Ideal use for old IBCs? They really are modest in size aren't they.
Boom!
Ideal use for old IBCs? They really are modest in size aren't they.
its covid ,we;re really not getting out enough are we...Boom!
its covid ,we;re really not getting out enough are we...
lager for meTrue..... There is a Pub somewhere, with a couple of pints of really good beer just waiting for me to walk through the door...
I did specify "good beer", but each man to his own poison...lager for me
There are plenty of good videos of the original Johnson-Su method on YouTube. It's not hard, just needs building carefully and regular monitoring. I plan to try one as soon as we get moved.Ideal use for old IBCs? They really are modest in size aren't they.
There are plenty of good videos of the original Johnson-Su method on YouTube. It's not hard, just needs building carefully and regular monitoring. I plan to try one as soon as we get moved.
I did specify "good beer", but each man to his own poison...
It probably won't happen in a country with an inflated farmgate beef price and area payments, either.that wont happen surely ,because you have the rent from your houses coming in.
same as my best mate,'oh i dont need to work we can live off our 2 rental properties,' (they get about 1k a month x 2.
i then reply well them do you?oh well he says i get bored doing nothing
Well said. The folk who support these crackpot inflexible ideas are certainly not experienced dyed-in-the-wool stock men who have years of tradition behind them.
The folk who leap in are usually hobby farmers with little or no experience, but who are receptive to mad-cap suggestions, and who think they are going to revolutionise farming.
We all know that grass and grass products are usually the cheapest feeds, but that tactical use of concentrates as and when required can have a massive benefit in terms of productivity, carbon reduction and animal welfare.
Hmm.It probably won't happen in a country with an inflated farmgate beef price and area payments, either.
Im not into all out production either as ive already said. Grazing is one aspect im interested in just like growing corn and other things, and welding in the workshop etc etc its all part of what i see as my job.That's largely why I got out of "production" and into grazing in the first place, £2/kg and no guarantee of getting stock away at the right time... at £350/ac I can't afford that type of business model here.
Not with a ranch this size, anyway.
I like "marketing" what we do here, the thing is we're marketing our various strongpoints to other farmers - not various conglomerates and consortiums - so it's really enjoyable!Hmm.
Im not into all out production either as ive already said. Grazing is one aspect im interested in just like growing corn and other things, and welding in the workshop etc etc its all part of what i see as my job.
i like all ways and means and i'm interested in new ones as well i'll use the best of all that suits my situation. keep an open mind as i would encourage others to do.
Now, if someone would do my marketing and paper work , well that would be just perfect.
White Oak Pastures is probably amongst the most regenerative operations in the world so definitely not typical. It does show what can be done though.Here are some infographics from a US grazed system. No idea if they are widely applicable though. View attachment 935661View attachment 935662
when our farm did (for 25 yrs or so. )other things we sold a precentage of the produce retail, at the door, used to chitter to lots of really interesting people but it took time.I like "marketing" what we do here, the thing is we're marketing our various strongpoints to other farmers - not various conglomerates and consortiums - so it's really enjoyable!
I suppose it's like direct-marketing meat, you can sound out your 'consumer' and actually get a feel for what they want... and maybe it lifts your game a little.
There's still a lot to be done to really make it hum.. but to make the same profit from production as we do from grazing, I'd need to adopt a hugely extractive model to produce that much beef here.. and that is simply not something I'm prepared to do.
I think if I was in the UK I'd be jumping through every possible hoop for every possible scheme, like the ones where I get £500/year for having clover and £250 per gate... £750 is a finished beast here.
Then I'd only need 3 cows instead of 6
when our farm did (for 25 yrs or so. )other things we sold a precentage of the produce retail, at the door, used to chitter to lots of really interesting people but it took time.
They mainly bought on price followed by knowing where it came from/knowing the people behind it and buying local, less travel plus farm fresh.
A change in farm policy brought it to an end that was bout 20 yrs ago. i don't miss it one bit.
im certainly no salesman , nor a farming consultant either for that matter.
Just an observer , that's all , just relating what i see and have seen.
and really we should factor in the carbon released in the production of cereals used to fatten the animals in a non pastured for life scenario, I think that greatly pushes the balance in favour of traditional breeds fattened on grazing.Why? I assume you belong to the “longer on the planet, the more methane” brigade, but it has to be balanced against the whole carbon footprint of growing and transportation of the concentrate / protein (fuel, fertiliser etc) and does not take into account sequestration of carbon - I thought this had been well discussed on here in other threads. Our cattle are all away by 28-29 months and with better grass management could do 27 months at a pinch at slightly lighter weights. They average 280 kg DW R4L or H at that age.
This is the problem with prescriptive certifications. In trying to conform to an ideal, alternatives that are potentially as good, or possibly even better, can be ruled out."Animals kept according to Pasture for Life standards are not fed any form of grain or manufactured feeds.
These typically include high-energy and high-protein components such as soya, maize, wheat or pulses such as peas and beans. Intensive livestock production relies upon these to accelerate animal growth and production.
However, this kind of high-performance diet can put pressure on an animal’s body. They often have a shorter lifespan and experience a more stressful life than those fed more naturally."
..........the above is taken from the PFLA website.......any opinions on the last paragraph?
....also which of these systems is better for the environment and has higher animal welfare?
System 1. - PFLA certified producer. cattle fed round bale silage (wrapped in plastic and net) inside for 6 months of the year, fed, bedded (on straw!), mucked out all using a tractor, and don't forget a tractor has also been used to make the silage and potentially fert used.
System 2. - cattle out all year round, wintered on moorland and supplemented a small amount of grain because of poor nutritional quality of grazing (bales only fed in snow). Grain delivered to farm in bulk (no plastic bags) and fed out using a quad bike. These cattle never see a shed, calves also outwintered with supplementary grain but finished on just grass in the summer. No fert ever used.
These things never can be black and white, can they! There will always be extremes of systems - 6 months housed(!!) v outwintered on tiny amounts of grain - that will find holes in the standards. On a bell curve these alternative options would be outliers. The majority of farmers that are in the middle of the bell curve could transition to feeding less or no grain, if they wished. PFLA gives them the option to be recognised in the marketplace, should they so wish to go down that route."Animals kept according to Pasture for Life standards are not fed any form of grain or manufactured feeds.
These typically include high-energy and high-protein components such as soya, maize, wheat or pulses such as peas and beans. Intensive livestock production relies upon these to accelerate animal growth and production.
However, this kind of high-performance diet can put pressure on an animal’s body. They often have a shorter lifespan and experience a more stressful life than those fed more naturally."
..........the above is taken from the PFLA website.......any opinions on the last paragraph?
....also which of these systems is better for the environment and has higher animal welfare?
System 1. - PFLA certified producer. cattle fed round bale silage (wrapped in plastic and net) inside for 6 months of the year, fed, bedded (on straw!), mucked out all using a tractor, and don't forget a tractor has also been used to make the silage and potentially fert used.
System 2. - cattle out all year round, wintered on moorland and supplemented a small amount of grain because of poor nutritional quality of grazing (bales only fed in snow). Grain delivered to farm in bulk (no plastic bags) and fed out using a quad bike. These cattle never see a shed, calves also outwintered with supplementary grain but finished on just grass in the summer. No fert ever used.