Farmers help wanted for a project

Vodkat

Im doing an ag science project for the leaving cert. I dont know anyone with a farm but I still would like to ask some farmers some questions about their farm. I really do have a genuine intrest in farming and i follow the farming and forestry thread quite often. I really would be grateful if you are willing to help.

For example questions would be:
1. What size farm do you have?
2. What type of enterprise is it?
3. What breeds of animals do you have?
4. Why do you prefer this breed/s?

I also want to do a farm diary and just ask some general questions on the day in a life of a farmer.

If you would prefer not to give out some information publicly just send me a PM if you prefer. Thanks in advance!!:D

dasheriff

Dont mind helping atall lad..
I farm 80 acres in west limerick..i run a suckler to weanling interprise with mainly Charlaois, simmental and limousin cows running with a Charlaois bull.I also buy dairy bred heifer calves or yearling heifers bull them and sell them in the spring..

snowman707

Vodkat wrote: »

Im doing an ag science project for the leaving cert. I dont know anyone with a farm but I still would like to ask some farmers some questions about their farm. I really do have a genuine intrest in farming and i follow the farming and forestry thread quite often. I really would be grateful if you are willing to help.

For example questions would be:
1. What size farm do you have? 220 acres
2. What type of enterprise is it? dairying, sheep, cattle, a few PB limousin cows
forestry


3. What breeds of animals do you have? Dairy british friesian, montbeliarde
bulls, limousin and montbeliarde
sheep, vendeen, texel, and charollais,


4. Why do you prefer this breed/s?

the Br fr and montbeliarde cows were chosen for their dual purpose characteristics , (milk & beef) and also for their ability to produce milk from grass at this time of year (autumn) when milk solids ( mainly butter fat and protein ) are higher thus securing a higher price,
for the other side of the equation beef, you need a continental sire the limousin was the natural choice for my cows, easy calving, hardy calves, and can be slaughtered at an early age or kept for further feeding


sheep, high worm resistance, clean tight wool, lambs can be sold to factory, butcher, ewe and store lambs fetch good prices if sold in the marts


I also want to do a farm diary and just ask some general questions on the day in a life of a farmer.

If you would prefer not to give out some information publicly just send me a PM if you prefer. Thanks in advance!!:D

i thought i was finished answering these questionnaires when my youngest sat the leaving:D have had cameras flashing at lambing , calving, silage, slurry ,

only joking good luck with your project and feel free to pm me any time if you wish.

Vodkat

Ive more questions now as im finally putting the project together. Thanks very much for your replies so far. And if you'd rather post the answers via PM that would be fine!! Thanks again.


1. What breeds of dairy cows do you have?
2. Why did you choose this breed?
3. What is the average age of your herd?
4. What is their milk yield at peak time?
5. What month are they at their peak yield?
6. What breed or breeds of bull are you using?
7. Do you use AI? What breed?
8. What month do most of your cows calve?
9. What are your greatest health problems in cows at calving time?
10. When do you wean the cows?
11. What is your plan for the calves- Keep them for replacements or sell?
12. What milk replacer do you use and how do you feed it?
13. What grazing system do you use?
14. What is your stocking rate at peak time?
15. What fertiliser do you use on your grassland?
16. Do you conserve much silage each year? (pit or round bales?)
17. How much silage on average does each cow consume each winter?
18. Do you feed meal eg. Dairy nuts?
19. Do you feed the meal during milking?
20. What plan of milking parlour have you?
21. How many cows can be milked at one time?
22. What disinfectant or teet dip is used?
23. What is the temperature of the bulk tank?
24. Do you have any problems with mastitis?
25. How do you prevent or treat mastitis?
26. Do you have cell count readings for recent weeks?
27. How lon before you dry off your cows before calving?
28. Do you increase their feed before calving- by how much and for how many weeks?
29. What method of heat detection do you use?

reilig

For example questions would be:
1. What size farm do you have? 130 acres
2. What type of enterprise is it? 60 sucklers + 40 ewes
3. What breeds of animals do you have? 17 black limousin cows that I use AI Belgian Blue on. The rest are LIMX and CHX and run with a Chaorlais Stock Bull. The ewes are mostly Texel cross, Chaorlais Cross and Cheviet Cross.
4. Why do you prefer this breed/s? All I have are continental breeds - have better muscle, easier finished and ultimately yielding the best prices and profit for my farming system and lnd quality.

jeff greene

Vodkat wrote: »

Ive more questions now as im finally putting the project together. Thanks very much for your replies so far. And if you'd rather post the answers via PM that would be fine!! Thanks again.


1. What breeds of dairy cows do you have? Holstein
2. Why did you choose this breed? Milking ability
3. What is the average age of your herd? 5yrs
4. What is their milk yield at peak time? 34litre average
5. What month are they at their peak yield? Apr/May
6. What breed or breeds of bull are you using?Hol
7. Do you use AI? What breed?Yes/Hol
8. What month do most of your cows calve?Feb
9. What are your greatest health problems in cows at calving time? odd mild milk fever
10. When do you wean the cows? 8-12 weeks
11. What is your plan for the calves- Keep them for replacements or sell? sell bull calves/rear heifers
12. What milk replacer do you use and how do you feed it?Feeding whole milk
13. What grazing system do you use? Paddock
14. What is your stocking rate at peak time? 3.5LU/HA
15. What fertiliser do you use on your grassland? Urea/CAN
16. Do you conserve much silage each year? (pit or round bales?) Bales
17. How much silage on average does each cow consume each winter? 5-6 ton fresh weight
18. Do you feed meal eg. Dairy nuts? Yes
19. Do you feed the meal during milking? Yes
20. What plan of milking parlour have you? Herringbone
21. How many cows can be milked at one time? 10
22. What disinfectant or teet dip is used?
23. What is the temperature of the bulk tank? >3 degrees
24. Do you have any problems with mastitis? sometimes
25. How do you prevent or treat mastitis? Terrexine tubes
26. Do you have cell count readings for recent weeks? 211
27. How lon before you dry off your cows before calving? 8-12 weeks
28. Do you increase their feed before calving- by how much and for how many weeks? 2-3 weeks getting 2-4kgs
29. What method of heat detection do you use? Tail paint + observation

I got an A in Ag Science and I had the most complex project in my class, answering your questions in great detail about my own farm. Other lads that got As, made it up and kept it simple, some had only spring barley, others grazed cattle for summer selling before winter. Having said that, you learn alot from doing the project

Best of luck