Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
Ime mucking it out every 14 days means there’s nothing in the bottom to soak all the p!ss up and the cattle just churn up into sh!t
Straw saving with bedder, bed twice a day?????
- Thread starter Bossfarmer
- Start date
- Location
- North of Perth
The more straw I use.the more dung I have an less fert I need to put on the grass.which is the better option?
oil barron
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
They do most of their shitting when eating. Scrapabable pass is the answer if you really want to save straw.
ollie989898
Member
Yes. This. Being able to shut gates and pen animals back so you can scrape the passage in front of the feed fence is invaluable IMO. Saves on straw and keeps them and their beds cleaner, too. You don't see many sheds like this around though.
- Location
- North of Perth
All my sheds have a scrape passage in them
- Location
- South Molton
Bedded up milkers with mchale last year v a straw spreader due to density of bales
Used similar amount of straw but the beds didn't stay in as long because they kept going soft.
With the long spread straw they were more of a cushion , were more absorbant of the slurry put on top.
Only bonus was it was easier to clean out, and more friable in the stack
Edit, they got bedded every other day
Used similar amount of straw but the beds didn't stay in as long because they kept going soft.
With the long spread straw they were more of a cushion , were more absorbant of the slurry put on top.
Only bonus was it was easier to clean out, and more friable in the stack
Edit, they got bedded every other day
I bought a straw chopper once, but sold it again after a winter and went back to letting each group out onto the yard,
while I popped in with bales, cut string and spread it roughly with the manitou. Let cattle back in and the spread it with their feet!. Straw chopper was a pain as needed to unhitch forage box and could only do it when cattle had eaten silage due to narrow passageway. I also hated the dust and by morning they looked dirty again, whereas the old method only needed doing twice a week . Cleaned out the front area where they stood to feed every couple of weeks and allowed the rest to build into a nice bed .
while I popped in with bales, cut string and spread it roughly with the manitou. Let cattle back in and the spread it with their feet!. Straw chopper was a pain as needed to unhitch forage box and could only do it when cattle had eaten silage due to narrow passageway. I also hated the dust and by morning they looked dirty again, whereas the old method only needed doing twice a week . Cleaned out the front area where they stood to feed every couple of weeks and allowed the rest to build into a nice bed .
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
You used to do a lot of things?
Why didn't you stick them?
How many thousands of lambs did you say you finished too?
ollie989898
Member
He got rid of the cattle so he could spend more time on his bike complaining about dangerous and inconsiderate drivers.
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
3 ways to reduce straw use:
Muck out regularly
Let the cattle out the yard to feed
Reduce stocking density
Muck out regularly
Let the cattle out the yard to feed
Reduce stocking density
- Location
- North Somerset.
And the fourth:-
Outwinter on a sacrifice field wherever possible subject to soil type.
A very real benefit to me bedding by hand - as much as it becomes a chore when you're busy- is the cattle are so much quieter.
By the end of winter, I expect most weaned suckled calves to be quiet enough to run yer hands along their backs.
Any staff are under strict instruction to make this happen.
And when the yearlings go out to scamper around a field of grass, it makes for a much simpler life.
And later, Galloway cows out on a vast common, which are quiet enough to scratch their backs? Beyond price.
By the end of winter, I expect most weaned suckled calves to be quiet enough to run yer hands along their backs.
Any staff are under strict instruction to make this happen.
And when the yearlings go out to scamper around a field of grass, it makes for a much simpler life.
And later, Galloway cows out on a vast common, which are quiet enough to scratch their backs? Beyond price.
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
true but you can still get the odd kick, which can be fatal, its also far slower
- Location
- Radnorshire
Haven’t used a chopper, but from those who do say that , more eye problems from spreading straw also vet has noticed more breathing problems and with stones holes in roof and sides. On the plus side less straw used. In words of other writers discuss.
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
many on here are claiming no straw is saved?? another consideration might be if the straw has been through a bedder it might break down quicker in the field and not need as much fert to break down if its fresh muck spread infront of the plough?
ollie989898
Member
I don't know if the straw used is any different. It certainly looks to go further but the dust and carp flying all over the shop is an issue. The dust is dangerous to people and you don't want to be breathing it. Bronchiectasis or pulmonary infection with aspergillus spores is no joke. Once you've got COPD you have it for life.
wellingtonfarmer
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
I’m looking at a bedder but 3 things put me off.
1. I think it will be slower than pushing square bales out by hand
2. Cattle won’t be as quiet - especially cows as they get used to you walking through them
3. Price of them. I don’t think I will see roi.
the only reason I want one is the mini hesstons this year are so dry you can’t push the bales out at all.
- Location
- North of Perth
I've spread mine straight out the shed plenty of times.i only do them 2/3 times a year..it can be well mulched an rotted down by then.put it through a dung spreader an it's perfect to plough in.
Dave6170
Member
- Location
- Watten, caithness
We ve got an ageing Belair. I can’t see it being replaced if it sh1!s itself.