How much time do you spend feeding cows

[multi power]

200 cow herd, 1 maybe 1.5 hours a day, is this efficient or not ?
No wagon, tractor and loader only

 

[Bald Rick]

200 cow herd, 1 maybe 1.5 hours a day, is this efficient or not ?
No wagon, tractor and loader only

Would depend on what you're trying to achieve. TMR or compact feeding may take longer but "efficiency" could be measured by output achieved

 

[multi power]

Would depend on what you're trying to achieve. TMR or compact feeding may take longer but "efficiency" could be measured by output achieved

6500/7000 litre autumn calving
Grass and maize

 

[tr250]

Depends if you count a good day or a day when your 80s tractor won’t start or breaks down

 

[lazy farmer]

Takes me 1.1/4 hours to feed 280 dry cows and 70 R1s

That’s both bales and wagon.
It takes the usual chap around 50-55mins.

It has a lot to do with yard lay out,how many groups you have to feed and what extra goodies or not you have to add in.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

About an hour a day here to feed and scrape, on average.
Scrape about twice a week, feed with a wagon twice a day. The feeding part is the quick part, 15 mins

 

[Beef farmer]

Feed 600 cows in the winter in about 12 minuets. Actually takes longer to feed them when they are grazing.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Winter routine scrape, bed, feed takes approximately 44 minutes add 15 on for filling the thing I guess.

Grazing is a 20 min walk x4 plus a 10 min fence move X2. So 2hrs.

I know, get a bat latch.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Feed 600 cows in the winter in about 12 minuets. Actually takes longer to feed them when they are grazing.

Do you winter on roots or self feed silage?

 

[Beef farmer]

Do you winter on roots or self feed silage?

Self feed.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

It takes us 1.25 hours a day to deal with feed. That includes stacking the tires, cutting plastic etc. moving the breaks and getting cows in is another matter

 

[Cows 'n grass]

It takes us 1.25 hours a day to deal with feed. That includes stacking the tires, cutting plastic etc. moving the breaks and getting cows in is another matter

How about leveling out the clamp floor, welding up the mixer wagon, putting wheels back on the wagon tractor?

 

[Dead Rabbits]

How about leveling out the clamp floor, welding up the mixer wagon, putting wheels back on the wagon tractor?

Got a new liner, new knives, new door slides, new gear box seals, drive line bearings and feed out table fixed. Everything is taking grease now. Should be good to go till the unloading chain sh1!s itself. Have new sprockets on hand for it.

Got one tire to fix on mixing wagon tractor and she’s golden. Been a long process getting everything up to date and fixed before it breaks.

So to answer I think I will be saving time in the future. It’s been a bitch, especially last winter. Not much I can do about the mud though.

 

[jimmer]

For me it's not so much about time spent, more about simplicity, I'd rather spend a bit longer feeding with one machine, than use 3 to save time, but at thrice the risk of breakdowns and initial cost

 

[multi power]

Depends if you count a good day or a day when your 80s tractor won’t start or breaks down

Why would the tractor not start ?

 

[tr250]

Why would the tractor not start ?

Dunno but my experience of 80s internationals and cold mornings isn’t great

 

[multi power]

Dunno but my experience of 80s internationals and cold mornings isn’t great

My entire experience of internationals isn't great
My experience of 80s Massey's on the other hand is excellent

 

[Horn&corn]

200 cow herd, 1 maybe 1.5 hours a day, is this efficient or not ?
No wagon, tractor and loader only

Similar time here in the winter but use a mixer wagon with 3 mixes. 9,500 litre herd so plenty of goodies going in etc

 

[Spudley]

An hour a day in winter, that includes dry cows and youngstock. Bobcat and silage grab (only feed silage and cake)

 

[deleted user 837354]

I think time/labour is a consideration but also the value of the feedstuff(s) that are being moved from point A to point B. Even silage is not cheap these days.

I agree relying on 3 machines to do a single task is not ideal.