sheepwise
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
Are those black silage bales in 1968?
TexX ewes - which Tup to use?
- Thread starter Nithsdale
- Start date
- Location
- Lancashire
Thanks, they have taken some finding over the years.Cracking photos ! I wonder where the tradesmen would have all stayed? In tented camps next to the diggings I guess?
I bet the conditions were bloody awful, with matching food !
When men were men ! And I moan about having to fill a few feeding bags with a shovel !
We have a field called Huts Medow, most stayed in them. Some found lodgings with the locals,
- Location
- Lancashire
Nope, the dates on the photo... 88/8/13
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
When dad came home from school, there were 2 full time workers. So 4 in all.
By the time grandpa got to retiring, there were no workers but dad still found casual help to build the hay in etc.
Dad took on a worker after grandpa retired, but none stayed any time (from memory 2 were mechanics just wanting extra cash and a house... another did a midnight flit). Dad gave up and ran the place himself through the 90's as brother and I were getting nearer leaving school age.
Brother is older so left school first, then I followed so back up to 3. We took on doing some contracting for neighbours at that time...
Dad is now retired, but still likes to come and help. We have stopped the contracting, but I do go shearing for a few neighbours and I'm also doing the very odd day helping a friend if he needs it, as his father isn't able on the farm anymore. So we are at 2.
Won't deny there are times of the year 1 person could manage fine but then other times we are both very busy
farmeronecow
Member
- Location
- Dorset
Interesting stuff, does bursting the banks ever become a real concern?
- Location
- Lancashire
It is for me, I'm at the end if the line ?. All the banks are monitored for movement and so far there as good as they where the day they where built 155 years ago.
They new how to build things in them days and without all the fancy gear they us today too.
But when theres heavy rain and it all coming past me it does get abit worring?
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Did some site prep, scraping back the top level of grass, soil, nails etc... burst hose on the tipping trailer with the first load put a stop to things, but rain on Thurs and Fri did even more as I couldn't get across the field to dump the spoil.
Here's progress upto tonight. Scrape back and first trailer load
Because of the rain Thurs and Fri not much work was done... just incase we decided the cattle needed to come in quickly I fenced off along the road on Saturday. The yard would be too open otherwise and getting the cattle past and into the shed would be a nightmare...
So here is a taster as to how it'll look when finished
I'll sit the digger across the open end to block the cattle from going in.
Weather has stayed good, so yesterday I was back to getting the spoil shifted out... then I dug into the rotten rock in the hard corner... I often hate how hard going everything is when digging on this farm, but a major plus point to being a hill/upland farm is the plenty supply of free sub base
Give me the 3cx and a free hand and I'm a happy boy!
That's the site pretty much finished being prep'd now. The small heap of hardcore left in the pictures actually turned out to be nearly a trailer load... it has been used to build up the doorway into one of the other sheds.
Good timing, too. Rain is forecast for tomorrow evening and it's to be wet through to Saturday, at least. The cattle shed is almost cleared tonight, few wee things to shift tomorrow morning and the first group are coming in for the winter... then the long haul starts
Here's progress upto tonight. Scrape back and first trailer load
Because of the rain Thurs and Fri not much work was done... just incase we decided the cattle needed to come in quickly I fenced off along the road on Saturday. The yard would be too open otherwise and getting the cattle past and into the shed would be a nightmare...
So here is a taster as to how it'll look when finished
I'll sit the digger across the open end to block the cattle from going in.
Weather has stayed good, so yesterday I was back to getting the spoil shifted out... then I dug into the rotten rock in the hard corner... I often hate how hard going everything is when digging on this farm, but a major plus point to being a hill/upland farm is the plenty supply of free sub base
Give me the 3cx and a free hand and I'm a happy boy!
That's the site pretty much finished being prep'd now. The small heap of hardcore left in the pictures actually turned out to be nearly a trailer load... it has been used to build up the doorway into one of the other sheds.
Good timing, too. Rain is forecast for tomorrow evening and it's to be wet through to Saturday, at least. The cattle shed is almost cleared tonight, few wee things to shift tomorrow morning and the first group are coming in for the winter... then the long haul starts
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Shed cleared, bedded and the first group of cows are in...
Winter is here
This was the farthest away lot running some fields and the hill. We didn't feed them this morning, but there weren't stood waiting - they were away out grazing the hill. No chasing required, drove round them with the bike, heads up and the whole lot trotted all the way down and into the shed... I think they were wanting in.
Winter is here
This was the farthest away lot running some fields and the hill. We didn't feed them this morning, but there weren't stood waiting - they were away out grazing the hill. No chasing required, drove round them with the bike, heads up and the whole lot trotted all the way down and into the shed... I think they were wanting in.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Not really sure where time has gone since last posting... had a few store cattle away, they've sold well actually. Been plittering around working on the pens but was pulled away yesterday. The telehandler tyres are getting pretty worn, but the front rims are getting rotten too... well one blew out on Saturday a few phone calls Monday morning and our local tyre supplier could get tyres but struggling for rims. We find a small company ourselves in N.Yorks with rims in stock but no tyres, but were getting tyres in first thing Tuesday morning and would be cheaper for the rim and tire fitted than our local supplier would be for just the tyre brother had an appointment Tuesday lunch time so cue me driving 254 mile round trip for 2 wheels
Haven't had the lambs in for a month, started feeding them with the snacker twice a day a fortnight ago once it was obvious what was/wasn't happening with the 'B' word and whether trade would be forth finishing my lambs... so this week I've pressed on a bit more with the aim of getting the lambs in and sorting out what I've got.
Need to run a wooden rail around the top of the tin, but the main area is done (haven't touched the drying pens/dipper yet - but that isn't a priority, and I can work at it later)
Will see how it works tomorrow... I'm already missing the concrete floor and roof
a few phone calls Monday morning and our local tyre supplier could get tyres but struggling for rims. We find a small company ourselves in N.Yorks with rims in stock but no tyres, but were getting tyres in first thing Tuesday morning and would be cheaper for the rim and tire fitted than our local supplier would be for just the tyre brother had an appointment Tuesday lunch time so cue me driving 254 mile round trip for 2 wheels
Haven't had the lambs in for a month, started feeding them with the snacker twice a day a fortnight ago once it was obvious what was/wasn't happening with the 'B' word and whether trade would be forth finishing my lambs... so this week I've pressed on a bit more with the aim of getting the lambs in and sorting out what I've got.
Need to run a wooden rail around the top of the tin, but the main area is done (haven't touched the drying pens/dipper yet - but that isn't a priority, and I can work at it later)
Will see how it works tomorrow... I'm already missing the concrete floor and roof
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
Try peter shepherd at bishop AucklandNot really sure where time has gone since last posting... had a few store cattle away, they've sold well actually. Been plittering around working on the pens but was pulled away yesterday. The telehandler tyres are getting pretty worn, but the front rims are getting rotten too... well one blew out on Saturday
View attachment 842308View attachment 842306View attachment 842307
Haven't had the lambs in for a month, started feeding them with the snacker twice a day a fortnight ago once it was obvious what was/wasn't happening with the 'B' word and whether trade would be forth finishing my lambs... so this week I've pressed on a bit more with the aim of getting the lambs in and sorting out what I've got.
Need to run a wooden rail around the top of the tin, but the main area is done (haven't touched the drying pens/dipper yet - but that isn't a priority, and I can work at it later)
View attachment 842305View attachment 842301
Will see how it works tomorrow... I'm already missing the concrete floor and roof
- Location
- Yorkshire
Agrispares
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
That's the place
Very good service, just timings with them getting stock in and us needing the handler, it was quicker for us to go and get than for them to send via courier
- Location
- Yorkshire
Yea I use them abit luckily I'm only 16 miles away from them
- Location
- Scottish Borders
Have you got any stone available on farm to bottom your pens ? Your set up looks grand, but it occasionally rains in Nithsdale !
Might well be surface mud only , no offence meant!!
Might well be surface mud only , no offence meant!!
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Have you got any stone available on farm to bottom your pens ? Your set up looks grand, but it occasionally rains in Nithsdale !
Might well be surface mud only , no offence meant!!
Scroll up to the post before the cattle coming in...
All the red is rotten rock sub base I dug out and have worked in
But aye, It will get guttery. Always does... but being an open site now I can run the yard scraper over it to keep it clean.
I'm wanting tar planings to seal the site, if I could fall on with a few loads. I've got neighbours who sit right on the main road and they've been told if the tar boys land in looking to dump some loads, I'm wanting it!
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Windy and bloody cold Easterly all day, can feel there's a storm coming.
Lambs in and weighed this afternoon, pleasantly surprised they are all fairly fleshy, and a decent number drawn fat. Haven't counted them, but I'm having a quick cuppa then will feed them so will have a rough count if it isn't too dark
Might chip a trailer load away store as it appears trade has lifted quite a bit. My boots and leggings are bright red from the sub base... it obviously needs to settle still and the sheep will help pack it in better but I definitely want planings on it
It was just a guess at setting up the yard but it worked great
Lambs in and weighed this afternoon, pleasantly surprised they are all fairly fleshy, and a decent number drawn fat. Haven't counted them, but I'm having a quick cuppa then will feed them so will have a rough count if it isn't too dark
Might chip a trailer load away store as it appears trade has lifted quite a bit. My boots and leggings are bright red from the sub base... it obviously needs to settle still and the sheep will help pack it in better but I definitely want planings on it
It was just a guess at setting up the yard but it worked great
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
So the fat lambs I went through in my last post... I hadn't been near in a month because of sh*t trade - I won't say that certain word that ends in 'exit'...
I got 50 lambs drawn out, all very rich and on my scales 50+ kgs (with 3 Suffolks reading 60+kg). Decided for a change to try Wallets at Castle Douglas (my lambs go direct, through them anyway) on Tuesday because they were clearly too big for Vivers, and I've no interest/inclination to belly clip them... Good trade, IMO, but as luck would have it Dumfries on Wednesday was better so I think I missed out by maybe £4-£5 a head... basically the commission
Rough count I have 180-190 left and watching trade, I think I'll try and have a good clear out next week.
Day of deliveries here today. My rep had been on the phone last week seeing if I wanted my usual pallet of High Energy buckets for pre lambing... usually order around now to beat the price increase, so they're coming some time in December. Whilst on the phone we talked about the liquid feed I use. Rep phoned back with a price (pretty sure same price as last year) on Monday morning so I said to get it sent out next month as per the buckets...
Well the liquid feed arrived today
I've also upgraded my wheels... was supposed to come on Monday but it came today after a van being off the road and them being very busy
Suzuki 500.
I've put 20miles onto her today already and I'm very impressed. It's my first petrol with CVT and I'll confess it's taking a wee bit of getting used to but otherwise it's a lovely bike. I decided not to go for power steering - it added another £800 onto the price but so far IMO it doesn't need it and I'm slightly relieved! It dwarfs the Honda 420 when sat beside it and isn't far behind the diesel on physical size which was a big selling point for me - I like a large bike, and it has excellent ground clearance... the 2 things which ruled out the Yamaha 450 which was my 2nd choice.
I'm feeding the lambs twice a day with the snacker, so it had a good go tonight to see what it's like with weight... I shouldn't be surprised - pulled it like it wasn't there!
I got 50 lambs drawn out, all very rich and on my scales 50+ kgs (with 3 Suffolks reading 60+kg
). Decided for a change to try Wallets at Castle Douglas (my lambs go direct, through them anyway) on Tuesday because they were clearly too big for Vivers, and I've no interest/inclination to belly clip them... Good trade, IMO, but as luck would have it Dumfries on Wednesday was better so I think I missed out by maybe £4-£5 a head... basically the commission Rough count I have 180-190 left and watching trade, I think I'll try and have a good clear out next week.
Day of deliveries here today. My rep had been on the phone last week seeing if I wanted my usual pallet of High Energy buckets for pre lambing... usually order around now to beat the price increase, so they're coming some time in December. Whilst on the phone we talked about the liquid feed I use. Rep phoned back with a price (pretty sure same price as last year) on Monday morning so I said to get it sent out next month as per the buckets...
Well the liquid feed arrived today
I've also upgraded my wheels... was supposed to come on Monday but it came today after a van being off the road and them being very busy
Suzuki 500.
I've put 20miles onto her today already and I'm very impressed. It's my first petrol with CVT and I'll confess it's taking a wee bit of getting used to but otherwise it's a lovely bike. I decided not to go for power steering - it added another £800 onto the price
but so far IMO it doesn't need it and I'm slightly relieved! It dwarfs the Honda 420 when sat beside it and isn't far behind the diesel on physical size which was a big selling point for me - I like a large bike, and it has excellent ground clearance... the 2 things which ruled out the Yamaha 450 which was my 2nd choice.I'm feeding the lambs twice a day with the snacker, so it had a good go tonight to see what it's like with weight... I shouldn't be surprised - pulled it like it wasn't there!
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- Location
- Yorkshire
You sticking with them tyres
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Yeah, for standard tyres they are pretty good IMO. I'll wear them out this winter and switch to the Innova Mudgears which I have on the other bikes
- Location
- Yorkshire
Do you do alot of hard track driving if you can wear a set of tyres out in a winter