exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
That's smart bodgineering David
I don't think it would keep a high density cattle mob in drink, but for a few sheep should be fine
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
I don't think it would keep a high density cattle mob in drink, but for a few sheep should be fine
- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
Spendthrift
- Location
- somerset
some of the tyre tanks i have seen, they are on a pipe, from ponds, water flows in, and out through a 2nd pipe, constant flow, we have a pumped/pressure supply, all round, so that isn't needed for us, but useful for @exmoor dave
Went on a farm visit about 2 years ago, spring calvers, went OAD because of labour shortage.must admit, cant quite get my head round oad, if you get 4000 litres of milk oad, and you can get 5500 tad....Friend of ours was milking 170 mainly flech xs oad, organically, av about 3000 litres, for various reasons, he installed 2 robots, the last parlour tank, to the first robot tank, doubled the litres, and rose to 7000 cow, same quality. We had a chap come to buy some cows, for oad, he wanted hol type cows, giving 35 litres plus, then backed out, because they were not milky enough
Oad probably works better, the lower your 'gearing', as in my friend, he bought the robots outright, big difference.
Said that although yield dropped say 10%, solids increased by the same proportion, so they were no worse off! Constituent contract of course.
I can see the appeal of OAD for the last part of the lactation if you have a tight block, but not with anything giving plenty of litres...
@onesiedale what breeds do you prefer for OAD? What do you reckon is the max yield without the cows being uncomfortable?
- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
I would say it could stand being a fair bit longer and thicker yet but see what others think? If you leave it too long the problem becomes getting round it fast enough first time to stop any of it getting well past it's best. It's a big learning curve for us all and there's no right answers, just degrees of wrong ones.
Learn to assume you are wrong with whatever you choose to do and look for early signs that the management needs to change.
- Location
- Quebec, Canada
FYI:
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FACT is committed to helping livestock and poultry farmers raise their animals outdoors on well-managed pasture due to the numerous benefits associated with pasture-based animal production. Animals living on pasture can move freely and engage in natural behaviors. They also experience lower stress, disease and lameness, as well as fewer reproductive problems. Pasture-based animal production can help to improve soil health and fertility, and mitigate climate change.
In addition, studies consistently show that pasture-raised animals produce nutritionally superior meat, milk and eggs. When compared to food from animals that were fed grain and raised in confinement, food from animals raised on pasture has better fat quality and increased levels of essential vitamins and nutrients.
HANDOUTS
To showcase these benefits, we’ve created a series of handouts that can be downloaded, printed, and shared in-person or online. The pdf versions are ideal for printing and linking to online, while the image files are good graphics for posting on websites and social media.
Farmers - if you would like personalized versions of any of these documents, please complete our request form and upload photos from your farm. We will insert your photo at the top of the handout and provide you with a file you can print, post and share!
OVERVIEW HANDOUT (ALL ANIMALS)
The handouts above are based on a thorough review of the scientific literature. You may download our bibliography for the full list of the peer-reviewed studies we included. Special thanks to Collette Lentz, MS for her meticulous work to review the science, and to all of the farmers who provided valuable input as we developed these materials!
Please contact Larissa McKenna, FACT’s Humane Farming Program Director, with inquiries about this project.
I requested the personalised handouts for my farm
- For Consumers
- NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
- HUMANE RESTAURANTS
- HUMANE FOOD LABELS
- FARMERS MARKETS AND CSAS
- ANTIBIOTICS
- WHAT IS A HUMANE FARM?
View fullsize
FACT is committed to helping livestock and poultry farmers raise their animals outdoors on well-managed pasture due to the numerous benefits associated with pasture-based animal production. Animals living on pasture can move freely and engage in natural behaviors. They also experience lower stress, disease and lameness, as well as fewer reproductive problems. Pasture-based animal production can help to improve soil health and fertility, and mitigate climate change.
In addition, studies consistently show that pasture-raised animals produce nutritionally superior meat, milk and eggs. When compared to food from animals that were fed grain and raised in confinement, food from animals raised on pasture has better fat quality and increased levels of essential vitamins and nutrients.
HANDOUTS
To showcase these benefits, we’ve created a series of handouts that can be downloaded, printed, and shared in-person or online. The pdf versions are ideal for printing and linking to online, while the image files are good graphics for posting on websites and social media.
Farmers - if you would like personalized versions of any of these documents, please complete our request form and upload photos from your farm. We will insert your photo at the top of the handout and provide you with a file you can print, post and share!
OVERVIEW HANDOUT (ALL ANIMALS)
- Overview pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Beef pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Dairy pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Hen pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Meat bird pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Pig pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
- Sheep and goat pdf (full document - front and back)
- Front side and back side of the handout (jpeg image files)
The handouts above are based on a thorough review of the scientific literature. You may download our bibliography for the full list of the peer-reviewed studies we included. Special thanks to Collette Lentz, MS for her meticulous work to review the science, and to all of the farmers who provided valuable input as we developed these materials!
Please contact Larissa McKenna, FACT’s Humane Farming Program Director, with inquiries about this project.
I requested the personalised handouts for my farm
- Location
- Derbyshire
Jersey/jersey x we have found to be the best. ie a cow that is 450 kg they'll peak at 24-28 litres, but we have had some brown swiss x comfortably doing 35 litres.
Regarding comfort, the cows find their own level . The whole system is about reducing stress for cows, people, grass, soil and of course finances.
- Location
- Derbyshire
Any system works better with lower gearing!
I do always like the look of brown Swiss. What is their body weight in comparison. i.e do they produce any more milk per kg of body weight than the Jerseys?
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Apart from land finance, maybe? If "the land" belongs to all, then so does "the money" to "buy" it with. Or at least that's my view on it
Going to be interesting times ahead when you consider there's close to 25% more money in the world than 12 months ago, I certainly can't see "savings" buying much you more than a block of cheese
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
We have always had a brown swiss steer in the mob, purely because of their beautiful nature and leadership.
The first one to come when that fence reel pawl clicks, is a brown swiss, every single shift. They don't ever seem to "fatten" but I don't really mind that, it's probably a good indication of how they'd look after a dairy farmer or a calf.
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
You could give it a light prune, personally I wouldn't yet. It depends on how gently you can go (that is, how much stock density you can muster)
Being a bit young, a bit like sending a 12kg lamb to slaughter, the potential is there for it to be much much more in a short space of time
awkward
Member
- Location
- kerry ireland
Should that question be how many cows on how many acres to make a living on an ultra low cost system .
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Both of these are good and different questions
I reckon 6 on 104 acres is alright, probably be less profitable for us when we have more cows but I like cows
Loving your cows and having the cows love you back, that's part of "a good living" isn't it?
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Made a wee start on the fencing today so we have somewhere to put our new calves for a start.
Bit worried about them gorging if they have been living on soil and supplement.
The wires really have a good amount of "give", this fence is only about 200m long, with a single spring assembly.
Single wire down the middle
It's all a bit rough yet because I'm waiting for a roll of insultube, so I just made do with short lengths of LDPE pipe for now, and I'll fix it up properly later. The big idea here is that everything can slide up and down, because I don't really know how big these animals are yet.
these handles are brilliant though, hold about 8 feet of wire on the bobbin so you have spare incase you need some to knot a broken wire one day, and you can adjust the tension on the spring
Doing their usual excellent job
Bit worried about them gorging if they have been living on soil and supplement.
The wires really have a good amount of "give", this fence is only about 200m long, with a single spring assembly.
It's all a bit rough yet because I'm waiting for a roll of insultube, so I just made do with short lengths of LDPE pipe for now, and I'll fix it up properly later. The big idea here is that everything can slide up and down, because I don't really know how big these animals are yet.
these handles are brilliant though, hold about 8 feet of wire on the bobbin so you have spare incase you need some to knot a broken wire one day, and you can adjust the tension on the spring
Doing their usual excellent job
- Location
- somerset
must admit, you NZ farmers, have got leccy fencing down to a T. Next job, come over here, and teach our new cows to respect elec.
good job I like cheese then in itApart from land finance, maybe? If "the land" belongs to all, then so does "the money" to "buy" it with. Or at least that's my view on it
Going to be interesting times ahead when you consider there's close to 25% more money in the world than 12 months ago, I certainly can't see "savings" buying much you more than a block of cheese
Fenwick
Member
- Location
- Bretagne France
Made a wee start on the fencing today so we have somewhere to put our new calves for a start.
Bit worried about them gorging if they have been living on soil and supplement.View attachment 952679
The wires really have a good amount of "give", this fence is only about 200m long, with a single spring assembly. View attachment 952680Single wire down the middleView attachment 952681
It's all a bit rough yet because I'm waiting for a roll of insultube, so I just made do with short lengths of LDPE pipe for now, and I'll fix it up properly later. The big idea here is that everything can slide up and down, because I don't really know how big these animals are yet.View attachment 952682
these handles are brilliant though, hold about 8 feet of wire on the bobbin so you have spare incase you need some to knot a broken wire one day, and you can adjust the tension on the springView attachment 952683
Doing their usual excellent job
I'd bé interested to hearing thé opinion down thérè on thé use of springs. Thérè are a few kiwi lads over here in France selling some décent fencing Gear. Théy are well against thé use of springs in HT fencing. Their argument is that thé HT is supple enough as is and that thé breaking point of thé Spring is less than thé dire anyway.
I went on an afternoon to sée thèm fencing. Interestingly they tighten thé fence a LOT. Which is thé opposite as to what de do AT home as thé current stops thé animals, not thé wire itself.
Besides, when thé wire is tight it breaks under pressure, so i dont get thé point. Which is why I originally wanted springs anyway.
- Location
- Ardrossan Ayrshire
I was told that the wire has to be tight so it runs under the insulating hair or wool and touches the skin, thus giving a harder kick.