so some do ?We don't live in a suitable climate for big cattle
so some do ?We don't live in a suitable climate for big cattle
The buffalo never had a "cost of carry" which is well worth considering and the whole world had just enough food to go around, once.You may keep what ever you like, I was just answering the question. If a big cow makes less per acre/hectare than smaller cow, and the big cow also proceeds to damage the land or require expensive wintering then it make sense in that context to keep a smaller cow.
Trouble is we can't do that Pete, be quite happy to, TB stops it thoughI assume there will be... but "not my problem", I'm paid to use them as tools
One of the cool and unique things about grazing - a builder isn't going to come to me and say "well, there's really no work on at the moment, how about I pay you $1800 a week to keep my saws and nailgun at your place, just don't let them sit out and get rusty" but another farmer effectively is doing that (well, 3 other farmers are doing that).
I presume that they are envisaging quite a bright future for their stock sales or they wouldn't be outbidding the dairy operators when it comes to calf grazing
Quite possibly - see my post above about the "no cost-of-carry"so some do ?
You need the right size cow for your land but you also need a market for your calf and you need to weigh one against the other
no good turning up at market with lots of little weaned calves that folk just laugh at a offer 50 quid for which is what more or less happens with Dexter's or sending them off on the dead and getting penalised the hell out of them cos they are under weight
So yes you don't want to big a cow but there is a trade off point all according to your land your system and your market and no one size will fit all
That's what I was meaning about being able to "stock the farm affordably" (or maybe I didn't post that)..You need the right size cow for your land but you also need a market for your calf and you need to weigh one against the other
no good turning up at market with lots of little weaned calves that folk just laugh at a offer 50 quid for which is what more or less happens with Dexter's or sending them off on the dead and getting penalised the hell out of them cos they are under weight
So yes you don't want to big a cow but there is a trade off point all according to your land your system and your market and no one size will fit all
It's in a video I've watched before, but I would have to trawl through days of info to find it and I'm not doing that, but regarding size larger heavier animals are harder on the ground which leads to erosion. In the environment being discussed at the time, larger cattle also made less money on a per acre/hectare basis. But the "conventional wisdom" was to breed bigger, cos bigger was better, just cos.
Most likely either a Kit Pharo or Allen Williams video.
You may keep what ever you like, I was just answering the question. If a big cow makes less per acre/hectare than smaller cow, and the big cow also proceeds to damage the land or require expensive wintering then it make sense in that context to keep a smaller cow.
And I still think that nobody can say that a 800kg cow stood out in ground is worse for the environment than a 600kg cow stood next to her without knowing what environment they are in.
Are elephants bad for the environment ?
didn't Savory have loads of them killed, must have been a good thing?
And yes I am being deliberately cantankerous with this but I don't like broad brush statements that don't take into account local conditions and restrictions
Elephants.... that's the great thing I took from Mr Savory without ever reading his handbooks.And I still think that nobody can say that a 800kg cow stood out in ground is worse for the environment than a 600kg cow stood next to her without knowing what environment they are in.
Are elephants bad for the environment ?
didn't Savory have loads of them killed, must have been a good thing?
And yes I am being deliberately cantankerous with this but I don't like broad brush statements that don't take into account local conditions and restrictions
Yes we are. New regs that came into effect early September limits n to 190kg/ha. (Not sure of the start date for this but it there) This only applies to pastoral. Arable and Hort are exempted. There were quite a few interesting rules brought in at the same time.So are nz farmers being told to reduce nitrogen applications?
The buffalo never had a "cost of carry" which is well worth considering and the whole world had just enough food to go around, once.
whether we like it, or not, with the new big danger, climate change, as farmers, we will be subjected to more and more regulations, drawn up, by those that know nowt about ag, probably think food appears on a s/mkt shelve, and farmers are destroying the world. There are many things, farmers do, that are detrimental, to the environment, just as other things we do, are beneficial. One of the biggest, misunderstandings, is that belching cows are the main cause (well nearly) of raising carbon levels. The new goal, is to get carbon neutral, by 2040, or so, by ag, this is completely unattainable, on a global scale, on a UK scale, it probably will be possible. Rules/regs etc, will force us along that route, and farming will have to change, just as it will have to adapt to brexit. This change, will mean, our current farming systems, will be under the spot light, whilst being asked, by the WHO to increase, food production, to feed the ever growing population, the two, don't sit together.And I still think that nobody can say that a 800kg cow stood out in ground is worse for the environment than a 600kg cow stood next to her without knowing what environment they are in.
Are elephants bad for the environment ?
didn't Savory have loads of them killed, must have been a good thing?
And yes I am being deliberately cantankerous with this but I don't like broad brush statements that don't take into account local conditions and restrictions
It can probably include or exclude a lot of things, dependent again on that word "context" .Cost of carry? As in chems, assisted wintering as opposed to populations fluctuations?
A bit of useless information to tell anyone else then
And the producer has to like the type of animals they are caring for, big, small, hairy,smooth...It’s not all about what the market wants, it’s also about what the producer wants and enjoys. Without that emotional attachment you’re just mimicking a factory AND working for peanutsAnd yes I am being deliberately cantankerous with this but I don't like broad brush statements that don't take into account local conditions and restrictions
Ahh you mention the NBA's stupid proposal.whether we like it, or not, with the new big danger, climate change, as farmers, we will be subjected to more and more regulations, drawn up, by those that know nowt about ag, probably think food appears on a s/mkt shelve, and farmers are destroying the world. There are many things, farmers do, that are detrimental, to the environment, just as other things we do, are beneficial. One of the biggest, misunderstandings, is that belching cows are the main cause (well nearly) of raising carbon levels. The new goal, is to get carbon neutral, by 2040, or so, by ag, this is completely unattainable, on a global scale, on a UK scale, it probably will be possible. Rules/regs etc, will force us along that route, and farming will have to change, just as it will have to adapt to brexit. This change, will mean, our current farming systems, will be under the spot light, whilst being asked, by the WHO to increase, food production, to feed the ever growing population, the two, don't sit together.
With regard to big cows/little cows/environment, there is loads of information out there to research, certainly, in dairy farming, grazing herds tend to be more profitable, and tend to have smaller cows. The high imput, high out put herds, running machinery, and importing straights, from all over the globe, soya and palm oil, for example, have to be less carbon friendly, than grass rats, eating forage, and b-all else, and, in theory, that should apply to beef cows. Not being a beef farmer now, although i have had a suckler herd, the NBA, has correctly, put out a proposal, that is contentious, very. Whether, right or wrong, it has caused enough argument, to ensure a proper 'debate' will happen, or it might be more, of pistols at dawn. Big changes are coming to ag, it is up to us, how we alter, some will thrive, others will muddle on, and sadly, some will exit. No one system, is 'the way' forward, but, your system, on your farm, has to make a sensible living, for you, and your family.
A bit of useless information to tell anyone else then
And without it the biggest part of Somerset would be under waterErosion can happen in many places around the world, including these islands.