This farming life

It's a zen thing mate.
I've got masses of em, and most are as dopey as can be a lot of the time.
(gave up byres decades since mind)

On sticks....
You can handle cattle perfectly well without one, as several very pro drovers now do.
Equally, I rarely get in the crush pen, or go to sort cattle without one.
You use them firstly to prod a nose to turn it, or to make a noise as said.
It's 2nd nature to touch it to an animal who mightn't have seen you, as you speak, to let her know where you are....the kick is less likely to connect if you shock her.

And when something really needs telling - I endeavour to never let a beast barge past me instead of proceeding, to avoid them learning bad habits - or when something starts to get fruity... a smart rap on the snout releases endorphins, or whatever it does, and changes their attitude toot sweet.
If a beast gets nasty.....you're either gonna jump out the way, or educate it. And a soft word seldom does much by then.

For those who don't know it. A poly pipe makes a louder thwack against a legging or such, and indeed, is unlikely to snap.
However, a seasoned hazel stick of a suitable diameter will ....er...focus the attention of a beast far more when the chips are down.
At the end of the day, you would struggle to inflict any actual harm, beyond a skin deep bruise, with a bit of blue pipe...whereas a stiff bit of 30mm hazel, or better yet blackthorn/holly...well, a heavy fella could pretty much crack your head open with it.

I use either, but prefer 22-24mm hazel.

I have written books on the subject, but concede I'm an anorak.
None in byres here either thank the lord. However a SKH wheelbarrow is a great thing to build your kids muscles up
 
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The whole episode with the bull was exactly what the vegan and animal rights brigade will love,
The bull being wound up on the halter, the stress the bull displayed at the mart, suggesting the mart had something to do with it when it was the owners failings,
And the two of them brandishing alkathene pipe, we all know that is banned, not the finest hour of TV for farming life,
That programme does so much to build bridges and help the industry, a few minutes focusing on that can undo a whole series work


The poor lad didn't stand much chance, starting at 4 years old.

I'd like to see his marbling though (y)
 

Old Tup

Member
Agree he really does not seem that confident with the stock.

I suspect that He is a big, fit chap who normally is big and strong enough to manage to be in charge of an animal, but as we all know, experience and nouse is needed with big animals... It'll come, but they really need a proper handling setup before someone gets hurt, they were struggling with the bull in an earlier program I recall?
Best to hope he hasn’t read this before he puts his daytime job skill to the test when he rescues you from a burning building!
He’s a Fireman......married to a pretty capable hard working Farmer.
As is demonstrated here, by the number of comments.....it was from the TV companies point of view “good viewing”.
Reminds me of Scots agri comic Jim Smiths line about “The Mart” based on Thainstone....Aberdeen.
He commented how it focused on the contrived disasters with the line...
“Jings......what are we going to doooo, Davys lost the keys tae the forklift “
 

idgni

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Armagh
The key to droving is knowing when to just stand, and wait, and a poke is far more effective than a lash with a stick.
I learned from a 7 drovers how to use your body, voice and stick to send an animal where you want,
And I learned from far more how not to
I learnt a long time ago that a lot of farmers have the equivalent to a university degree when it come to handling livestock, this became apparent after my father thought it would be a good idea to take a townie cousin with me to get a batch of sheep gathered up.
after the first one beat him and he tried running after it to catch it in the middle of the field I knew it was time to just go home😳

The ability to know where to stand, speak up , move arms, flinch a bit To get them to turn, head off etc is priceless
 

Willie adie

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Best to hope he hasn’t read this before he puts his daytime job skill to the test when he rescues you from a burning building!
He’s a Fireman......married to a pretty capable hard working Farmer.
As is demonstrated here, by the number of comments.....it was from the TV companies point of view “good viewing”.
Reminds me of Scots agri comic Jim Smiths line about “The Mart” based on Thainstone....Aberdeen.
He commented how it focused on the contrived disasters with the line...
“Jings......what are we going to doooo, Davys lost the keys tae the forklift “
I enjoyed him taking the pee out of certain members of staff,,
 

Old Tup

Member
Often noticed that cattle had the uncanny knack of picking out the weakest link of those present when it came to the pens etc.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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    Votes: 76 43.7%
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    Votes: 62 35.6%
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    Votes: 27 15.5%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 3 1.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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