Cattle outwintering studies

[Walterp]

Found it!

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XcTL7mL4TQs%3D&tabid=1703&ei=ZM96UtiEHcjS0QWpr4GIDw&usg=AFQjCNFgdlXa5bvjLfhqFmfBRgfOQr3z5Q&sig2=m-1dARQkSx6loWShayUR2Q&bvm=bv.56146854,d.d2k

Précis coming up shortly but, in the meantime, has anyone been to see the case study farms? That'd be:

1. John Nelson at Cogarth, Parton near Castle Douglas;

2. SAC Easter Howgate, Penicuik, Midlothian;

3. Jim Riddell, Nether Coullie, Kenmay, Inverurie;

4. K H L Durston and Partners, North Nevay , Balkerie, Forfar;

5. David Kirkpatrick, Auchenbainzie, Penpont, Thornhill, Dumfrieshire;

6. John Livingstone, Glencreran Estate, Appin, Argyll.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Don't read to much into those costing , figures can be manipulated to prove anything , the only true costs are your own

I see for instance the costed straw at £35 :ton , how much straw was the outdoor groups consuming against a cubicle housed herd that may use no straw at all , straw to most upland herds £75 at least

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Straw consumed would amount to 50p cow day , so how can their total feed cost on brassicas only amount to 56p day , sorry can't see it

 

[Walterp]

Where's Martin, with his costings?

In the WWW (Wet West Wales) the combination of rainfall and dear straw makes the figures fall over, unless you simply don't have a choice about housing?

 

[Hilly]

Its all poppy cock, everyone every cow every farm is totally different, there is always someone who can make a quid where others cant and always someone who cant make it pay where others can, end of story.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Problem starts when people publish costings that are poppy cock

It's ok relying forage crops for you winter feed but forage crops can be very unreliable

 

[Hilly]

Problem starts when people publish costings that are poppy cock

It's ok relying forage crops for you winter feed but forage crops can be very unreliable

I agree, I treid kale twice some years bumper crop other years poor, you cant work like that.

 

[fitlike min]

Costs are based on 2007/2008 prices.

 

[South Downs Farmer]

For what it is worth, we've out-wintered cattle on brassicas for a few years in a number of ways. Using various crops, supplementary forages, and over differing time periods.

This year we've settled for grazing our 50 February and March born suckler yearlings on Swift since October, until sometime just before Christmas when they'll come in. They're getting a bale a day of red clover/ryegrass silage to supplement chopped through the Tomahawk, which makes up a diet of around 6kg DM of brassica and 3kg DM of silage.

Completely agree that it is a hugely farm-dependent system. We're on the chalk so conditions stay reasonably dry underfoot for out-wintering. But equally, with the soils being so drought-prone in the summer, it is establishing the crops which is the real headache. Catch-crop varieties after cereals are much more of a gamble than spring-sown kale.

The sucklers are on deferred grazing with barley straw and fair quality hay.