organic 53 acres grown next to me of beans , mostly ragwort and thistles, best yield was 1/2 ton , they're not the best at growing stuff organically or normally tho.
All things Dairy
- Thread starter Cows 'n grass
- Start date
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
The best organic farmers do a good job
The rest take all the money on offer then revert back to conventional after 7/8 years
The best system is a bit of both , less drugs and fert , clover rich pastures and better use of fym/ slurry
The rest take all the money on offer then revert back to conventional after 7/8 years
The best system is a bit of both , less drugs and fert , clover rich pastures and better use of fym/ slurry
- Location
- God's side of the border.
That's doubled on what I paid last year.
Bought next years in May £311. Better start looking at clover seed prices
- Location
- somerset
spring, our 'help' has given his notice, not unwelcome, zero chance of replacing him, there's an estate next door, creating a luxury hotel/leisure complex, that makes the eden project look small, 400 on the books, and nearly 300 builders/landscapers, all at way over min wage. TB clear, neighbours just gone down, we have to test end oct, if we go down, we would have over 400 head about, and no help, what would you do ? We might find someone, but nobody local can, farm wise, so highly doubtful, i'm a blue badge, leaves son, simply to much of a gambol, kivells would confirm that, so entirely genuine, anything 'iffy' not going, we stand behind all of them. Our contract means we need autumn milk, otherwise, it would be them. Not something we wanted to do, but proactive, and we still have to many ! 155 milkers, plus y/s.
- Location
- somerset
exactly what we are doing, no labour, so cow numbers down, tomorrow, exeter, more corn, more clover, better rotation, and less going out.
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
What levels of protein do people think are in good autumn grass?.always looks great but always seams a challenge to fully utilize.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Hope the bales don't end up like these from the other dayAfter a big run of bull calves, the girls are fighting back.
3 heifer calves
View attachment 987288
And nothing better than a bit of late evening Jenga
62 bales pushed in from the front on top of the silage.View attachment 987289
From the back not quite so tidy
View attachment 987290
Old boss of mine from my self employed days. Two cracking silage pits
Animals moved to safety during huge barn fire in Cheshire
Around 400 animals were rescued as eight fire crews tackled the blaze
www.cheshire-live.co.uk
- Location
- Shropshire
Mates Mrs works in the kennels there had go out at 3 in morning move all the dogs
Probably 24-27%. The difficulty is getting enough into the cows with low DM grass and decreasing daylight.
- Location
- Northumberland
Problem with autumn grass is more to do with getting enough energy into the cows, as @vantage says caused by lower DM & reduced sunshine
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Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
I'm thinking from Monday of dropping parlour cake back 1kg ahead a starting up the feederwagon with 6kg a head of crimp and 3kg a head of silage, I don't want to reduce grazing but don't feel the cows are doing. Would people feed bi carb with cereal at those levels?
- Location
- somerset
yes
we are thinking the grass/clover looks great, but not quite producing the milk it looks as though it should.
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Anyone pre mowing to let the grass wilt/increase DM?
- Location
- somerset
no, grass is dying off in places, that and rust, suprised how they eat it up, any plant with a head and rust, gets left. Clover and herbs look green and lush, they clear them up. DM must be high though, seeing how dry it is here now. Ploughing now, for westerwolds, turning over, no moisture at all.
What did you cows make?
Chimera
Member
- Location
- North Wales
We've done just that. Kept them in at night on 3kg crimp and silage. Milk up 3litres.
I should be doing that, but builders have other ideas. Only 6 months since the cows were out!
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Don't worry they'll be finished in time for you to turn the cows out in the springI should be doing that, but builders have other ideas. Only 6 months since the cows were out!
- Location
- somerset
not enough, it never is, av £810, hoped for 825/50, so not to bad, had the milk from them, that av 32ppl, av inc the autumn ones, that have milked very well. Made a start anyway. The real shite will be if we have a run of decent growing summers, buying forage to feed spr calvers, winter and summer, doesn't work, basically spent the profit on buying food, and reseeding, the last 2 years, a truly scary amount. Thinking on it, we always did calve in the autumn traditionally, l expect the previous generations had worked out why !
FIL bought some strong monty heifersyo calve November. They would have made more in st merryn. £1100/£3.80 isn't a very big heifer. His are tanks