Feeding cattle and checking stock with quad

[Kip]

Hi currently spend about 2 and a half hours a day feeding cattle at grass and checking ewes and lambs. They are all fairly close together and the cattle get fed at troughs on dry parts of the field so not to make a mess which means the fastest way to go round them all is with the quad. Does anyone else run around for hours at a time with a quad doing this and on main roads for some of it?? Thanks

 

[Wooly]

2 and a half hours each day on a quad is hardly a long time. Several on here will spend alot longer than that.

 

[Kip]

It seems alot when I changed my last bike with 22 000km on it and 3 sets of front tyres at 2 year old

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I guess it depends how many cattle and, how many groups and how spread out they are?

From a dairy farmers point of view the idea that all your stock work for that day can be done by breakfast time makes me quite envious.

 

[cheviot53]

Sounds normal, min 3hrs here 4 if I check the hill so long as no problems , 12,000km per year

 

[Al R]

Takes me 3hrs just to check no ewes on their back and going a fair pace on fields and road, Dad goes half the speed and takes 5hrs. If we’re looking at most animals for fly strike like this time of year it can take me 4 hours and Dad 6. Minimum of 75litres of petrol a week without busy periods like lambing.

 

[bruce9001]

Usually about 3 hours here if no problems just checking!
200 ewes and lambs and 160 suckers with calves and 75 yearlings!

An extra 30 minutes added o for when filling lamb feeders and later in autumn another hour to full calve creep feeders every 2nd day!

 

[Kip]

Thanks for all your replies, I was just a bit concerned because a lot of people are telling me that I shouldn’t be out on the road with a quad but l feel it’s the best and quickest way to go round them all

 

[Al R]

Thanks for all your replies, I was just a bit concerned because a lot of people are telling me that I shouldn’t be out on the road with a quad but l feel it’s the best and quickest way to go round them all

If your concerned look at getting it road legal, all new bikes coming here will be road legal, we do have the headlights on at the moment when on the road but some people drive like idiots on the backroads so we’ll be safe if plated.

 

[puppet]

Thanks for all your replies, I was just a bit concerned because a lot of people are telling me that I shouldn’t be out on the road with a quad but l feel it’s the best and quickest way to go round them all

You should not be on the public road with a quad unless registered. Does not cost much through your dealer. Have an accident and insurers will not be interested so your farm will be on the line

 

[primmiemoo]

In my case, I get my 15,000-ish steps* in on the sheep rounds early and late until all shorn (all but one group off nuts, finally ~ I'd turn a cartwheel of sheer relief if I had better co-ordination!), and take any feed for that last lot, creep for the crept group, and much reduced nuts for bullocks on separate journey in Landi.
I don't really trust a quad, but I'm a short person.
It doesn't take long once I get used to the pattern again.

Hope nobody forgets to wear a helmet when on road. I'd hate to read of injuries or worse happening.

*not that anyone would notice, because apparently I have a weakness for cake.

 

[Spartacus]

You should not be on the public road with a quad unless registered. Does not cost much through your dealer. Have an accident and insurers will not be interested so your farm will be on the line

with the nfu any quad is insured up to 1 mile from your holding. they make a point of telling us every year.

 

[steveR]

You should not be on the public road with a quad unless registered. Does not cost much through your dealer. Have an accident and insurers will not be interested so your farm will be on the line

Got to admit I have shuddered when out riding in the back end of beyond and find a youngster tearing down the roads on the farm quad. No different at all to a scrote riding a mx'er or pit bike around a housing estate or a local park, then back along the roads to home.

Bike or quad can be seized and crushed...

AS puppet says, have an accident on quad being ridden illegally, and wait for the book to be thrown ESPECIALLY if it's an employee!!

 

[Smudge]

If you road register a quad, does it need an MoT for farm use?

 

[steveR]

If you road register a quad, does it need an MoT for farm use?

Things might have changed as these things do.... But register it as a farm vehicle, then not from my past experience.

Not quite so sure for the lads floating around on Chinese "sports type" road going quads... ;-)

 

[Poorbuthappy]

If you road register a quad, does it need an MoT for farm use?

Not if taxed as an agricultural vehicle - but will also be subject to ag vehicle speed limits.

 

[puppet]

with the nfu any quad is insured up to 1 mile from your holding. they make a point of telling us every year.

I would check that. The mile is the exemption for paying road tax rather than insurance but the quad still needs number plate and DVLA approval. Roadworthy but no MOT. Indicators if driven after dark.

 

[simmy_bull]

When I bought mine in 13 I had to register it for “limited use” to be issued with a number plate. But the dealer said what you call limited use is up to you.........

Free tax like a tractor. No MOT as far as I’m aware.

 

[puppet]

When I bought mine in 13 I had to register it for “limited use” to be issued with a number plate. But the dealer said what you call limited use is up to you.........

Free tax like a tractor. No MOT as far as I’m aware.

Limited use is 1.5km from your land, so to outlying fields but not a weekly Tesco trip. Look at gov.uk where it is mostly explained. Further away you are effectively untaxed and may also raise insurance questions.

 

[chris wink]

Thanks for all your replies, I was just a bit concerned because a lot of people are telling me that I shouldn’t be out on the road with a quad but l feel it’s the best and quickest way to go round them all

U will probably find u are insured within a certain distance of the main holding 3 mile radius for example , I was the same when I worked on a sheep farm , probably far quicker than doing it with a jeep ect just because it easier to get on and off ect