Devon James
Member
- Location
- Devon
Thanyou @Poorbuthappy, I have put some photos in the direct drilling gallery.
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
- Location
- Devon
- Location
- somerset
hopefully will in time, but docks here, are a major problem. Chickweed, fat hen, and other annuals, sheep and cutting, sort them out, thistles and docks, they don't. I would love a more sensible solution, but am still looking.
Have some going in with a crimson clover ant Italian mix at the new place after one field has become vacant early. Will be interesting to see how it does.
I wonder if mob stocking with dry cows once in the Summer season at a really high density would shake the weeds up?
This is the compromise I'm drifting towards... rotationally graze, albeit leaving longer residual covers and slightly longer rounds, (e.g. pulling out at 1800 to 2000kgDM/ha and 30 day round) during spring...
Then let it get tall over summer and mob stock the hell out of it, for one round. I.e. put some carbon back in.
Similar with silage leys, 2 cuts then mob stock instead of take a third...
- Location
- somerset
With the cows, need nice growth for them, milk from forage. Its difficult trying to juggle longer residuals, recovery time, and correct grass stage, its the weather that kills it, and ryegrass, bloody stuff keeps heading, at slightest stress. Rotational grazing, is a must, works well, and shortest time possible, on any 1 bit of grass, that's the answer. Leaves 2 options, topping, which isn't a bad idea, leaving stem etc, to feed the soil, if nice and sunny, cows will hoover it, or jump areas, and cut them. Topping, or cutting, are good management tools, they give the chance of a 'tidy up', and a reset. Dry cows, we have kept them really tight with strip/back fencing, works a treat, as long as not old hols, really improves pasture.
However, we have pp away, we cannot strip graze. So, once a cut on that is taken, a 2nd might be, but as much y/s and dry cows, as we can, will go there, set stocked.
Which will give us options, on our leys at home, cut, rest, or whatever.
And never forget, grazed grass is the cheapest feed. Its a real juggling act, that changes all the time, but, you don't get results, without putting the work in. As said before, our grass looks the best it has been, for several springs, with little, or no fert yet. What l would love to know, is why.
However, we have pp away, we cannot strip graze. So, once a cut on that is taken, a 2nd might be, but as much y/s and dry cows, as we can, will go there, set stocked.
Which will give us options, on our leys at home, cut, rest, or whatever.
And never forget, grazed grass is the cheapest feed. Its a real juggling act, that changes all the time, but, you don't get results, without putting the work in. As said before, our grass looks the best it has been, for several springs, with little, or no fert yet. What l would love to know, is why.
Jonny B88
Member
- Location
- ballykelly. NI
This is another mobile trough i put together on Saturday afternoon. Been in with cows since sat evening and so far seems ok. Very easy to empty, just roll it. Ball cock is protected and theres my air gap to keep me legal 
. Very simple frame, two straps to hold barrel on and a chain to tow.
. Very simple frame, two straps to hold barrel on and a chain to tow.Attachments
I've got a couple of little plastic ones that I picked up online somewhere for £25 each planning to put them to use this year, only around about 20 acres but hoping to split it into small paddocks once I get over this week of stag do hangover and then covid 
- Location
- somerset
seen those barrels used as sledges, to pull new born calves in.
- Location
- southern riverina Australia
Our cows will drink a 10 foot round concrete trough dry in 20 minutes in summer after milking , and that's off a 2 inch line with a 4.4kw pressure pump.
- Location
- somerset
sounds like camels might be better for you !
one of the things, l have always tried to improve, is water and troughs. First dad and his brother, had a 'thing' about water, then metred water, uncle never forgave me for running a new line, on a metred supply, even though the milk shot up 300l/day, first time the cows used it. Can honestly say, l think we now have enough.
one of the things, l have always tried to improve, is water and troughs. First dad and his brother, had a 'thing' about water, then metred water, uncle never forgave me for running a new line, on a metred supply, even though the milk shot up 300l/day, first time the cows used it. Can honestly say, l think we now have enough.
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Even down here in the cool they do that,, bigger troughs equal bigger problems
we used to put a fence across at the trough so that only a few could drink at a time, otherwise the same bossy cows would just hog it and beat up the heifers.
That situation was really what got me into multiple shifts with dairy herds TBH, keep them grazing instead of all parked at the trough licking the bottom - and it also meant that the flogs who worked with me would actually go in the paddock, had a nasty habit of just shutting the tapes and going home
- Location
- somerset
it is amazing how much water cows drink, on a hot day, and they make it a social occasion, and a whole group come up, together.
We have 500 gallon troughs, dotted about, rarely empty them.
We have 500 gallon troughs, dotted about, rarely empty them.
- Location
- southern riverina Australia
Heat stress and dehydration are a bad combination. Well documented here cows needs well over 200ltrs each per day.
- Location
- somerset
we are experts at growing fat hen. Locally called bacon weed, dad always swore it came in pig feed. The major problem is if it grows with forage rape, you can't take it out. 5/6FT tall, no problem, high plant density, piece of pi55, can easily smother rape. In other words, its a pain in the butt. Cows will happily eat the seeds, straight off the plant.
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
I notice that too with our system, even though they're only drinking 80-100 litres I rarely see more than 2 at a trough... they've learnt to take turns
If one can drink, you need a pipe the size of one throat,, if 50 can drink then you need a pipe the size of 50 throats, it isn't that hard to work out
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Hmmmm.... it's got equivalent feed value to the forage rape it's beating - and grows more, faster?
This sounds like a major problem
.. what can forage rape do for you that fat-hen isn't already doing for you (for free)?
I was just thinking exactly the same thing!Hmmmm.... it's got equivalent feed value to the forage rape it's beating - and grows more, faster?
This sounds like a major problem
Forage rape is a lot more cold tolerant. Fat hen dies other than that it's got a lot going for it.
so is the forage rape there to fill the gaps in the fat hen crop