All things Dairy

[pine_guy]

Can't beat the enjoyment of new life. View attachment 985339View attachment 985340

Agreed, but why 5 had to save it up to the 24 hour period I had no staff at all I’ve no idea

Nee there must be a reason God made Gorse Bushes

confession, one was a suckler and has required none of my time

 

[Martyn]

Agreed, but why 5 had to save it up to the 24 hour period I had no staff at all I’ve no idea
View attachment 985356
View attachment 985357
Nee there must be a reason God made Gorse Bushes
View attachment 985358
confession, one was a suckler and has required none of my time
View attachment 985359

Surprising how much time can be spent bringing cows and calves in from paddocks,I bought this girl down from the paddock as I wanted my tea, nice an close for morning milking but think there will 2/3 more to come tonight.

 

[pine_guy]

Surprising how much time can be spent bringing cows and calves in from paddocks,I bought this girl down from the paddock as I wanted my tea, nice an close for morning milking but think there will 2/3 more to come tonight.

I’d brought 4 home (trailer full) from away grazing on Friday, but we are still calving on rented ground 1.5 miles from the farm as it gets no muck and if they stay there till they calve we don’t get milk fever problems. But one in the first picture decided to though me a curve ball and spit one out on sat night at the away grazing. Went back for her after milking this morning. Miles away from its calf. Went to get the calf up, did that classic jump up and bolt in the opposite direction from its mother At which point I wished I’d gone back for it last night while it was fresh.

 

[Martyn]

I’d brought 4 home (trailer full) from away grazing on Friday, but we are still calving on rented ground 1.5 miles from the farm as it gets no muck and if they stay there till they calve we don’t get milk fever problems. But one in the first picture decided to though me a curve ball and spit one out on sat night at the away grazing. Went back for her after milking this morning. Miles away from its calf. Went to get the calf up, did that classic jump up and bolt in the opposite direction from its mother At which point I wished I’d gone back for it last night while it was fresh.

We have had hours of fun chasing nut cases that jump through hedges and dart of across fields, I gave up last year and had contactor stock fence our calving paddocks!

 

[pine_guy]

As it’s a picture thread, was chuffed when I managed to sort these 4 girls out on my own

From here with considerable ease. We will skip over the events of getting 2272 to the loading pen at the other end of the field…

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

basically, they shouldn't be there, and dairy bred are not usually at shows. But we all know of cases where bulls have turned, in a flash, that were 'quiet' before. A chain/staff attached to a nose ring, gives control, by causing pain, if not doing as expected. That pain, in todays world of 'do gooders' is probably not acceptable ! I enjoy looking at the bulls at shows, it's great to look, and compare breeds, and don't want it to stop, at the same time, 1,000kg of muscle, running wild, at a show, would make one hell of a mess, let alone causing injury. The fact it hasn't happened, is a wonder on it's own.
A stick gives re-assurance, but in reality, it's not of use versus a excited bull.
There is no answer, except, 'do not be complacent, ever, when with bulls'.

A quick belt on the nose before they get set works. No stick, no hope. I know personally....and, worst thing you can do is turn and run. (I realise that self preservation takes precedence, but a stick can stop this). Once you run they know they have the upper hand forever. You may as well ring the agent and stick it on the next truck to market.

 

[som farmer]

made that phone call a time or two.
the latest, was a jersey bull, we reared from a calf, with another, quiet as lambs, till he went with hfrs, served 2, and changed into a raving psychopath.
Years back, we had a young hol bull, caught his leg, in between two gates, washed and rebandaged that foot, daily for weeks, used to put a halter on, tie him up, front foot, never moved, and then l would walk him, around on a bull staff, nice and quiet, the day l finished with bandages, was also the last day l could halter him, or use the bull staff. He wasn't nasty, but would not allow you to catch him.

 

[Uggman]

I'm not a tit puller but always wondered if that's the problem with dairy bulls there hand reared do there not affaied of people the all of a sudden there stronger than the farmer equals big trouble?

 

[Cowmansam]

Cow reared bulls definitely have more manners in general

 

[sidjon]

made that phone call a time or two.
the latest, was a jersey bull, we reared from a calf, with another, quiet as lambs, till he went with hfrs, served 2, and changed into a raving psychopath.
Years back, we had a young hol bull, caught his leg, in between two gates, washed and rebandaged that foot, daily for weeks, used to put a halter on, tie him up, front foot, never moved, and then l would walk him, around on a bull staff, nice and quiet, the day l finished with bandages, was also the last day l could halter him, or use the bull staff. He wasn't nasty, but would not allow you to catch him.

Your biggest mistake is bucket rearing a bull, our are all cows reared and aggression was much less, even with the jersey bulls

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

Cow reared bulls definitely have more manners in general

Ummmmm. No they dont. Had a cow reared bull out of the quietest cow in the herd. He was fine when working. He would hide from you amongst the herd. Problem came when moving him anywhere. He was thoroughly mad. Would go out of his way to chase you. Threw a 2 wheel motorbike over his head after I jumped the gate when I knew he wasnt stopping one day. Then cleared a 5ft high gate with 6 inches to spare. Day he went to market he put every ringer through the yard rails. Agent said they had never ever had such a mad bull before.
Still gives me nightmares....

 

[Cowmansam]

Ummmmm. No they dont. Had a cow reared bull out of the quietest cow in the herd. He was fine when working. He would hide from you amongst the herd. Problem came when moving him anywhere. He was thoroughly mad. Would go out of his way to chase you. Threw a 2 wheel motorbike over his head after I jumped the gate when I knew he wasnt stopping one day. Then cleared a 5ft high gate with 6 inches to spare. Day he went to market he put every ringer through the yard rails. Agent said they had never ever had such a mad bull before.
Still gives me nightmares....

There’s always the exception

 

[som farmer]

Your biggest mistake is bucket rearing a bull, our are all cows reared and aggression was much less, even with the jersey bulls

you are probably right, the theory of rearing up, is to get them used to you, and to get them acclimatised to our normal farm bugs.
the first, agreed, not a good thing, currently 2 home reared.
second, probably a good thing.
something we have regularly done over the years, but thinking back, most were confined to a bull pen, after 1 run with hfrs, and probably in the pen, for that reason. 1 good pedigree hol bull, that was really quiet, and caused no trouble, stayed around to long, 84 hfrs from him, and none of them milked, 3500-4000litres, as hfrs, and not a lot more as seconds, thirds, pity, nice looking cattle, that lesson worked, we never keep dairy bulls about to long, since.

 

[som farmer]

Ummmmm. No they dont. Had a cow reared bull out of the quietest cow in the herd. He was fine when working. He would hide from you amongst the herd. Problem came when moving him anywhere. He was thoroughly mad. Would go out of his way to chase you. Threw a 2 wheel motorbike over his head after I jumped the gate when I knew he wasnt stopping one day. Then cleared a 5ft high gate with 6 inches to spare. Day he went to market he put every ringer through the yard rails. Agent said they had never ever had such a mad bull before.
Still gives me nightmares....

you should never send an animal to mkt, if you know he's likely to get nasty, full stop. It's not safe, and it's dangerous, and busy mkts put all animals well out of their comfort zones.

 

[sidjon]

you should never send an animal to mkt, if you know he's likely to get nasty, full stop. It's not safe, and it's dangerous, and busy mkts put all animals well out of their comfort zones.

He's in Australia, totally different set up, as most cattle haven't seen people before, it like cutcombe on steroids

 

[som farmer]

He's in Australia, totally different set up, as most cattle haven't seen people before, it like cutcombe on steroids

act forgiven then, different circumstances. The fact remains, over here, it is irresponsible to send 'wild' animals to market, l think someone got a broken leg, moving animals about, at exeter last friday, it's just to easy to get caught out.

 

[sidjon]

act forgiven then, different circumstances. The fact remains, over here, it is irresponsible to send 'wild' animals to market, l think someone got a broken leg, moving animals about, at exeter last friday, it's just to easy to get caught out.

Uncle nearly got killed in Sedgemoor couple of years ago , suck calves never seen people before and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and to elderly to make any fast movements.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

you should never send an animal to mkt, if you know he's likely to get nasty, full stop. It's not safe, and it's dangerous, and busy mkts put all animals well out of their comfort zones.

They were warned. And it was our stock agents decision as to the better return for the beast. End of the day, like it or not, everything comes down to dollars.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

He's in Australia, totally different set up, as most cattle haven't seen people before, it like cutcombe on steroids

Dairying isnt that different around the world. We just dont house cattle.

 

[sidjon]

Dairying isnt that different around the world. We just dont house cattle.

Your saleyards would be, not your home farm