, plus straw & silage. Trouble is its a bit exposed, a tow along windbreak would work if knocked up cheep enough.
Fenwick
Member
- Location
- Bretagne France
Funny things is, for a long time i was convinced i had to find a way to fit thé arable into thé pasture rotation. 4 years grass, 1 year Roots, 2 years céréals etc..
But actually i now believe i should bé fitting thé cattle into thé arable rotation and grazing thé covers. Which is a Real head scratcher, especially with thé arable being in thé away fields.
- Location
- Quebec, Canada
Windbreak I mentioned earlier. Would you remove the tin and put wood instead before the bitter weather sets in? angle is directly into the wind .
Maybe I should pop a few holes in the sides?
Maybe I should pop a few holes in the sides?
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Handy to know, thanks @Blaithin
I have wanted to "do something" a few times, and I might just knock something together along those lines. Have seen that windbreak cloth stapled to fences before.... and seen cow rumens absolutely clogged with windbreak cloth so I won't be going down that route
I have wanted to "do something" a few times, and I might just knock something together along those lines. Have seen that windbreak cloth stapled to fences before.... and seen cow rumens absolutely clogged with windbreak cloth so I won't be going down that route
- Location
- Quebec, Canada
Donald Trump of the animals kingdom
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Cheeky Canadians 
fostering themselves onto cows now. Good view of them from the kitchen window.
Sarah said only 3 came to the feeder this morning as the rest had topped up overnight.
And this, just in
Little heifer calf again, Lily must know she's on my shitlist for being a useless milker
fostering themselves onto cows now. Good view of them from the kitchen window.
And this, just in
Little heifer calf again, Lily must know she's on my shitlist for being a useless milker
Guess it depends if you have wood available. It’s cost isn’t nice right now.
If you have access to boards, and the time, take it down and use the boards, spaced out. Save the tin for a roof.
If you don’t have access to boards, is there any way you can space the tin? I’m assuming they’re in the narrower, long, style common out here. Or maybe space the tin with gaps of boards spaced.
Of course, this is me directing your time and labour
- Location
- Quebec, Canada
Crazy prices on wood right now. I usually keep quite a bit just in case, but not this yearGuess it depends if you have wood available. It’s cost isn’t nice right now.
If you have access to boards, and the time, take it down and use the boards, spaced out. Save the tin for a roof.
If you don’t have access to boards, is there any way you can space the tin? I’m assuming they’re in the narrower, long, style common out here. Or maybe space the tin with gaps of boards spaced.
Of course, this is me directing your time and labour
- Location
- somerset
where's the promised golden egg, often trumpeted about ?
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
All very grown up isn't it.Just hatchedView attachment 911086
I actually like the way he tweets what he wants to say and cuts out some of the twisting lyeing hangers on
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
I guess that's why people seem to have such a love/hate for him, it's getting quite rare to actually say what you mean and not make "being popular" the main goal.
Or, tweet what you mean
I have similar issues with social media, esp. regen ag groups, I've gathered now that you aren't meant to say what you think on many of them
Not noticed that but I don't comment much, I find its best to take no notice, say what you like, even put a few feck's in for effectI guess that's why people seem to have such a love/hate for him, it's getting quite rare to actually say what you mean and not make "being popular" the main goal.
Or, tweet what you mean
I have similar issues with social media, esp. regen ag groups, I've gathered now that you aren't meant to say what you think on many of them
- Location
- somerset
well, he now has covid, so things could rapidly change. But, one of his 'attraction' to his voters, is, he speaks what he likes to say, that he ought to engage brain, before opening his mouth, is obvious ! Again, it is rare to find a politician, who isn't politically 'correct', and devious at answering direct questions ! Over here, he has been slated, for not condemning the racism issues (PC) over there. But, looting, burning etc, should not happen, and his 'hardline' attitude towards it, for a huge swathe of voters, is 'spot-on'. If covid, doesn't finish him off, i think he will be re-elected, thankfully, we don't need to make that vote !!!
- Location
- Derbyshire UK
One crop rotation; grass/grazing, roots, arable etc would be ideal. Best crop of spring oats was behind grass/sacrificial ground. But no water & no boundary fence on one block has kept it in arable. Sheep have been main grazing tool, less water demand, lighter on ground & people seem less offended by escape sheep!
Newman Turner was keen on out wintering his growing cattle on arable stubble/weeds + a straw rick for shelter/feed/compost heap starter, but he didn't mention watering them?
Will trundle a bowser over to cows on oat stubble this winter plus a contingency of opening a gate down to a stream.
How about one of those pumps to pump out of the steam
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
I think Newman Turner was probably lucky enough to be born in a more realistic time. Cows will walk miles for water and miles back to graze in hot climates - it's really the modern concept of "everything must have constant access to potable water" and that type of progressive thinking that upset practical practices.
If I leave my trough way back behind the mob nothing even bothers to go back for a sip, they are getting plenty of water out of the grass they constantly get more of. Parked-up animals get bored and hang around the trough.
Guess what we see more of??
- Location
- Derbyshire UK
Your right with the "more realistic time", just been reading how the ministry wanted to take his bull for killing as it was a TB reactor, he didn't let them take it and proceeded to cure it. Saying "no" to the ministry and "curing TB", can you imagine the upset that would cause today!
Most set ups here only have one water source per quarter. They’re always travelling, grazing during the day and circling back to water once, maybe twice a day.
Rates of gain are improved with water consumption though. More so with water pumped out into a trough.
And can’t have small cells of high density if you’ve only got one water source a half mile away. Water is one of the biggest limiting factors to rotational grazing set ups here. The infrastructure required to get the water to the cows is enormous compared to the stationary sources the cows go to.