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

[Karliboy]

Thanks guys. The pictures don’t do him justice.
I decided to let him go in the end.
I came to the conclusion he had to go as it’s just another job I didn’t need plus he’d cost a min of £10 a week to keep so that’s £150 more he’d need to make ontop untill the others are weaned in November. So as a whole I had no reason to keep him back.
Mother couldn’t go back out really as teats we’re a mess and only go back to a bloody mess again. So there both gone.
Still waiting on cow price as I’m now back at work I stopped at market to sell calf and he did me proud at £600 on the nose.
To say I’m fairly chuffed Is a understatement as I was bid £450 last night and nearly took it.
I’ll buy the imaginary beers lads and lasses cheers.
( I think I topped the market too)

 

[Woolless]

Thanks guys. The pictures don’t do him justice.
I decided to let him go in the end.
I came to the conclusion he had to go as it’s just another job I didn’t need plus he’d cost a min of £10 a week to keep so that’s £150 more he’d need to make ontop untill the others are weaned in November. So as a whole I had no reason to keep him back.
Mother couldn’t go back out really as teats we’re a mess and only go back to a bloody mess again. So there both gone.
Still waiting on cow price as I’m now back at work I stopped at market to sell calf and he did me proud at £600 on the nose.
To say I’m fairly chuffed Is a understatement as I was bid £450 last night and nearly took it.
I’ll buy the imaginary beers lads and lasses cheers.
( I think I topped the market too)

Well done. It's nice when you get a turn like that. I had one at Hexham last week and my beers on Friday certainly weren't imaginary, so make sure yours aren't

 

[Rob Garrett]

Thanks guys. The pictures don’t do him justice.
I decided to let him go in the end.
I came to the conclusion he had to go as it’s just another job I didn’t need plus he’d cost a min of £10 a week to keep so that’s £150 more he’d need to make ontop untill the others are weaned in November. So as a whole I had no reason to keep him back.
Mother couldn’t go back out really as teats we’re a mess and only go back to a bloody mess again. So there both gone.
Still waiting on cow price as I’m now back at work I stopped at market to sell calf and he did me proud at £600 on the nose.
To say I’m fairly chuffed Is a understatement as I was bid £450 last night and nearly took it.
I’ll buy the imaginary beers lads and lasses [emoji482][emoji482] cheers.
( I think I topped the market too)

£600 for a 3 month old bull calf (a cracker at that) awesome! Got any more to wean early & sell?

 

[Henarar]

£600 for a 3 month old bull calf (a cracker at that) awesome! Got any more to wean early & sell?

be glad of that at 9 months sometimes

 

[bitwrx]

Thanks guys. The pictures don’t do him justice.
I decided to let him go in the end.
I came to the conclusion he had to go as it’s just another job I didn’t need plus he’d cost a min of £10 a week to keep so that’s £150 more he’d need to make ontop untill the others are weaned in November. So as a whole I had no reason to keep him back.
Mother couldn’t go back out really as teats we’re a mess and only go back to a bloody mess again. So there both gone.
Still waiting on cow price as I’m now back at work I stopped at market to sell calf and he did me proud at £600 on the nose.
To say I’m fairly chuffed Is a understatement as I was bid £450 last night and nearly took it.
I’ll buy the imaginary beers lads and lasses cheers.
( I think I topped the market too)

Nice one Karl. Congratulations. Must be all that high quality pasture you've managed to get in front of them.

Shame about the cow, but first loss is the cheapest, as they say.

 

[Crofter64]

Sounds like you've found out how effective that stuff is! No antibiotic no good in my limited experience, that said if @wooless has results with Provita/Tea Tree job (and he's not selling/on commission), then could be worth a trial + a hoof & horn (zinc) bucket for prevention.

I spread hydrated lime thickly around waterers on dry days when it looks like anyone is even thinking of limping. Got the idea iff this thread and so far it has worked. No meaningful limps since 2017.Of course, we’re not as damp here as the U.K.

 

[Crofter64]

Little bit of a conundrum for me here.
this cow is going to the market in the morning 2 knackered teats and a third not to great keeps being bothered by flies and sometimes bleed like they occasionally do so no good for the natives to see without them ear bashing me so what do I’d do with the bull calf??? It’s just turned 3months and got to where it is on 2 teats, Should I gamble on lots of good grass and to put it back out with the herd in a few days and hope it does ok and not go backwards or just destock it into market tomorrow also.
How would others approach this holistically?View attachment 897951View attachment 897953View attachment 897954View attachment 897955
I just weaned 4 bottle fed holstein angus cross calves at 3 months. They didn’t look nearly as good as your calf and they’re doing fine. I raise them in pairs ( although they are now all four together) so they always have a buddy. That would be my only worry with this calf alone. Who will he bond to and go to for reassurance? Everyone else is paired off already. I agree with Pete. I find reasons to keep them, especially if I have plenty of feed. Having said that, I raise mine up in total isolation and you are basically in a public area with lots of onlookers who have no concept of animal husbandry I’ll warrant.

I just weaned 4 bottle fed holstein angus cross calves at 3 months. They didn’t look nearly as good as your calf and they’re doing fine. I raise them in pairs ( although they are now all four together) so they always have a buddy. That would be my only worry with this calf alone. Who will he bond to and go to for reassurance? Everyone else is paired off already. I agree with Pete. I find reasons to keep them, especially if I have plenty of feed. Having said that, I raise mine up in total isolation and you are basically in a public area with lots of onlookers who have no concept of animal husbandry I’ll warrant

 

[Bury the Trash]

View attachment 897982
this is what I’ve been using

thats no good.
you need an antibiotic one such as https://www.marketplace.farm/farm-a...rescription-only-pom-v/alamycin-aerosol-140g/ as Rob Garret says.

Plus Oxytetracline such as Alamycin jab intramuscular and LA to save hassle.

treating the bad cases individually and try to separate from the rest of the flock is better approach than keep gathering the flocks to footbath all etc...

Any the dont respond very well to that or keep repeat edly getting bad feet its best to cull ime.

 

[jack6480]

thats no good.
you need an antibiotic one such as https://www.marketplace.farm/farm-a...rescription-only-pom-v/alamycin-aerosol-140g/ as Rob Garret says.

Plus Oxytetracline such as Alamycin jab intramuscular and LA to save hassle.

treating the bad cases individually and try to separate from the rest of the flock is better approach than keep gathering the flocks to footbath all etc...

Any the dont respond very well to that or keep repeat edly getting bad feet its best to cull ime.

Thankyou very greatful for all your advice lads

 

[The Ruminant]

someone mentioned potassium permanganate as a foot bath for cattle here a few years ago, a wise old guy I believe.

I remember that. I think he wrote a book too, I bought it and read it at the time, it was very thought-provoking

 

[awkward]

I remember that. I think he wrote a book too, I bought it and read it at the time, it was very thought-provoking

What was it called I remember he was very cryptic, but felt he had much to say , its a pity he didn't keep it up

 

[Bury the Trash]

A clinical trial comparing parenteral oxytetracyline and enrofloxacin on time to recovery in sheep lame with acute or chronic footrot in Kashmir, India - BMC Veterinary Research

Background No clinical trials have been conducted in India on the efficacy of parenteral antibacterials to treat footrot in sheep. In addition, there are no studies worldwide on the efficacy of parenteral antibacterials to treat chronic footrot. Sixty two sheep with acute footrot and 30 sheep...

bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com

the internet....its another world...

 

[texas pete]

Thankyou very greatful for all your advice lads

Definitely use an antibiotic spray if you have scald. I wouldn't trim though...I'd almost throw the damn things away, you nearly always do more harm than good.

 

[Bury the Trash]

or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_violet

problem is current antibiotic use is not sustainable

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Thanks guys. The pictures don’t do him justice.
I decided to let him go in the end.
I came to the conclusion he had to go as it’s just another job I didn’t need plus he’d cost a min of £10 a week to keep so that’s £150 more he’d need to make ontop untill the others are weaned in November. So as a whole I had no reason to keep him back.
Mother couldn’t go back out really as teats we’re a mess and only go back to a bloody mess again. So there both gone.
Still waiting on cow price as I’m now back at work I stopped at market to sell calf and he did me proud at £600 on the nose.
To say I’m fairly chuffed Is a understatement as I was bid £450 last night and nearly took it.
I’ll buy the imaginary beers lads and lasses cheers.
( I think I topped the market too)

Good stuff, don't forget your extra 10 minutes of time "costed in", either.
Yeah, we enjoy turning things round, but 70 minutes a week of The Manager's time is worth something.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Just got our books back from the accountant's. Makes for interesting reading

 

[Henarar]

Just got our books back from the accountant's. Makes for interesting reading

mine are like that
haven't got a fecking clue what half of it means

 

[Kiwi Pete]

mine are like that
haven't got a fecking clue what half of it means

I got an accountant to help with the farm books for a while, because it's something Sarah wants to learn how to do and I wasn't confident that 'my ways were the right ways'.
Turns out I'd been doing a good enough job, but the professionals are much, much better at changing things around and fitting things into places properly.

Ideally, you learn these little hints and tips from the experts, so it's a worthwhile cost IMO.
The good Lord knows we don't have many costs.

 

[som farmer]

mine are like that
haven't got a fecking clue what half of it means

that's the accountants way of ensuring, that they have to do our accounts, basically, accounts are, what goes in, and what goes out, and the difference is profit/loss, a valuation, of assets, rise or fall, and a tax due sum, the rest is to make sure, you cannot do them yourselves !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kiwi Pete]

that's the accountants way of ensuring, that they have to do our accounts, basically, accounts are, what goes in, and what goes out, and the difference is profit/loss, a valuation, of assets, rise or fall, and a tax due sum, the rest is to make sure, you cannot do them yourselves !!!!!!!!!!!

I picked up enough basic accounting while at high school to get into business without getting audited or arrested.
I was doing Agriculture via the Correspondence School and ended up requiring the deputy principal's accounting class in order to remain on task (and on the school grounds!!) and by the time the exams rolled around he said I may as well enrol for them - and passed it easily

Our "problem" is that we own the farm in a partnership, and effectively lease or rent the property to our trading company.
That makes it a little more complicated and thus the experts can save us a fair bit of money by helping adjust our rental figure, meaning we can minimise our tax.