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

[som farmer]

Yes, my wife had a bit of trouble connecting the pigtail to the HT wire, easy with the polywire though. Hence I repurposed some old alligator clips from my now-redundant jumper leads, as a "weakest link" as the HT is different in most ways to polywire.

We will eliminate the polywire in time, but it got us going

didn't you look on u'tube ? You can get instructions for anything on there !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kiwi Pete]

didn't you look on u'tube ? You can get instructions for anything on there !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm.. yeah the main "problem" here is, once again, a human one. As we don't have normal crappy insulators our fence can run pretty hot, not uncommon to have a spark jump 10-15mm and so we needed more insulation to keep Sarah in her happy place

she doesn't handle live fence like me

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I didn't line up the other ones @Fenwick but these definitely have the pigtails on them, and not the yellow plastic ring.

 

[Fenwick]

I didn't line up the other ones @Fenwick but these definitely have the pigtails on them, and not the yellow plastic ring.View attachment 1038713

certainly much better than the original alligator clip arrangement on the earlier model.

i also replaced the yellow plastic arrangement where the machine fits on the pole with something 5cms longer as i have had a couple fall off the poles. (i think most of my problems are because if the big horns on my cattle).

Dispute a couple of problems the units have been a real game changer here. I'm going to get a couple more when the two herds become one big mob.

On the HT how far along can you position them from an end post?

Thinking of going gateless here.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

certainly much better than the original alligator clip arrangement on the earlier model.

i also replaced the yellow plastic arrangement where the machine fits on the pole with something 5cms longer as i have had a couple fall off the poles. (i think most of my problems are because if the big horns on my cattle).

Dispute a couple of problems the units have been a real game changer here. I'm going to get a couple more when the two herds become one big mob.

On the HT how far along can you position them from an end post?

Thinking of going gateless here.

Alot of that is really dependent on the wire itself.

Kiwitech suggest that we set the tension on the hyperspring assembly by using a scrap of wire for a gauge - at proper tension there should be about 1.6mm between the coils of the spring which is around 25kg of tension on a 1.6mm wire

-we would strain a 'normal HT' fence to 170-190kg tension-

These lifters would handle one of these fences 10-12 metres from a node post I would say, on our flatter terrain we only have an arrowpost every 30+ metres so they do great - over some of the brows we need more arrows to keep the wire following the contour and this is where they struggle, but we can just lift the wire at the other lane or in the middle.

Because I'm using fibreglass rods to lift the wire our last group learned to rub them over if we placed them "inside" the lane and left them in place.
We fought back by lifting the wire at a lane fence with the pogo away from where they can rub/lick it, although we seldom leave the wire up to allow backgrazing.

I will make the poles for these ones as I just ordered the gadgets 'bare' - it meant we had them in 3 days (from the North Island) instead of waiting weeks for them to come from overseas - and I think I'll make them longer than the ones I have already, just another 300mm would put them well up out of harm's way.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Going gateless is a bit of a leap, but you will never look back - especially in the wintertime when gateways get trashed by vehicles and animals, and stay trashed for months.....

I am picking having more of these machines will be just as much a game-changer here, 2 was great but almost 'not worth it' sometimes: I like watching it all unfold in the new paddock too much and we did often have more than 2 mobs.

Having 5 means we can be much more flexible as well as reducing the workload, and going easier on the night paddocks.

I'm still experimenting and getting a feel for "putting half the night's manure in each paddock" and what time to shift them to get that split-sh!t-distribution.

 

[Boso]

I quite like the idea of going back to cabless small tractors. Or even no tractor.

I farm 175 ewes and their lambs with very little invested in metal.
I run a 1960s Deutz 4005 and 1970s Renault 56. Both cabless (obviously ). Deutz has 35hp, Renault 45.
All the arable guys laugh at me. However, they start all the time, are really easy to work on. Reliable and very low fuel consumption. Renault is a very strong lifter as well. Deutz will do 35kph. If I come across another low hour R56 I'll buy it straight away.

Use them to run a rotary mower and clip some pastures/shrubs, transport some sheep and lambs within a 15klm radius, seeding some cover crops etc. Might make some hay next year maybe.

As a livestock only farmer I really do not need that much more. Sheep are outside every day. Am thinking about cattle but would keep them outside as well.
I have a quad bike but actually like the small olders cabless tractors better. Cheaper to run, harder to break, easier to fix. Easier to get insurance. Fits wel into my context.
I farm a few solar sites, not having a cab makes mowing with the rotary mower next to the solar arrays much easier. I can see better what's happening around me.
Also run my sheep on a lot of ground involved in schemes.
Having a bigger tractor would be more comfortable but would be frownend upon because of the compaction due to the weight and again, mowing or driving through heather with a cab adds another filter between me and the outside world which is more comfortable but not better.
I have some nice rain gear to put on if I must but really that's 2-3 times a year.
My old piles of metal and some contracting/payed help from farming neighbours gets quite a lot done.

Deutz has some very nice cabless new models. However, I could never justify something as fancy as a new tractor. And to me metal seems such a waste of money.
Have a 1982 Ford Cargo lorry which I use(d) to transport sheep. However insuring it, maintaining, keeping it filled up and using it just 4x a year has me thinking if I have another piece of useless metal that I can get rid of...

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I farm 175 ewes and their lambs with very little invested in metal.
I run a 1960s Deutz 4005 and 1970s Renault 56. Both cabless (obviously ). Deutz has 35hp, Renault 45.
All the arable guys laugh at me. However, they start all the time, are really easy to work on. Reliable and very low fuel consumption. Renault is a very strong lifter as well. Deutz will do 35kph. If I come across another low hour R56 I'll buy it straight away.

Use them to run a rotary mower and clip some pastures/shrubs, transport some sheep and lambs within a 15klm radius, seeding some cover crops etc. Might make some hay next year maybe.

As a livestock only farmer I really do not need that much more. Sheep are outside every day. Am thinking about cattle but would keep them outside as well.
I have a quad bike but actually like the small olders cabless tractors better. Cheaper to run, harder to break, easier to fix. Easier to get insurance. Fits wel into my context.
I farm a few solar sites, not having a cab makes mowing with the rotary mower next to the solar arrays much easier. I can see better what's happening around me.
Also run my sheep on a lot of ground involved in schemes.
Having a bigger tractor would be more comfortable but would be frownend upon because of the compaction due to the weight and again, mowing or driving through heather with a cab adds another filter between me and the outside world which is more comfortable but not better.
I have some nice rain gear to put on if I must but really that's 2-3 times a year.
My old piles of metal and some contracting/payed help from farming neighbours gets quite a lot done.

Deutz has some very nice cabless new models. However, I could never justify something as fancy as a new tractor. And to me metal seems such a waste of money.
Have a 1982 Ford Cargo lorry which I use(d) to transport sheep. However insuring it, maintaining, keeping it filled up and using it just 4x a year has me thinking if I have another piece of useless metal that I can get rid of...

I often think we need less metal,, should probably have a sale.

 

[crashbox]

Just asked this question in another thread but anyone know if there is a UK supplier for the Pensagro fence lifter?

Also any tips on using them? Look just what I need, with the pre-programmable timer...

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I don't have a youtube account or I'd show you just how easy they are to use.

that's all there is to it.

What I was going to say on the other thread was that our first ones took months to arrive, thanks to the shipping/supply thing being in constant chaos. They had them shipped within hours

I raved about them so hard on our Whatsapp QS group that a chap who regularly imports stuff ordered a bulk lot (30 I think) and then we ordered off him - my last 3 machines arrived 30 hours after I asked him if he still had any.

That would be the route I'd suggest if you can't find a stockist, be the stockist

 

[som farmer]

bound to be a u'tube demo on it

 

[crashbox]

I don't have a youtube account or I'd show you just how easy they are to use.View attachment 1038940
that's all there is to it.

What I was going to say on the other thread was that our first ones took months to arrive, thanks to the shipping/supply thing being in constant chaos. They had them shipped within hours

I raved about them so hard on our Whatsapp QS group that a chap who regularly imports stuff ordered a bulk lot (30 I think) and then we ordered off him - my last 3 machines arrived 30 hours after I asked him if he still had any.

That would be the route I'd suggest if you can't find a stockist, be the stockist

@Fenwick where did you get yours? Do you like them?

 

[Fenwick]

@Fenwick where did you get yours? Do you like them?

Originally direct from Pablo in argentina. Cost a fortune in freight and customs.

The first ones haven't been problem free. I had problems with the timers, the alligator clip assembly and the female connector where it meets the top of the pole.

These problems have now all been fixed.

It has been a game changer for me as I couldn't move the animals so often without it, and I don't really see non selective grazing working for me without multiple daily moves.

Its pretty cool to think the animals are moving while I sleep.

There is now a distributor in spain for europe. Which is handy.

Of course a batt-latch would work as well.

 

[Boso]

Originally direct from Pablo in argentina. Cost a fortune in freight and customs.

There is now a distributor in spain for europe. Which is handy.

Of course a batt-latch would work as well.

Have you got a website or name from the spanish distributor?

 

[Fenwick]

Have you got a website or name from the spanish distributor?

ill send you a pm

 

[Henarar]

Please with the silage so far, more bales than last year and little or no fert

 

[Gulli]

Please with the silage so far, more bales than last year and little or no fertView attachment 1039040

Mowed a bit here today that got away from the sheep. Should be plenty there

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Where do you put those nutrients?

Dad cut the same hay paddock every year that I can remember, most all of the fertiliser expenditure went on that 45 acre paddock and then the hay was fed out on all the steeper stuff/ rocky stuff over winter to build soil and waterholding capacity.

What do you guys do, I am assuming the feed will go through the wintering shed and then manure placed on the same type of area, not that you seem to have much in the way of steep/rocky ground?

Or do you apply it to the more productive/hayable areas to recycle it?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Originally direct from Pablo in argentina. Cost a fortune in freight and customs.

The first ones haven't been problem free. I had problems with the timers, the alligator clip assembly and the female connector where it meets the top of the pole.

These problems have now all been fixed.

It has been a game changer for me as I couldn't move the animals so often without it, and I don't really see non selective grazing working for me without multiple daily moves.

Its pretty cool to think the animals are moving while I sleep.

There is now a distributor in spain for europe. Which is handy.

Of course a batt-latch would work as well.

I have seen homemade wire lifters with either a proper batt-latch, or using electric cabinet locks as a release.
These have the issue that via using a spring to raise the wire, there is no mechanism to close the fence after the stock have crossed.

I have built a prototype along the lines of Pablo's machine and gosh it is a tricky thing, with limit switches and winches and timer circuits - these are great value for money really

 

[Henarar]

Where do you put those nutrients?

Dad cut the same hay paddock every year that I can remember, most all of the fertiliser expenditure went on that 45 acre paddock and then the hay was fed out on all the steeper stuff/ rocky stuff over winter to build soil and waterholding capacity.

What do you guys do, I am assuming the feed will go through the wintering shed and then manure placed on the same type of area, not that you seem to have much in the way of steep/rocky ground?

Or do you apply it to the more productive/hayable areas to recycle it?

Try to put dung on all the silage ground at least every other year. The away land we cut twice gets it every year