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Regenerative Agriculture and Direct Drilling
Holistic Farming
John might go micro dairying...... kind of.....
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<blockquote data-quote="JohnGalway" data-source="post: 7196566" data-attributes="member: 204"><p>And I honestly haven't much of a clue about it <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite10" alt=":oops:" title="Oops! :oops:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":oops:" /> So constructive, knowledgeable suggestions & leads are invited.</p><p></p><p>I'd rather take a while fleshing out the idea than rush in and screw it up, as I would have to invest in facilities because none currently exist.</p><p></p><p>I will post some of the photos I have of the land, and the grass it can grow (in places). </p><p></p><p>The basic idea goes along the lines of enterprise stacking and value adding.</p><p></p><p>Given my very exposed coastal location with high rainfall, breed seems the obvious place to start. I would prefer smaller cattle so as not to cut up the ground which is steep in lots of places, or maybe very hilly instead of steep, lots of slopes either way.</p><p></p><p>Currently our native breed of Kerry cow is foremost in my thinking, due to her being bred for poorer grazing, agility, and lighter weight.</p><p></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_cattle[/URL]</p><p></p><p>I'm open to other suggestions, however bear in mind heavy cows won't work here because of poaching and it's ground inaccessible to machinery.</p><p></p><p>As regards to nutrition, that's a big unknown for me and another reason for checking out more adapted breeds. The land I intend to run cows on has only ever had sheep. Some neighbours run beef cattle but on a very, very conventional basis. There are no dairy farms I would imagine within 40/50 miles of here - for good reason.</p><p></p><p>At the moment I'd rather not talk dairy sheep or dairy goats <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> as part of the reason is I'd like to significantly reduce sheep numbers by bringing in cattle/cows -investigating cows as I see some milk as more opportunistic to add value than beef.</p><p></p><p>I would prefer to bale or pod graze for outwintering. This may not be possible due to rainfall. In that case the idea would be a woodchip bedded block built shed. Straw requires carriage of great distance, and in Ireland between chopping it, burning it for power, and now a scheme to plough it back in it will only rise in price. Peat bedding is available but I'd prefer not to use that for obvious reasons.</p><p></p><p>I would hope to graze cows using holistic planned grazing and lots of electric fencing. I am still building this infrastructure and I have probably 2km of 1/2" waterpipe laid since last year - it was only after I read cattle all like to drink together so I may have screwed up there but that's where I am with water.</p><p></p><p>Water quantity and quality.... This may be a problem. The land is on an island joined to the mainland by bridge. There are no lakes or streams/rivers. There are what we would term as bogholes I guess. The water from them is a brown colour, due to the nature of the peaty soil around them. I don't think a well has ever been bored on the island, I couldn't speculate as to whether that is something that could be done successfully or not, if there might be saltwater ingress or something else. What cost a connection to mains public water, likely to be eye watering.</p><p></p><p>Facilities, currently none. To set up with cattle here, legally a handling pen, permanent crush and isolation shed (small) are required afaik. For a micro dairy I guess a small area for a parlour and a seperate small area for the dairy itself (if I'm getting my terms right). Probably start with something very basic. </p><p></p><p>Numbers, certainly less than ten to start. I did say micro. Given the type of land and available acres 60 or 70 numbers will never be high as Winters can be long depending on year.</p><p></p><p>Sheep are the only enterprise at the moment. I plan to trial laying hens, hopefully in 2021.</p><p></p><p>Thanks for reading!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JohnGalway, post: 7196566, member: 204"] And I honestly haven't much of a clue about it :oops: So constructive, knowledgeable suggestions & leads are invited. I'd rather take a while fleshing out the idea than rush in and screw it up, as I would have to invest in facilities because none currently exist. I will post some of the photos I have of the land, and the grass it can grow (in places). The basic idea goes along the lines of enterprise stacking and value adding. Given my very exposed coastal location with high rainfall, breed seems the obvious place to start. I would prefer smaller cattle so as not to cut up the ground which is steep in lots of places, or maybe very hilly instead of steep, lots of slopes either way. Currently our native breed of Kerry cow is foremost in my thinking, due to her being bred for poorer grazing, agility, and lighter weight. [URL unfurl="true"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_cattle[/URL] I'm open to other suggestions, however bear in mind heavy cows won't work here because of poaching and it's ground inaccessible to machinery. As regards to nutrition, that's a big unknown for me and another reason for checking out more adapted breeds. The land I intend to run cows on has only ever had sheep. Some neighbours run beef cattle but on a very, very conventional basis. There are no dairy farms I would imagine within 40/50 miles of here - for good reason. At the moment I'd rather not talk dairy sheep or dairy goats :) as part of the reason is I'd like to significantly reduce sheep numbers by bringing in cattle/cows -investigating cows as I see some milk as more opportunistic to add value than beef. I would prefer to bale or pod graze for outwintering. This may not be possible due to rainfall. In that case the idea would be a woodchip bedded block built shed. Straw requires carriage of great distance, and in Ireland between chopping it, burning it for power, and now a scheme to plough it back in it will only rise in price. Peat bedding is available but I'd prefer not to use that for obvious reasons. I would hope to graze cows using holistic planned grazing and lots of electric fencing. I am still building this infrastructure and I have probably 2km of 1/2" waterpipe laid since last year - it was only after I read cattle all like to drink together so I may have screwed up there but that's where I am with water. Water quantity and quality.... This may be a problem. The land is on an island joined to the mainland by bridge. There are no lakes or streams/rivers. There are what we would term as bogholes I guess. The water from them is a brown colour, due to the nature of the peaty soil around them. I don't think a well has ever been bored on the island, I couldn't speculate as to whether that is something that could be done successfully or not, if there might be saltwater ingress or something else. What cost a connection to mains public water, likely to be eye watering. Facilities, currently none. To set up with cattle here, legally a handling pen, permanent crush and isolation shed (small) are required afaik. For a micro dairy I guess a small area for a parlour and a seperate small area for the dairy itself (if I'm getting my terms right). Probably start with something very basic. Numbers, certainly less than ten to start. I did say micro. Given the type of land and available acres 60 or 70 numbers will never be high as Winters can be long depending on year. Sheep are the only enterprise at the moment. I plan to trial laying hens, hopefully in 2021. Thanks for reading! [/QUOTE]
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John might go micro dairying...... kind of.....
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