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  1. W

    Cheap reliable chainsaw

    To save me going through all the threads could someone recommend a lightweight, cheap chainsaw I can buy online please. I have a Stihl 038 av but I want a wee saw I can take going fencing for cutting a branch. Something you bought and are happy with. Thanks
  2. W

    Drenching Cattle

    Thinking of changing wormer this year. Always used an ivermectin injection before but not happy with results, especially during the grazing season. Going to use a drench that does fluke too. I know I'll have to treat lice separate now. Are hook drench guns any good? Can you do a row of cattle...
  3. W

    Slurry and lime

    What’s the thing about slurry and lime? Is it no slurry before lime or no lime before slurry? And whichever way it is, why? They’re are two natural products,surely they can be applied together?
  4. W

    Putting a calf on a heifer.

    How long should it take for a heifer to "take" a calf. I'm not into suckling but had a couple of heifers turned out incalf. One calved on Saturday but calf never got up and died . New calf put on Sunday but she only lets it suck when mealed. Will she ever take to it?
  5. W

    Killing grass/house cattle.

    I killed cattle off grass last Friday but there was three bullocks wouldn't fit on the wagon. I had to house them. I'm killing again next Wednesday. Should I kill the three or do I need to hold them a few weeks. They're fat but my father always warned against killing too quick after housing...
  6. W

    Silage gravel bags

    I'm a gravel bag virgin,do all bags fasten with white cotton string? Bought these empty and filling with pea gravel but surely the string rots?
  7. W

    Peracetic acid — pre dip

    Anybody use peracetic acid as a pre dip? What concentration is safe? Do you use a foaming cup or an ordinary dip cup?
  8. W

    Twins

    If a cow is scanned carrying twins what do you do differently? Longer dry period? Feed more cake during dry period? Boluses/minerals? More than usual here scanned with twins. Hate them. Always have trouble with the second cleansing. Every time the wife gave birth, the mid wife gave her a jag of...
  9. W

    Fencing question

    Does anybody soak their posts in waste oil? Is it purely black oil or black oil plus diesel or black oil plus creosote? How long would dried out posts need soaked? Does it prolong post life? Am I wasting my time soaking them?
  10. W

    June Reseed.

    Always reseed in the autumn but last year weather made it impossible. I’m really tightly stocked on the milking platform so can’t balls things up. If I sprayed off a field tomorrow,started grazing 4 days later,finished grazing after another 4 days,disc and sow seed would I have quick...
  11. W

    Block Calving Question

    Thinking about block calving for next year. Stop milking approximately 20th December. Start up again 20th January. Start serving 10th of April. Here’s the question,if you have a 12 week breeding season,when you dry off on the 20/12 you will have cows not due for 4 months? These cows could be...
  12. W

    Fencing for sheep

    Getting a grant for fencing beside water course. Can either be five strands of barbed or three barbed and one of sheep wire. Will 5 strands of barb keep pregnant ewes or store lambs in. Want to rent ground in winter to thicken sward. Five strands of barbed cheaper than sheep wire. I know nothing...
  13. W

    Volume washer or power washer?

    Which would be best for cleaning parlour? Neither installed here but need something. 24/12 parlour. Volume washer..fast wash down,cheap to install but uses lots of water. Power washer..more expensive,uses less water but cleaner finish. What do others use ?
  14. W

    Cheap fattening ration.

    Currently finishing 30 lim bullocks/heifers from my own dairy herd. Some Holstein blood,some fres blood. They are all 2yo in March/April. Slatted pens . They are fed 8-9kg per head per day made up of 2/3 beef ration,1/3 ground maize. Been feeding this since early December split over two feeds...
  15. W

    Watch

    Can anybody recommend a watch you can wear while milking?Must have the following properties; Tells the time...don’t need stopwatch,alarm etc...I have a phone for that. Waterproof, Can take the odd kick, Strong strap,no plastic buckle, Most important,cheap..so I can throw it away if it’s crap.
  16. W

    Repeats

    Is there anything that can be done with cows that come bulling every three weeks? Have a few cows here that just keep repeating every three weeks? Have Ai’ed them the day after the bull has served them. The gun comes out clean. They have no discharge. They have been bulled every time since bull...
  17. W

    Herbicide

    Was at a local store today looking to buy spray for buttercup and docks. The owner is regarded as a kinda of “ The Spray Guru “. Recommended hurler plus agritox about £10 /acre. Enquired about F*** F**** a highly advertised spray that kills everything only grass. £16/acre. You have to sign...
  18. W

    Feet problems

    Have very few feet probs here. Probably because I’m not a heavy meal feeder. Had to lift a few cows feet today who were very lame. Big lump between the hooves. What is this? Do I need to get vet to remove? Is there a treatment for this? How do I prevent this?
  19. W

    Fast flow water fittings.

    Could anyone please recommend a web site where I can buy fast flow ball cocks. Any difference in brands? Local shop had Hansen and jobe topaz,any difference? Funny enough they're sold out at the moment! TIA.
  20. W

    Oat v barley straw.

    just got an artic load of straw. That load will do me two years.use it for drying off dairy cows,bedding calving cows and feeding to wee calves until they're approx 4-5 months old. Problem is I got oat straw. Have no experience of using it as I always got barley. Will calves/ cows eat it as well...
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