Anyone reintroduced cattle?

[The Ruminant]

I’ve been hunting extra grazing for my cattle herd and it got me thinking: Have any arable farmers on here entered into agreements with near-neighbours? If so, what terms, ie handshake(!), grazing licence, short-term FBT, share/contract farming agreement etc?

Also, if you have thought about putting in a grazeable forage crop for a few years - say as part of a CSS scheme (GS4, legume and herb-rich sward is the obvious one), but have not had the courage, what is the main reason or obstacle in your mind that stops you taking the plunge?

I’ve got cattle that are trained to an electric fence so a water supply is the only real issue that needs sorting. As many of you know, I also mob graze the cattle, which is proven to increase fertility and sequestrate (or fix) carbon in the soil faster than any other form of farming (other than massive compost or FYM applications!) I am hoping this proves very attractive to local farmers, but I’m blinkered by my love of cattle(!) so was interested in your views as to why you may be reluctant.

 

[teslacoils]

It's a great idea. I can't do it as my existing mid tier doesn't end until 2022.

The main problems - cows out. Mess. But then if I'm taking the money then both fit in the Nomfup box.

 

[The Ruminant]

It's a great idea. I can't do it as my existing mid tier doesn't end until 2022.

The main problems - cows out. Mess. But then if I'm taking the money then both fit in the Nomfup box.

Ha, so true about escaping cows! I have one group of cows within 400m of the M1 with nothing between them but a single strand of electric fence....! The secret is:
1. Train them well so they really respect the fence
2. Have a very good, powerful and utterly reliable energiser
3. Mob grazing so the cattle are moved at least once a day, which means they’re never hungry and never even “test” the fence, they’re quite content where they are.

Very, very occasionally, one will get the wrong side of the fence but it never goes far from the rest of the herd so isn’t a problem.

 

[EddieB]

No water supply here but I am looking for local cattle to mob graze. I just don’t want the hassle of looking after them! I spent too much time as a teenager trying to find my dad’s errant cattle.

 

[Brisel]

I’ve been hunting extra grazing for my cattle herd and it got me thinking: Have any arable farmers on here entered into agreements with near-neighbours? If so, what terms, ie handshake(!), grazing licence, short-term FBT, share/contract farming agreement etc?

Also, if you have thought about putting in a grazeable forage crop for a few years - say as part of a CSS scheme (GS4, legume and herb-rich sward is the obvious one), but have not had the courage, what is the main reason or obstacle in your mind that stops you taking the plunge?

I’ve got cattle that are trained to an electric fence so a water supply is the only real issue that needs sorting. As many of you know, I also mob graze the cattle, which is proven to increase fertility and sequestrate (or fix) carbon in the soil faster than any other form of farming (other than massive compost or FYM applications!) I am hoping this proves very attractive to local farmers, but I’m blinkered by my love of cattle(!) so was interested in your views as to why you may be reluctant.

At my previous farm in Dorset, we had a grazing licence initially while we trialled mob grazing. When I left, they were seeking graziers for regenerative grazing on a joint venture basis. The plan was to sow herbal leys into the arable rotation to create grazing corridors across the farm. We avoided the GS4 option because the boss had ideas with managing it that were incompatible with some of the rules.

We had got as far as a short list and had one of them on a licence for one season as we weren't ready with some key infrastructure (an arterial water main). I don't know where they are with the project now.

Why would arable farmers be reluctant? Guess whose phone rang every time a cow looked at them the wrong way or wasn't 100% sound? Who had to cart water about in bowsers constantly? When they got out, which they did frequently, usually when the fence battery died from shorting out on long grass, whose phone rang and who got them back in again. The grazier was good and checked them regularly, but lived a little way away so I had to try and limit the damage. That makes me sound like a soft moaning arable farmer but the motivation is different when they are your own animals. If you look at the list of the most common cross compliance breaches, most relate to animals!

The decline in the infrastructure on arable farms would be the sticking point for many. Bowsers are no fun in hot weather when the cattle are eating what is effectively standing hay as they drink a lot. You are a very brave man having 1 strand of electric keeping them off the M1! Fear of ending up with the wrong partner/grazier/tenant?

 

[DRC]

TB can be a nightmare . On 6 monthly testing around here now.
what happens when someone’s cattle get stuck on your farm.

 

[KennyO]

Ha, so true about escaping cows! I have one group of cows within 400m of the M1 with nothing between them but a single strand of electric fence....! The secret is:
1. Train them well so they really respect the fence
2. Have a very good, powerful and utterly reliable energiser
3. Mob grazing so the cattle are moved at least once a day, which means they’re never hungry and never even “test” the fence, they’re quite content where they are.

Very, very occasionally, one will get the wrong side of the fence but it never goes far from the rest of the herd so isn’t a problem.

What happens if someone runs dogs through them? Surely if they were spooked they would just go through the wire?

 

[Brisel]

Or members of the travelling community have stolen the battery... More danger from ramblers leaving gates open where I was.