bedding

We are looking at buying a farm steading and part of our business plan includes constructing a new shed and converting an existing shed looking for advice on things to consider and a sounding board on whether our plans sound reasonable. Converting existing earth floor shed to slatted sheep...

We don’t use a huge amount of straw. Maybe 40 tons a season. For large calf pens. (7) calving pad and colostrum group. Would the savings in straw usage given the ever rising price warrant the dust and cost of some Sort of straw chopper/shredder? all but one pen would be easy access.

Apart from not grazing calving has gone well. very little mastitis none at all in the heifers. However we have around 8% with a blind quarters. I was unable to test seal the quarters in question before Christmas. Suggesting the problem had occurred earlier In their lives. thoughts on what...

I farm heavy silty clay with flints. No ditches, no land drains. Good strong wheat land, if unforgiving. I've been trying to grow cover crops on and off for the last 9 yrs. With one exception, they have all been disastrous. Summer cover crops in place of a spring crop, on the other hand, can...

Written by Agriland Team from Agriland The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland recently announced that the prefix code on Northern Ireland livestock identification tags (ear tags) is set to change from ‘UK’ to ‘XI’ this year. In response to...

So I have a equine livery yard and been looking at ways to make the straw go further we currently just stack large square bale straw into a shed and they just open them up and use from the stack now we used to be on small conventional bales and they seemed to go a little further than big stuff...

Hi all, looking for some advice please. Having some difficulty with twin lamb, had 5 cases in 48 hours in freshly housed ewes. Details Problem specifically in twins. No issues in trips or singles. Twins were on good quality stubble turnips until last Weekend (2 weeks out from lambing)...

Written by Brian McDonnell from Agriland As calf sheds begin to fill on farms this spring, pneumonia can begin to become an issue on many dairy farms. Pneumonia and scour are the two biggest killers of young calves, so prevention of these illnesses should be of high priority. Pneumonia is...

Had 2 yearling in a row, pedigree Texels, mother the lambs (both twins) but won’t let them feed. I have had one in an adopter for the last 3 days (out in the night) doesn’t flinch when they feed. As soon as they are out, won’t let them. Any advice? I know 2 doesn’t sound many but we don’t have...

Sorry! I am a student at Royal Agriculture University, I am deeply grateful for your time and expertise. I am currently working on a project exploring different composting systems for dairy farm waste and was hoping to seek your advice. This is my attempt at a high-level map of manure...

Up until now it's been a single dose of Ivomec, but apparently research shows that the residuals of using it can persist in the dung for a considerable period of time after use and still have considerable detrimental effect on soil health after spreading. Sheep are typically housed about four...

got some to sort out for sheep feeding....cant afford to buy a bucket and Just thinking/ looking for ideas on how to make one from the scrap pile :unsure:.........

Written by Aisling O'Brien from Agriland A court in Northern Ireland has convicted and fined a man who was found to be transporting puppies which were unfit for travel. Eugene Daly of Derryfubble Road in Dungannon was convicted at Laganside Court yesterday (Tuesday, March 5) of one charge of...

Written by Eva Osborne-Sherlock from Agriland Ahead of International Women’s Day this Friday (March 8), Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has said it is celebrating women who work in the red meat industry. HCC said International Women’s Day is a day to challenge stereotypes and...

This year the straw I’ve been supplied is chopped, how this straw compares as bedding to non chopped: Negative: 1. Cattle are mucky after 24hrs, to keep them in the same condition as non chopped straw would need double the round bales. 2. It’s probably due to to a wetter year and how the wind...

We are trading in Slurry bags, they are competitively priced by even slurry bag standards. Not to mention the difference in price with concrete and steel structures, which is a 4 times the price. If your on an NVZ then the EA will be coming for you to have a minimum of storage of up to 6 months...

Written by Brian McDonnell from Agriland During the calving rearing period, there is an increased risk of disease or sickness, with scour being the biggest risk to young calves. Scour is the biggest killer of young calves on dairy farms, and the severity of cases can vary greatly – from...

A biggish fat lamb (50kg?) is worth £160. (the same as a ton of barley) A small fat beast (500kg) is worth £1600. (the same as 10 tons of barley). Has the value of finished stock compared to the price of grain ever been a high during the last 10,000 years?

Mulling things over … now I love farming ( mostly) and as some of you know, I’ve said it’s all I ever wanted to do . But times are changing and with the weather on top of poor ground plus my age and aches and pains, I’ve been wondering if it’s time to say enough Part of me feels guilty as if I...