forage situation

[muleman]

Yes I wouldn’t doubt it. Very good farmer and his son.
Worth remembering Eblex did one here and they told me only the top third of hill farmers showed a profit. And 100% of the top third had very good stewardship schemes. That was maybe 10 years ago though. Remember when we used to get paid

a lot of those hill men will be getting 6 figure sub cheques.....i havnt had eblex yet,they would tell me to give ovver!

 

[livestock 1]

a lot of those hill men will be getting 6 figure sub cheques.....i havnt had eblex yet,they would tell me to give ovver!

It’s them that wants to give over

 

[Jonny B88]

I seem to find that one year you don't seem to lose hardly any and the next year you go from one disaster to another and there is no reason for it more often than not!

Worst year I had was when we got caught with a really bad BVD outbreak, lost/ had to put down a good 40% of calves, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, one cow would calve and was fine and the next was born, looked okay but never moved/ wouldn't stand and had to be shot, the amount of work it caused and time taken up was just unreal.

Thats bad! We’ve had what we would call a poor calving season. Lost 9 out of 81, inc a cow and one cow which was scanned in calf but didn’t produce. We had 4 stillborns about a week or so after a tb test so we’re blaming that on them. Your story makes me realise that things could be a lot worse.

 

[hally]

just taking sheep out of our mowing ground today.....usually take them out 1st june so things are a little further forward this year

Yeah we barred up our silage fields on the first of may 2 weeks ahead of a normal year

 

[hally]

His calving average is better than mine that’s for sure

Mine too

 

[muleman]

Yeah we barred up our silage fields on the first of may 2 weeks ahead of a normal year

we normally bar them up 1st june as bare as a board....usually aim to first cut 10th july....this year barred up a fortnight sooner but with 2 or 3 inches grass on.

 

[hally]

i sometimes just keep them if their a young cow that i like....would just have to buy a heifer to replace it with so might as well just keep the cow that is accustomed to the farm.

Generally have a four calf rule here, if less than 4 she stays provided she is a good breeder, quiet, lies in a cubicle etc

 

[muleman]

Generally have a four calf rule here, if less than 4 she stays provided she is a good breeder, quiet, lies in a cubicle etc

dont really have any rules here!

 

[hally]

we normally bar them up 1st june as bare as a board....usually aim to first cut 10th july....this year barred up a fortnight sooner but with 2 or 3 inches grass on.

Same here we normally put 3 rings of slurry out of the tower on but alot of grass and dry so didnt dare, no doubt the weather will even it up later

 

[Northeastfarmer]

and mine....reminds me of a fella i know,he has 80 cows and always sells 81 calves....but his nickname is flat 9!

I know him well and yes that’s definitely the same man

I know him too

 

[livestock 1]

I know him too

Don’t say owt for gods sake
Loose lips sinks ships

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Don’t say owt for gods sake
Loose lips sinks ships

 

[RhysT]

I was on a farm today, 100 suckler cows and 98 10 month old calves still suckling them!

All still inside as doesn't think he has enough grass to turn them out into, buying in round bale silage at £31 bale and using 6 bales a day! also buying straw and cake for the calves.

Cows came in on the 16th Oct last autumn!

Making work/ costs for the sake of it!

Makes an extra 100kgs of fertiliser of fert an acre look cheap!

 

[muleman]

He helps us all to raise our standards....after a conversation you know you just have to up your game!

 

[onthehoof]

I seem to find that one year you don't seem to lose hardly any and the next year you go from one disaster to another and there is no reason for it more often than not!

Too right, last year was worst ever, this year best ever, done nothing different just luck of draw.

 

[tr250]

suppose thats the difference in areas....i couldnt stand them outside ploughing fields up!

It’s no different we are in the midlands and don’t turn out till may usually. We are always short of grass as have too many sheep but we lamb in Feb so start selling lambs may and then shut sheep up tight.

 

[livestock 1]

It’s no different we are in the midlands and don’t turn out till may usually. We are always short of grass as have too many sheep but we lamb in Feb so start selling lambs may and then shut sheep up tight.

That’s the issue sheep. You need to have ground clear to turn cattle out onto

 

[Northeastfarmer]

It’s no different we are in the midlands and don’t turn out till may usually. We are always short of grass as have too many sheep but we lamb in Feb so start selling lambs may and then shut sheep up tight.

There’s a big difference...you would probably have grass coming out of your ears if you didn’t have sheep...grass doesn’t grow till late in the hills

 

[livestock 1]

There’s a big difference...you would probably have grass coming out of your ears if you didn’t have sheep...grass doesn’t grow till late in the hills

Still no grass on most of my high ground. Yes it’s greened up and there is a bit but nothing significant. Less than this time last year if I dare say it

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Still no grass on most of my high ground. Yes it’s greened up and there is a bit but nothing significant. Less than this time last year if I dare say it

It’s hard to believe you’re only 30 miles away...we will be silaging next week