How do you fetch your cows in?

[Headless chicken]

We’ve been fortunate enough to do a deal for an extra 12 acres on our grazing platform. The extra track required will mean we can graze our current ground more efficiently so total win win.

The only issue is as we go further away walking times will increase. Currently we walk to fetch the cows and normally it is dads job but this is largely because there is normally two of us he fetchs I milk. I like walking for cows because you can’t push them too hard and they don’t learn to only come in for the bike.

With the extra distance and the fact that dad has taken a step back and with a busy summer planned I don’t want it to take ages just getting to the field to go and get them. I’m also concerned what will happen when they’re grazing away is people will just close the track by the parlour and not lock them In the field because they CBA to go and do it.

So how do others do it? Quad bike? Scraper tractor? Just walk still?

We have a red tax freelander but it’s only 2 wheel drive so would be useless in a wet gateway.

 

[vantage]

Mate has a diesel quad,never leaves the yard,just starts it up and the noise and rattling gets the cows running in!
We have a petrol quad and have to go to the field,cows are never rushed and walk at about 3-4 kmh while I admire the view and mull over some ideas.

 

[lazy farmer]

mostly i walk to get ours in the afternoon with the dogs.open the gate wonder back up the track in front of them never have anybody behind them recipe for lame cows in my mind.
In the mornings Our lad will either walk his dogs to get them or the batt latch is used again nobody behind them.

 

[Mr Jones]

Walk. 2 hostile jack russells also in tow.

 

[wasted years]

Leave cows in the shed, buy a robot, no more walking.
Next question please.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Quad here.
Lift any cows that aren't waiting.
Then set my fences for the next grazing.
By the time that is done they have plodded most of the way back themselves.

 

[rc mx110]

Quad here.
Lift any cows that aren't waiting.
Then set my fences for the next grazing.
By the time that is done they have plodded most of the way back themselves.

This

 

[rc mx110]

Or get them going and zoom past them through different fields and start milking

 

[yin ewe]

I walk, saves going to the gym.
What about a Gator or the likes, can take a passenger with you when needed, and can put fencing stuff etc on the back.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

We’ve been fortunate enough to do a deal for an extra 12 acres on our grazing platform. The extra track required will mean we can graze our current ground more efficiently so total win win.

The only issue is as we go further away walking times will increase. Currently we walk to fetch the cows and normally it is dads job but this is largely because there is normally two of us he fetchs I milk. I like walking for cows because you can’t push them too hard and they don’t learn to only come in for the bike.

With the extra distance and the fact that dad has taken a step back and with a busy summer planned I don’t want it to take ages just getting to the field to go and get them. I’m also concerned what will happen when they’re grazing away is people will just close the track by the parlour and not lock them In the field because they CBA to go and do it.

So how do others do it? Quad bike? Scraper tractor? Just walk still?

We have a red tax freelander but it’s only 2 wheel drive so would be useless in a wet gateway.

Get a bicycle. I used one to get cows for a couple years, it's nice and cheap.

You can also train the cows to come when you call but it's not 100%. You call to them on your way out to get them started, then walk past to check for stragglers.

 

[newholland]

Buy something with a roll bar frame like a gator or mule type thing ......... don't buy a quad bike......because on those summer days when everybody is busy, you will end up sending a few young helpers or non farming family members to fetch cows......... who will maybe try going too fast....... rolling the quad is a very easy and messy mistake..... least you have a chance for a few people to survive an accident in a gator type thing and I guess you don't need an ATV licence for a gator?

 

[Beef farmer]

Batt latch will work till about may on summer calvers, then it's a waste of time

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I tend to use the bat latch in the morning and go to follow any stragglers on foot

In the afternoons we'd almost always use the quad bike but whoever gets them will be moving the fence while the cows are walking and then drive back to the dairy without following or pushing them.

 

[Friesianfan]

Rarely have to get mine in. Small grazing platform. When they’ve eaten all the grass they come in!

 

[Stinker]

Suzuki Jimny lifted with wide tires

 

[Splitpin]

Just got a 10 acre field up the road that they have to be fetched but the rest they just wander in. Very rare to have to fetch them. Usually a loud call of ‘hope hope hope’ from the yard gets them moving
Always wondered if that’s a localised call???

 

[paddler]

Just got a 10 acre field up the road that they have to be fetched but the rest they just wander in. Very rare to have to fetch them. Usually a loud call of ‘hope hope hope’ from the yard gets them moving
Always wondered if that’s a localised call???

In Lancashire it is howp howp howp! Always understood it was derived from cow up cow up.

 

[jimmer]

I'm used to flat , the fields here go in a different direction to what I am accustomed , so I think i want a vehicle , but my waistline is wanting me to walk

 

[Headless chicken]

Mate has a diesel quad,never leaves the yard,just starts it up and the noise and rattling gets the cows running in!
We have a petrol quad and have to go to the field,cows are never rushed and walk at about 3-4 kmh while I admire the view and mull over some ideas.

On most of the platform I can stand and shout and they come running. The issue with this is it results in then either having too much grass so they stay in the field until I call or too little and they all reappear about 2 hours before milking and stand in the track

I walk, saves going to the gym.
What about a Gator or the likes, can take a passenger with you when needed, and can put fencing stuff etc on the back.

I like walking also like gator idea but are expensive in comparison to quad bikes.

Get a bicycle. I used one to get cows for a couple years, it's nice and cheap.

You can also train the cows to come when you call but it's not 100%. You call to them on your way out to get them started, then walk past to check for stragglers.

Love this idea going one way but would be next to useless on the way back up with the steepness of the Hill

Buy something with a roll bar frame like a gator or mule type thing ......... don't buy a quad bike......because on those summer days when everybody is busy, you will end up sending a few young helpers or non farming family members to fetch cows......... who will maybe try going too fast....... rolling the quad is a very easy and messy mistake..... least you have a chance for a few people to survive an accident in a gator type thing and I guess you don't need an ATV licence for a gator?

I agree with you here 100% BUT I recently went on a health and safety course and they say more people are killed by gators because they don’t wear the seatbelts and then get tossed out and crushed. If we go down the quad bike route we will be having an extremely rigid policy on who drives it and when and no one will be going near it without a training cert. will also be impinenting a helmet policy of wear it or walk! (Something else I picked up from the HSE day)

Batt latch will work till about may on summer calvers, then it's a waste of time

As in they don’t want to come in? Assume with bat latch all good but still someone has to go and lock them in.

Rarely have to get mine in. Small grazing platform. When they’ve eaten all the grass they come in!

Do you buffer feed them in this case? I hate with a passion seeing cows standing in the track! Really grates on me not sure why. I even prefer them standing in a field gateway perhaps because I can’t see them.

 

[Headless chicken]

mostly i walk to get ours in the afternoon with the dogs.open the gate wonder back up the track in front of them never have anybody behind them recipe for lame cows in my mind.
In the mornings Our lad will either walk his dogs to get them or the batt latch is used again nobody behind them.

Do they come in one way and out the other? does someone then go back for stragglers? I agree about people behind and I really don’t want to do it but I don’t want to spend ages walking back and forth. Most annoying when you have a fence to move as well and the sods catch you and all run back!