"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

[som farmer]

I'm aware you are unable to use rumensin over there. It has been a game changer for us (from a management point of view) . As said, we have been winter clover dominant for 49 years here. But only fed in the bail for 20. So , pre rotary and bail feeding it was feed hay out early and check cows till mid morning. After that they were fine.

Bloat oil and a bloatvstabber were mandatory kit pre feeding....

how dominant white clover ?
its fine having lots of clover now, but if it follows usual trend, will be very dominant, come july/aug,

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

how dominant white clover ?
its fine having lots of clover now, but if it follows usual trend, will be very dominant, come july/aug,

Not white clover. That's a Summer variant here. As I've said a few times our winter mainstay is Trikkala subterranean clover.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

As for tumble wheels. Each to there own. Old man has been using them for last 30 years when we graze our sub paddocks (20 to 30 ac each) Makes it a 5 min job shifting the fence for 1 person. Shift the reel at one end a few posts , then do the same at the other.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

As for tumble wheels. Each to there own. Old man has been using them for last 30 years when we graze our sub paddocks (20 to 30 ac each) Makes it a 5 min job shifting the fence for 1 person. Shift the reel at one end a few posts , then do the same at the other.

I do like the idea. How much are they in your part of the world?
My 2 largest fields (18 & 20 acres) are divided into 4 lanes each. It's only a 5 minute job to pick up & put out 4 or 5 stakes to subdivide for daily moves.

You were asking how hard is it to use geared reels a few weeks back. Surely that goes for a few stakes too

Is it really that hard to roll a reel up I mean seriously, I've never found it that much of a problem....

 

[som farmer]

first pic, red clover ley, grazed by sheep till 3march, 40 units N
2nd, grazed once, 25 units N 7 days ago.
3rd, cutting ley, lot of clover underneath it, sheep came off 13 marc, and slurry, +40 units N.
Next chicory went a bit OTT, here, no fert, lots of clover, will now be cut, as we are not going to get there, in time, with the cows.
next, more grazed grass, 30units N
so, if the grass cannot get its N, from clover now, because its to 'cold', where is it getting it from ?
the 2nd pic, had slurry + fert, and while not so noticeable, its there, did that 'extra shot' of N from the slurry, give the grass, a boost, and just shaded out the clover ?

Nice photo of our hfrs, set stocked. We cut this field last year, the stone gateposts, made it to difficult, to narrow, to use for big tractors and trailers, 1st cut, refused after half way through, gateways to difficult, so round baled the rest, made hay 2nd, 1 broken gatepost, 1 ruined front tyre £1800, and a different baler, we decided not to cut it, this year. We weren't sure, if we did, who would agree to pickup/bale it.

 

[Gulli]

Running the bulls in with the ewes and lambs this year to save f**king around with fences so much, seem to be doing alright so far. Only in about 2 acres but they look really far away in the photo
And a nice little hare in the second photo sitting tight while I sorted some fence out this evening

 

[Rossymons]

View attachment 1034261View attachment 1034262
Running the bulls in with the ewes and lambs this year to save f**king around with fences so much, seem to be doing alright so far. Only in about 2 acres but they look really far away in the photo
And a nice little hare in the second photo sitting tight while I sorted some fence out this evening

It's not stupid if it works!

Still some head scratching going on here about what to plant. But the mower is booked for next Thursday. Animals will arrive soon after probably.

I've set myself the weekend to sort something out which might even be growing maize for someone on half the acres and go again in the autumn.

 

[Gulli]

It's not stupid if it works!

Still some head scratching going on here about what to plant. But the mower is booked for next Thursday. Animals will arrive soon after probably.

I've set myself the weekend to sort something out which might even be growing maize for someone on half the acres and go again in the autumn.

Yeh hopefully it will give me a bit more impact on their rotation, did have them behind one wire but the ewes were taking the pee so had to put 2 up.
This fields looking way better this year though, didn't have a blade of grass on it this time last year when I took it on.

A crop of maize will give you a good bit of income but it'll hammer the ground especially if it's wet come harvest

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

I do like the idea. How much are they in your part of the world?
My 2 largest fields (18 & 20 acres) are divided into 4 lanes each. It's only a 5 minute job to pick up & put out 4 or 5 stakes to subdivide for daily moves.

You were asking how hard is it to use geared reels a few weeks back. Surely that goes for a few stakes too

Remember , we graze over winter...No housing. Sometimes paddocks are seriously soft. Push in posts are a disaster waiting to happen in that case.

 

[Walwyn]

Think I can stand my 3 kids on top of each other for this chicory, bout 7ft, paddock perhaps a little over restedView attachment 971481

View attachment 972268
Didnt get all the stalks down but got good soil coverage with everything else
View attachment 972269View attachment 972270
Noticeable on fence lines the difference
View attachment 972271
Poo for @Fenwick
View attachment 972272

Back in where we had the big cover about 65 days. Using R1s this time, maybe a bit too tight starting off?
View attachment 984377
View attachment 984379View attachment 984380View attachment 984381

View attachment 984382

I feel i have had an epiphany this week, having done the above with one of my poorer paddocks last year, to see it as below this week kinda blew my mind, was grazed lightly November and February. No tractor been in th

is paddocks for over 18 months.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Remember , we graze over winter...No housing. Sometimes paddocks are seriously soft. Push in posts are a disaster waiting to happen in that case.

Can understand that.
When I've wanted to hold cows back / restrict grazing, anything but a live stake can be the same.

 

[Karliboy]

I feel i have had an epiphany this week, having done the above with one of my poorer paddocks last year, to see it as below this week kinda blew my mind, was grazed lightly November and February. No tractor been in thView attachment 1034272View attachment 1034273is paddocks for over 18 months.

Looks bloody awesome that does.

 

[som farmer]

I feel i have had an epiphany this week, having done the above with one of my poorer paddocks last year, to see it as below this week kinda blew my mind, was grazed lightly November and February. No tractor been in thView attachment 1034272View attachment 1034273is paddocks for over 18 months.

not only me then, that's been very surprised at amounts of grass, this spring.
we shall be cutting for the main 1st cut, sunday, am looking forward to see how much is there, there is a lot, and on less than half the normal fert.

 

[som farmer]

Remember , we graze over winter...No housing. Sometimes paddocks are seriously soft. Push in posts are a disaster waiting to happen in that case.

if its wet, we can push wooden stakes, out of site, in places, when dry, 6ins
we used to keep some sows and piglets, on some very shallow stony soil, in big 'runs', if a stake needed replacing, this was the way we did it, iron bar, to get down 3 or 4 ins, fill hole with water, repeat x2 a day, iron bar and water, after about 4/5 days, we could get a good firm stake in !

 

[crashbox]

more to the point, does anyone know, how to kill/drive out, the stake

Dad's got the answer, but you won't like it...

 

[crashbox]

Dad's got the answer, but you won't like it...

Set stocking

 

[som farmer]

we have returned to set stocking ............. on some ground we have taken on, full of footpaths, well used, and l/lord has 'banned' elec fencing. Can fiddle a bit of a rotational grazing, moving fields, but not a lot, 2 10acre fields, each with a 3 acre 'off' field. The rest will have to wait, until after cutting. Our cattle are very friendly, and will follow walkers across the field, walkers liked them last year, hope the same this.
And 1 field, all on its own, .75 ac.

 

[RushesToo]

Blair Athol is not far from the new place......

Nor is Balmoral Estate

No. The whole plot is only 0.2 acres.

We may, longer term, try to gain the use of some adjoining land but aren't looking to really farm again. That'll free our time to spend much more of it out with the dogs, to get really involved in the valley community, to complete my degree and to really push my activism on influencing government rural policy towards agroecological "land sharing" farming rather than "land sparing" (re-wilding, mass forestry etc).

Like you say, a huge adventure!

Edut to add: Is also like to ski again and this is under an hour from Aviemore and Glenshee...

Skiing! just want to know how you have anything resembling knees left. Seriously how is this posible, this can't just be me.

I hope it is wonderful - and I won't try and drop in on you when the M25 is broken as I had threatened. Have the best time; and I give it 9 months before you get the livestock itch and 2 years before you are back in.

Where you are moving will understand what community means and I hope you revel in it. Don't be surprised when you planned wallpaper is discussed in the village shop before it is even on the wall, rellish it as a sign of belonging,

 

[Farmer Roy]

sounds a good plan, rape/turnips gives you the 'breathing space', if the rest is slow getting going.
Dug a trench for a water pipe, right up the top, of our farm, really dry, but moisture 4ins down, will go into maize soon, rapes nearly finished.

It’s not dry if you’ve got moisture only 100mm from the surface . . .

that’s what we survive on

 

[som farmer]

View attachment 1034261View attachment 1034262
Running the bulls in with the ewes and lambs this year to save f**king around with fences so much, seem to be doing alright so far. Only in about 2 acres but they look really far away in the photo
And a nice little hare in the second photo sitting tight while I sorted some fence out this evening

we have a lot more hares than usual, since the badger cull, don't suppose there's any connection ? The same applies to pheasants, partridges and hedge hogs.