Out wintering

NSM63

Member
Mixed Farmer
Hi all, I’m trying to persuade my father to get back into cattle. I’m back on the home farm and he would rather stand there and throw his money into the fire instead (he’s an old dairy boy so it’s understandable). We have converted the farm into industrial units and so have no sheds available for cattle. We have arable land rented to the local estate which I believe would lend itself to forage crop rotation and the incorporation of cattle onto the farm. I’d look to put in semi permanent lay back areas (woodchip base and straw probably) and mobile shelters able to be moved via telehandler with dry forage available (30% of their diet). To cut a long story short, what are peoples experiences of this financially and what are the major pitfalls? E.g. compaction, poor growth, unpredictable weather, etc. Alternatively has anybody had this work extremely well for their system. Thank you all.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
What area are you in? If you rent ground to an arable farm then I’m guessing your not in an upland area?
A lot of people out winter cattle on fodder beet and rape/kale. Stoney ground or deep heavy clay will be the big decider
 

NSM63

Member
Mixed Farmer
West Midlands area, all low land area. Some reasonably heavy areas but mostly lighter ground so am not too worried about them making a mess. It’s just how easily and cost effectively the field is to rectify after the poaching and compaction as there is always x amount of compaction no matter how light the ground is which will need relieving. Anyhow, I’m more interested in how well people find this to work financially on average.
 
the major pitfalls are wet ground conditions ,Just positives for anything else. Cheap to keep on a forage crop like stubble turnips with ring feeder of silage or straw and the cattle do well thou are a bit hairy coated but go on great when the spring grass starts coming through. IN A WET WINTER just misery misery misery
 

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