NZDan
Member
- Location
- Broomfield, New Zealand
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/techno-grazing.160678/page-10can’t find the techno grazing thread. any clues? @NZDan? doesn’t bring anything up.
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/techno-grazing.160678/page-10can’t find the techno grazing thread. any clues? @NZDan? doesn’t bring anything up.
I think Polyface farms in the US do a pig rotation for breaking in land.Always had a soft spot for outdoor / heritage breed pigs . . .
Techno grazing pork ?
And finding Taranaki Farm on FB is worth your timeI think Polyface farms in the US do a pig rotation for breaking in land.
Yes they are great to follow. Especially seeing how they deal with Animal rights terrorists.And finding Taranaki Farm on FB is worth your time
Sub is fine as long as the tail doesn't wag the dog, as in many cases. I know just where you are coming from regarding HLS, I am definitely on countdown....
Why no cattle? Surely a mix would suit better.
I wouldn't discount lambing greater numbers, just maybe approach them differently if time/labour is the issue.....Or you could finish store lambs if you like the casino lifestyle...
Always had a soft spot for outdoor / heritage breed pigs . . .
Techno grazing pork ?
Happy to report that in the year to March 18 we made the highest profit we have made for 10 years yet turnover is 30% down. With the old system, ( the busted flush) we were spending a lot and working hard and we had a big gross income but a low profit due to high costs. We were buying output, not generating it.
Look to history also for livestock shed design. The old system (pre antibiotics) had sheds round a central open yard. The open sides of the sheds faced the yard. The closed sides of the sheds were the outer walls so there was shelter but ventilation and sunlight as the beast could walk out into the open yard. Pneumonia was rarely a problem. Then they started constructing sheds based on industrial portal frame design with no open yard and poor air flow. Respiratory disease became an issue. No surprises there, but then antibiotics became the get around for a problem that need not have been created in the first place, they are overused, resistance builds and so on.
Part of my interest ( apart from wanting to integrate livestock on my arable country ) is part of the thinking behind selling this house is to "transfer" the debt to buy a smallish rough grazing block & do this sort of thing. There are currently 2 blocks within 20 km of my farm of equivalent value to this house. One 250 hectare & the other 340 hectare, but both with more than 50% of timbered unimproved hilly country. But, I think a lot more potential than current set stocking systems . . .
There are definitely some obstacles there.Not doing the tail thing but remember nine years ago this stuff here was definitively for fruit loops only.
Can't do cattle for lots of reasons firstly the huge investment in stock and infrastructure. Secondly last year I started getting my first regular income for many years courtesy of HMG. The farm is long and thin with a very busy bridle track up its spine and last but not least the collie is great but short of eye and when faced with a stroppy ewe either finds something interesting at the far end of the field or takes an urgent never ending sh!t.
We could increase the sheep but winter is the problem with insufficient building space as the barns are earmarked for other enterprisees. I suppose as the sheep we have are Dorsets we could look at summer lambing. Difficult really do I want the bother so tack sheep may be the best answer I suppose can't really fancy the roulette method.
I can't remember who it was on here with the highland farm that is mostly peat... have you seen this?
https://www.facebook.com/croftingcraic/photos/a.10150121701326218/10155978499046218/?type=3&theater
I’m sceptical, where you read ‘peatland restoration’, you’d probably be able to substitute it with ‘clearing livestock off the land, block up all ditches - natural or otherwise, let land go to tick infested inaccessible scrub, obliterate productivity and hope that the natives will disperse’.
There are definitely some obstacles there.
Some here, too, many of them I put in the way... such as hanging onto stock too long.
Is there much avenue for stock trading, just using them short-term? They may not require nearly as much infrastructure, especially over summer. Store lambs are what we use for that.
It depends what your real objective is.Or maybe using cattle like you would sheep in winter on tack.
You the land owner says when they come and when they go, at so much per head per day. That way you have no outlay only a little work moving fences but you work that into the price but good control of what’s happening.
Or maybe rent out at per kg/lw gain, rules would have to be set up front, ie worming etc in all counts. (Don’t know how you would calculate this) as both parties want good dlwg
You will have a good idea now I would think kp on what your land can carry for how long under weather conditions.
After the big stock has come and gone you could then drop back to having your own smaller stock.
(I’m probably talking rubish here after havin a few beers )
It depends what your real objective is.
If you get hung up on one thing, you can easily miss other benefits!
Like with us, looking at these bulls they will be easy to finish - but is that actually the best use?
They have done a (literally) smashing job so far, providing heaps of animal impact for their liveweight - but I was hung up on hanging them up - which was probably something I should have thought harder about 4 weeks ago.
So although they're making money, they're also costing us money at the same time
I can afford to keep the odd passenger, but what I can't afford is to be complacent, sentimental, or too precious about details.snap kiwi - ive still got 3 pet sheep in the flock and one thing thats the size of a handbag dog - its stayed as im conning myself that i need the animal impact. well they are funny as ... and will either be tasty or gone very soon.