RP4 Hardcore Tracks

[AlfM]

We've got a few of these to do under a mid tier agreement. Plan A was concrete sleepers but these seem more difficult to get. I would just concrete them but that appears to be out of spec. The alternative is to compact hardcore and then put 50 mm of finer material on top. Any ideas what would be a cows feet friendly suitable material to put on top of the hardcore? Thanks.

 

[Fendt516profi]

AstroTurf

 

[vantage]

Chalk

 

[Sid]

AstroTurf

No no no and no.

Micro Plastic pollution.
Should be banned, and I think it will be.

 

[AlfM]

Chalk

Lump chalk similar to in the bottom of yards? How does it get on when it gets wet and is in use?

 

[farmboy]

Oolytic limestone

 

[Sid]

Lump chalk similar to in the bottom of yards? How does it get on when it gets wet and is in use?

Chalk/limestone can get slippery.

All types? I don't know

 

[jerseycowsman]

No no no and no.

Micro Plastic pollution.
Should be banned, and I think it will be.

Really? I thought micro plastics were created by washing clothes or the constant churning of the sea on plastics

 

[Richy12]

Isnt that nano plastics? Micro plastics is just small pieces of plastic

 

[devonboy]

Astroturf thing is a real con, the disposal cost isnt mentioned when you get it for "free".Enviroment issues and it gets slippery.

 

[Sid]

Really? I thought micro plastics were created by washing clothes or the constant churning of the sea on plastics

Mirror, Macro, large or small .
Still pollution

 

[vantage]

Lump chalk similar to in the bottom of yards? How does it get on when it gets wet and is in use?

Just thought it would be kind on feet, not seen a chalk track since I was a student on the Oxford Downs, unfortunately non available locally.

 

[ploughman1963]

We use compacted hardcore base, with a slightly domed finish and then topped with ‘dust’ from the Criggion quarry. Excellent for cows feet and minor maintenance (sprinkle a bit more dust in hard wear areas) every 4-5 years

 

[Sid]

We use compacted hardcore base, with a slightly domed finish and then topped with ‘dust’ from the Criggion quarry. Excellent for cows feet and minor maintenance (sprinkle a bit more dust in hard wear areas) every 4-5 years

Brayford dust is used locally to top off tracks.

 

[ollie989898]

Oolytic limestone

This, tracked in properly or using compactor plate.

I often wonder actually if laying it and then getting a tractor crusher thing over it might put it down even better??

 

[Iron150]

Bit iff topic, anyone got a contact details for astro turf please?

 

[AlfM]

Oolytic limestone

Have you any experience with this stuff? Just whack it down tight and stays good or does it need much ongoing maintenance? Just for cows or machinery as well? Thanks.

 

[jack6480]

Bit iff topic, anyone got a contact details for astro turf please?

I can find you a roll

 

[Farmer Keith]

You’ve kind of got to use what’s available locally, not sure where you’d start looking for chalk here, rainfall and gradient has an impact to, anything fine disappears down the slopes here over time and Astro is slippy as mentioned earlier. Relatively soft sandstone is good here, it crushes down under the digger tracks but does wash out eventually.

 

[Bipper]

Mirror, Macro, large or small .
Still pollution

Surely it is better to get a second use before it is disposed of though? I agree the cost of disposal isn't made clear to farmers buying it, but given it has already been made it is better to get a second use out of it than just bin it.