Suckler cows😡

[Fendt65]

Not sure if it is just my cows but they just don’t seem to be settled this year, usually run them in 2 small groups but they are together this year for logistical reasons every time i go up the fields to check them they follow me round and are mooing .
they have plenty of grass however it’s disappearing fast ,rain would help they just don’t seem happy.
the only thing different that I can’t imagine would make a difference is I’ve put no fertiliser on this year.
Ps just put some haylage in a ring feeder for them.

 

[Gulli]

The grass needs some water, they'll settle down once it starts growing properly

 

[serf]

I would think its because they are clearing up old stale grass from winter and when the spring flush comes they will settle , ours are doing the same behind electric , having to move fence a lot to keep them content ....

 

[Werzle]

Not sure if it is just my cows but they just don’t seem to be settled this year, usually run them in 2 small groups but they are together this year for logistical reasons every time i go up the fields to check them they follow me round and are mooing .
they have plenty of grass however it’s disappearing fast ,rain would help they just don’t seem happy.
the only thing different that I can’t imagine would make a difference is I’ve put no fertiliser on this year.
Ps just put some haylage in a ring feeder for them.

Mine seem more settled as usually they dont like the taste of the fert on the grass! Surprising how just having a bull with them regardless of pregnancy status keeps them calmer. They have got water have they? Clean water?

 

[Fendt65]

Yes and there is bull in with them, just sneaked up to look at them and quite a few are around the ring feeder eating so hope this helps

 

[michael N123]

I haven’t stopped feeding any yet

 

[M-J-G]

Yes and there is bull in with them, just sneaked up to look at them and quite a few are around the ring feeder eating so hope this helps

I'd say the haylage will help.

I've always found cattle to be more settled on grass that's not had fertiliser than on forced grass.

 

[M-J-G]

I haven’t stopped feeding any yet

Me too, we're still giving round bales of hay even though there's a fair bit of grass, but they are still eating it.

 

[DB67]

Were you giving them cake? There a pain in the arse when you stop for a good while.

 

[milkloss]

Not unsettled but our cows have been kicking off at a couple of patches in the fields. One where a ring feeder was two years ago and a saw bench with a pit 40 years ago. Another patch where there was a dead cow a month ago for no more than a few hours. Plenty of snorting and pawing the ground, they’ve never done it before as much.

 

[Fendt65]

Were you giving them cake? There a pain in the arse when you stop for a good while.

No cake, i know this seems perhaps wrong for a farmer to say but I can’t stand cows mooing , apart from weaning obviously [tin hat time].

 

[Gulli]

No cake, i know this seems perhaps wrong for a farmer to say but I can’t stand cows mooing , apart from weaning obviously [tin hat time].

Not just you

 

[ridger]

No cake, i know this seems perhaps wrong for a farmer to say but I can’t stand cows mooing , apart from weaning obviously [tin hat time].

I've always found their vocabulary to be rather limited - to mooing

 

[abitdaft]

Ours are the same, they settled a bit after a wee bit of rain but the grass needs a bit more moisture I think to really give it that kick. I suppose it must be a bit like having a Scotch pie for your dinner when you really want a steak.

 

[Woolless]

Ours are the same, they settled a bit after a wee bit of rain but the grass needs a bit more moisture I think to really give it that kick. I suppose it must be a bit like having a Scotch pie for your dinner when you really want a steak.

If they're moaning because they have the grass equivalent of a scotch pie then they really need to toughen up and get on with it!

 

[Hilly]

My out lyers stoppes eating silage in febuary ! Will have to start again soon

 

[Fendt65]

I do see the point with rain the grass probably is a bit stale just seems a perfect storm this year with fert prices and then a possible drought, the cows grazed a couple of fields early on and they have struggled to green up.
i suppose the next issue will be not getting back in calf