Livestock/General Farming photo thread ***READ MOD NOTE IN POST #1***

Conmaicne Mara

Panch18 wrote: »

That photo with your dog sitting on the edge of the rock pool looking out into the countryside is absolutely amazing

that would win prizes

It won me tickets to the ploughing last year Electric Ireland had it on their website along with other winners photos. Think I did something else with it too but I forget now.

Brown Podzol wrote: »

He's been published.:p

Ah yes, today the Galway Advertiser, tomorrow the world :pac:

Miname

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

A change from showing ye the bottom of a drain

Seeing as I have cut down the furze, which in fairness were good for shelter, I now have to replace them. Starting to lift old stone walls. Sheep don't need much height to shelter behind so every bit helps. Would like to put in trees too but there is SFA depth up this part of the farm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111758162@N02/12188558385/

you could be a while pointing them up:D

Conmaicne Mara

Miname wrote: »

you could be a while pointing them up:D

They will be fired up any which way that will defy gravity and the wind

I intend to put a two foot sheep wire fence in that wall so I'll have to wait for my AEOS1 cheque to stumble into my account. Stakes last for ages in a wall which is the good thing about them. No point building the wall now because I'll have to knock gaps for stakes plus level it to the wire.

My uncle owned the fenced land I now farm, before I was in it my Dad used to have sheep in it, but later it was cattle only and they flattened most of the walls.

Ironically the higher part of the farm which is more exposed to the wind has the least walls. While the lower more sheltered part has more walls in better condition plus shelter from the neighbours wood.

Contrary to my plan for improving the farm, with the walls I intend to start at the top of the farm and work my way down. I have been doing it the other way around with spraying, draining, etc.

First photo is this mornings short bit of work. Got another meeting to be at tonight so have to do some work about the house to redress it's tip-like appearance
Second photo will be fun, shows where cattle totally flattened a wall, will have to dig it out then lift it, but it'll all provide shelter in the end so be worthwhile IMV.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111758162@N02/12203879654/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111758162@N02/12203465955/

Brown Podzol

Is this all done by hand?. I think I have hardship.!!!!!

Greengrass1

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Is this all done by hand?. I think I have hardship.!!!!!

Fair play to ye con. I don't know how I would make a living off that land

Conmaicne Mara

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Is this all done by hand?. I think I have hardship.!!!!!

Yes. Drains dug with spade, drag, bar, and pick in some places if the water level doesn't come right for me. Stones dug up with bar, though a tine from a buck rake would be better, lighter and levers just as well. Furze cut down with chainsaw alright. Wheelbarrow usually moves what needs moving though I'd love to have a small digger and a quad & trailer. Spray water used to be wheeled up hill in a wheelbarrow, in a tank in the barrow obviously!, but I have a 12v electric pump and IBC tanks now, so gravity is no longer a problem.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Fair play to ye con. I don't know how I would make a living off that land

I often wonder about it myself. I was not allowed to build up my SFP for various reasons out of my control, and not of my doing, so Pillar two is quite important to me. I could make a lot more from the animals but no one in authority is willing to put their neck on the line and let me run my own business.

This is why I get so hot under the collar when I hear IFA, Teagasc, and Coveney bleat on about production and harvest 20/20. I had a cut at them in Athenry Monday night about it but like I told Michael Flynn after the meeting, much good it will do me.

Greengrass1

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Yes. Drains dug with spade, drag, bar, and pick in some places if the water level doesn't come right for me. Stones dug up with bar, though a tine from a buck rake would be better, lighter and levers just as well. Furze cut down with chainsaw alright. Wheelbarrow usually moves what needs moving though I'd love to have a small digger and a quad & trailer. Spray water used to be wheeled up hill in a wheelbarrow, in a tank in the barrow obviously!, but I have a 12v electric pump and IBC tanks now, so gravity is no longer a problem.



I often wonder about it myself. I was not allowed to build up my SFP for various reasons out of my control, and not of my doing, so Pillar two is quite important to me. I could make a lot more from the animals but no one in authority is willing to put their neck on the line and let me run my own business.

This is why I get so hot under the collar when I hear IFA, Teagasc, and Coveney bleat on about production and harvest 20/20. I had a cut at them in Athenry Monday night about it but like I told Michael Flynn after the meeting, much good it will do me.

My mother is up from crossmelina so I have a bit of an idea what the land is like.
Tough going I'm sure but what will happen if lads like yourself don't look after the land?

Conmaicne Mara

Greengrass1 wrote: »

My mother is up from crossmelina so I have a bit of an idea what the land is like.
Tough going I'm sure but what will happen if lads like yourself don't look after the land?

It's already happening, once good farms with no successor now gone to junk with bracken, rushes, and furze. I wouldn't think there's anything being claimed on them TBH in terms of SFP. Most renting them have them for sucklers and don't do a damn thing with them except graze. It's a shame.

Commonage then would be different. You would have invasive species like bracken and furze move in and take over, or indeed rhododendron like in some areas which is a terrible curse. The designations then don't allow the farmer take the effective option of spraying, if they wanted to. Places will be no good to any people once those weeds get established.

delaval

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

A change from showing ye the bottom of a drain

Seeing as I have cut down the furze, which in fairness were good for shelter, I now have to replace them. Starting to lift old stone walls. Sheep don't need much height to shelter behind so every bit helps. Would like to put in trees too but there is SFA depth up this part of the farm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111758162@N02/12188558385/

So Con, any Urea out yet?

delaval

A few new calf pens, couldn't have enough

visatorro

Where'd you source the gates. Looking to do something similar

delaval

visatorro wrote: »

Where'd you source the gates. Looking to do something similar

EC Pratt, Abbeyleix
Supplied and fitted. All post holes drilled with a core saw, sleeves fitted and concreted. I'll pm no.

Reggie.

delaval wrote: »

A few new calf pens, couldn't have enough

Very tasty del

Base price

Reggie. wrote: »

Very tasty del

Totally agree. There is nothing better to see when going into a yard then a proper set up. Well done.

Reggie.

Base price wrote: »

Totally agree. There is nothing better to see when going into a yard then a proper set up. Well done.

true true, a tidy yard is a pleasure to work / arrive into.

Base price

I checked out the Sheep forum for some pics of newborn lambs but it seems that there is no photo thread - maybe I am wrong
However any of ye sheep keepers got any pics of newborns?.
Nothing lifts my spirits more than seeing pictures of newborn lambs particularly if they are out and about.

Neddyusa

Base price wrote: »

I checked out the Sheep forum for some pics of newborn lambs but it seems that there is no photo thread - maybe I am wrong
However any of ye sheep keepers got any pics of newborns?.
Nothing lifts my spirits more than seeing pictures of newborn lambs particularly if they are out and about.

Here's one of the early ones from the Christmas...havent been lookin as well since, with all the rain!

Neddyusa

Weanlings on kale a month ago. Turned out a great crop (over 11t DM per ha) once it recovered from the droughts in July and September.

Base price

Neddyusa wrote: »

Here's one of the early ones from the Christmas...havent been lookin as well since, with all the rain!

Super picture and many thanks

Mac Taylor

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

It's already happening, once good farms with no successor now gone to junk with bracken, rushes, and furze. I wouldn't think there's anything being claimed on them TBH in terms of SFP. Most renting them have them for sucklers and don't do a damn thing with them except graze. It's a shame.

Commonage then would be different. You would have invasive species like bracken and furze move in and take over, or indeed rhododendron like in some areas which is a terrible curse. The designations then don't allow the farmer take the effective option of spraying, if they wanted to. Places will be no good to any people once those weeds get established.

Con, its happening around here too. Older generation slowing down and the land is going to ruin. Around here it's horses that are taking over!!. Anywhere that is being rented is generally not been well looked after.

Reggie.

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Con, its happening around here too. Older generation slowing down and the land is going to ruin. Around here it's horses that are taking over!!. Anywhere that is being rented is generally not been well looked after.

hate the sight of horses on land as it does get wrecked with them

Genghis Cant

Reggie. wrote: »

hate the sight of horses on land as it does get wrecked with them

I took a spin across the Curragh of Kildare today, the land didn't look too bad after them;)
(The Arab near us runs cattle with the horses to keep the ground from gettin horse sick)

Reggie.

Genghis Cant wrote: »

I took a spin across the Curragh of Kildare today, the land didn't look too bad after them;)
(The Arab near us runs cattle with the horses to keep the ground from gettin horse sick)

your not allowed on the plains of the curragh nowadays

Genghis Cant

Reggie. wrote: »

your not allowed on the plains of the curragh nowadays

Wha? And I was gonna stop at Dan Donnellys hollow.

just do it

Reggie. wrote: »

your not allowed on the plains of the curragh nowadays

Ahh your pulling our leg. Ran many miles over them there plains a decade ago! Great place the Curragh.

Reggie.

just do it wrote: »

Ahh your pulling our leg. Ran many miles over them there plains a decade ago! Great place the Curragh.

I meant with horses or vehicles

Timmaay

Reggie. wrote: »

I meant with horses or vehicles

I've got chased off it by the army myself on a motocross bike :P, I was young and stupid at the time I'll admit :P

Reggie.

Timmaay wrote: »

I've got chased off it by the army myself on a motocross bike :P, I was young and stupid at the time I'll admit :P

Ah my partners in crime

naughto

Reggie. wrote: »

your not allowed on the plains of the curragh nowadays

ive lost the back of my shirt a few times in the curragh on betting on the ponies.went to the curragh rac track for me stag weekend some craic all together,even though iam not in to flat racing

delaval

Con, fair dues to you place looking well when one considers what could happen quickly of neglected. I guarantee I'd take the easy option and plant, hats off to you.

If I wasn't a dairy farmer I'd love sheep. My father started as a sheep farmer till he got married and my mother pushed for cows. Sheep lasted a few years and I remember them lambing and sponging.

He had a great love of sheep and of all my siblings I think I've inherited that Gra. I would stop to admire a flock of ewes and lambs before all other livestock. At a show or the ploughing I'd always visit the sheep. Oh and the nicest meat on the planet!!!