All things Dairy

[jimmer]

Whole herd PD session today. 7.8% empty outside an 80 day breeding period with zero intervention. Thanks cows, I'll take that.
View attachment 986108

Well done
We were 11.3% empty 12 weeks
, I'll take that for a flying herd

 

[som farmer]

talking water, being on our own pressured system, which took over from a gravity fed network, l really thought l had cracked it, not a chance, this pic shows just how easily it was, for me to utterly complicate the system, the pipe we needed to find, is above the 'knot', just by the bucket, no idea why, or where some of the pipes run, all from catching a pipe ploughing, which cut of the dairy, couldn't find the break, sandy soil and drains, didn't leave a wet patch, for a clue, and l never even knew the pipe was there !

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

We had fun on the new farm too. It had been a horse agistment property many years ago, and only had 3/4 pipe to some paddocks. Put a whole new line in but had to connect to various things that were already there. Bloody nightmare crossing the yard and trying to connect to pumps...

 

[som farmer]

my g/dad had a thing about water here, on the 'old' system, it was very low pressure, and short, and had to be topped up, with mains, summer/autumn, that mains supply was low pressure, he used to worry about leaving the mains 'on', it was basically a stand pipe, to the reservoir, all summer, he was referred to as 'waterloo', in his later years, he insisted on paying one of the staff, 6 old pence, a week, to 'check the mains were off''
The low mains pressure, was 'sorted' after replacing a pipe, that had started to 'drip', we discovered that the water pipe ran through an old insulated cold room, 15ft square, 7 times, alternating between 1/2 inch pipe, to 3/4, back to 1/2 then 1inch, repeatedly, all round the room !
Following a few 'improvements' a non return valve, to stop the mains filling the resovoir, water board renewed the mains supply locally, the pressure jumped up, and blew a lot of joiners on our farm, a new network of pipes were installed. Installed a new network twice, 2nd time, a serious leak we couldn't locate, cheaper to install a new network, than spending days, with a digger, trying to find it.
And we still bugger about with the system, but admit, it does save us a small fortune.

 

[lazy farmer]

my g/dad had a thing about water here, on the 'old' system, it was very low pressure, and short, and had to be topped up, with mains, summer/autumn, that mains supply was low pressure, he used to worry about leaving the mains 'on', it was basically a stand pipe, to the reservoir, all summer, he was referred to as 'waterloo', in his later years, he insisted on paying one of the staff, 6 old pence, a week, to 'check the mains were off''
The low mains pressure, was 'sorted' after replacing a pipe, that had started to 'drip', we discovered that the water pipe ran through an old insulated cold room, 15ft square, 7 times, alternating between 1/2 inch pipe, to 3/4, back to 1/2 then 1inch, repeatedly, all round the room !
Following a few 'improvements' a non return valve, to stop the mains filling the resovoir, water board renewed the mains supply locally, the pressure jumped up, and blew a lot of joiners on our farm, a new network of pipes were installed. Installed a new network twice, 2nd time, a serious leak we couldn't locate, cheaper to install a new network, than spending days, with a digger, trying to find it.
And we still bugger about with the system, but admit, it does save us a small fortune.

What size is your pipe network ? Doesn’t look very large in your photo.

 

[som farmer]

What size is your pipe network ? Doesn’t look very large in your photo.

no, 3/4 or 1in, was put in when we stopped milking, never thought we would start again, most of the newer stuff is 32, we run at 6 bar, with big tanks, and cope, just, not ideal perhaps, but works. But, over the years, altered/changed/discarded the network, but that cobble up, suprised me, we started with a spade, and got nowhere, so thankful the digger, was free.

 

[In the pit]

I’d be very surprised if you’re at 6 bar

 

[som farmer]

I’d be very surprised if you’re at 6 bar

that's what the man showed us on his 'meter', and the pressure vessel is set for that, below the bore hole, it comes out of taps, naturally carbonated, air bubbles, grandkids are fascinated by how long it takes to 'clear' in a glass. If we updated to 50mm, pressure could be less, but we rent, no l/lord help, so it works, that's all that is required.

 

[Moorlands]

Anyone off for a look?
just some catalogue of breeding!

 

[Spudley]

No but the catalogue is very impressive. Many years of hard work gone into that herd and I hope they have a good sale.

 

[Spudley]

We brought the in calf heifers across the river to a bit more grass (!) but they still would rather eat the hedge

This years calves coming on now. They haven't had the best grass this year as I just haven't been motivated enough to strip graze them and have been moving them around a couple of fields the cows don't like.

The daughters Ayrshires. Big one is calving in December and the small one is only 9 months old. Small one hopefully off to either the dairy show or the national calf show next month.

 

[Martyn]

Our first use of sex semen, Goonhilly Joseph just born.

 

[Ball acre]

I’d be very surprised if you’re at 6 bar

I used to milk not far from @som farmer . The mains used to come from the Bratton Seymore reservoir at 7 bar!

 

[In the pit]

I used to milk not far from @som farmer . The mains used to come from the Bratton Seymore reservoir at 7 bar!

He’s wasn’t on about mains , he was talking borehole and said is system only just copes,
With 32 mm at that rate there should be plenty of water
He talks a good talk some believable some not so much

 

[pine_guy]

Our first use of sex semen, Goonhilly Joseph just born. View attachment 986370

Bull?

 

[Martyn]

Bull?

Thankfully not. I do have a couple of bulls of cows that just to good to put a ring on! If anyone want a well bred Friesian bull!

 

[som farmer]

He’s wasn’t on about mains , he was talking borehole and said is system only just copes,
With 32 mm at that rate there should be plenty of water
He talks a good talk some believable some not so much

needs 6 bar, to pump it up to the top fields, you may doubt, but that is what the installer set it at, and brother in law, is a plumber, and he agrees.

 

[Princess Pooper]

needs 6 bar, to pump it up to the top fields, you may doubt, but that is what the installer set it at, and brother in law, is a plumber, and he agrees.

Did you watch Clarkson’s Farm and the triumphant revival of his water pipes?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I just dusted off my pressure gauge and it's running at 12 bar on a 50mm pipe. Even on the hottest days the troughs are never more than a few inches off being full

 

[frederick]

I just dusted off my pressure gauge and it's running at 12 bar on a 50mm pipe. Even on the hottest days the troughs are never more than a few inches off being full
View attachment 986427

What ball valves have you got working succesfull at that pressure.
We are 2bar at the top of the hill and 9-10 at the bottom.