5 acres

Smallhold

Quick question - am I mad considering putting animals on 5 acres to manage the grass? Renting it out is not an option - realise I won't make a profit but what else can I do to manage the grass? I'm considering sheep? Or should I stick to donkeys and have absolutely no income from it?!

Future Farmer

Smallhold wrote: »

Quick question - am I mad considering putting animals on 5 acres to manage the grass? Renting it out is not an option - realise I won't make a profit but what else can I do to manage the grass? I'm considering sheep? Or should I stick to donkeys and have absolutely no income from it?!

No. Where are you based? Depending on location up to €300 an acre rent...

You could get a couple of ewes, but is it fenced? Have you the time?

Smallhold

Kilkenny....I really don't want to rent it out...only one entrance and driveway and it's into the house...and the house is right bang in the middle of it all so we kind of don't want people coming and going etc and almost being restricted on what we can / can't do.

I'm planting about 1 acres in trees and fencing the rest (for sheep?? or donkeys? or something??) will put up a field shelter or two also...was thinking of lamb ewes to give me a year of practice before maybe putting them in lamb the following year?

Time wise what am i looking at for 6-10 ewes?! I work full time...

Apart from renting it what else should / could I consider to do myself to manage the place? I was topping it last summer only at the end as we re-seeded the whole place...it was wild! But that's what is driving me towards grazing I'd say it'll be a 5 hour job weekly - very steep hills in places...so was thinking an hour a day with animals would be easier?!

Mooooo

Have u a herd no? Split it in three and could get 5 or 6 older cattle, 18 months plus. Buy in spring sell in autumn. That way if you get restricted you could just send to factory in autumn without having to keep for winter. Single strand of wire water a dose and a bite of meal. Younger stock may take more minding. If you want to put something on it now sheep is probably the only bet as anything bigger may do damage in wet weather

Bass Reeves

Smallhold wrote: »

Kilkenny....I really don't want to rent it out...only one entrance and driveway and it's into the house...and the house is right bang in the middle of it all so we kind of don't want people coming and going etc and almost being restricted on what we can / can't do.

I'm planting about 1 acres in trees and fencing the rest (for sheep?? or donkeys? or something??) will put up a field shelter or two also...was thinking of lamb ewes to give me a year of practice before maybe putting them in lamb the following year?

Time wise what am i looking at for 6-10 ewes?! I work full time...

Apart from renting it what else should / could I consider to do myself to manage the place? I was topping it last summer only at the end as we re-seeded the whole place...it was wild! But that's what is driving me towards grazing I'd say it'll be a 5 hour job weekly - very steep hills in places...so was thinking an hour a day with animals would be easier?!

No matter what you do you will need a herd flock number. Sheep are fairly labour intensive compared to cattle. Did somthing similar myself before I bought the farm on an acre and a half. However 5-6 sheep will not keep the grass down on 5 acres if land is anyway good you will need 12-15 ewes. Issue then is you will run out of grass. If split up in little paddocks it will keep 3-4 yearlings bullocks. You may have to spread a bit of fertlizer by hand and a bit of gran lime. Bit of work no matter which you choose.

Maybe a mixture of both 5-6 ewes all year around and 2ish yearlings for the summer. One could be a heifer for the freezer.

Smallhold

Have no herd number yet....was on the phone to the dept about a flock no alright...for sheep basically all you need is fencing and a smaller pen...what would I need for those cattle? My understanding was housing etc was required for cattle? Have a spreader on a quad so have done fertilizer and lime already in the place and could do so again...I was thinking if I should just get the sloped areas managed even...about 2/3 acres and cut the last acre for hay maybe that would be ok! Thanks for all the suggestions - complete novice and just keen to keep this bloody grass under control without renting the land out! How much work actually goes into sheep...what are we talking about time wise on a daily basis for say 10 ewes?

MayoAreMagic

Would you not just get it cut for hay/silage and sell the bales? You could do a deal with the guy cutting and baling it, it is a common enough practice.

Smallhold

Nobody is too keen on cutting 40 degree slopes! I just about manage them in 4wd quad and topper by sitting on the back bumper to stop it flipping!!ha

Injuryprone

2 cull cows would probably do the job. Buy in April, factory in October. Simple crush and simple fence is all you need.
Very low maintenance and docile compared to younger animals once you buy the right ones. Mastitis is about the only issue. Make sure to buy 'guaranteed not in calf'. High grass intakes from the day you buy them which will be nearing peak grass growth season. Ideal for your situation.

Smallhold

I must look into those cows so...I just assumed cows would need a lot more in terms of housing and equipment etc...need to do so more research and the fencing is expensive for sheep!

Mooooo

For a herd number you need shelter and a crush. Just enough to house a sick animal wouldn't need to be very big.

Bass Reeves

Mooooo wrote: »

For a herd number you need shelter and a crush. Just enough to house a sick animal wouldn't need to be very big.

A few lads use co 20' or 40' containers to cover this. Crush is easy enough you will buy a second hand portable crush like this for 3-400 euro. Just watch DD for a few weeks. A few gates will make a gathering pen

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/mobile-cattle-crush/11766514

poor farmer

Single strand of electric fence around the perimeter and a few cattle simplest option and great peace of mind . As others have said for a herd number the department will look to for fencing a simple pen and shelter for a sick animal.
Depending on time available, rearing a few calves might be worth considering but you would need son[me experience of same.
I wouldn't recommend the sheep , dog problems, very expensive fencing, sheep need to be dipped, Lameness,etc etc

Smallhold

poor farmer wrote: »

Single strand of electric fence around the perimeter and a few cattle simplest option and great peace of mind . As others have said for a herd number the department will look to for fencing a simple pen and shelter for a sick animal.
Depending on time available, rearing a few calves might be worth considering but you would need son[me experience of same.
I wouldn't recommend the sheep , dog problems, very expensive fencing, sheep need to be dipped, Lameness,etc etc

Hmm I'm getting worried about these sheep will all these anti sheep messages!! Are they that much work?! Agreed on the fencing etc...do cows not suffer similar / different problems or are they that much easier?

Thanks for all the advice - so if cows what should I be buying when should I be selling etc? Complete novice here but willing to learn! Would it be a year round thing or just the spring - autumn months?? Thanks

Username John

Smallhold wrote: »

Hmm I'm getting worried about these sheep will all these anti sheep messages!! Are they that much work?! Agreed on the fencing etc...do cows not suffer similar / different problems or are they that much easier?

Thanks for all the advice - so if cows what should I be buying when should I be selling etc? Complete novice here but willing to learn! Would it be a year round thing or just the spring - autumn months?? Thanks

People who don't like sheep, tend to really dislike them. That comes though in posts here I think

Either sheep or cattle are an option - I would say go with the one you prefer, or maybe might get the most enjoyment / benefit from (if you like eating lamb, then it might be nice to kill one of your own)

mikefoxo

You could go for some Dexter or Kerry cattle. Very hardy and pretty much look after themselves. Docile too which is very handy!!

Timmaay

If it is that steep that you can barely control a quad on it, 2bh is it worth keeping in grassland, could you plant more trees? (btw I'm use of farming land with nothing more than 5degrees of an incline ha!)

parishsavings

Great thread folks, enjoying reading this one.
Hereford also a good docile breed. I was at the mart today, few HE were not sold and they don't attract as much money as continentals but on the plus side you don't have as big of a layout.

The fact that you live at your small holding is great, saves travel time and diesel (even if it is only 5 or 10 mins!)
Plus you can head out and have a look anytime suits you or you are free.

The mobile crush looks a great job I must say!

benneca1

Can you not just approach a neighbour and explain your predicament. Tell him he can have the place for the summer if he puts an electric fence on it and explain about coming and going, manys the lad would jump at the chance id say.

Smallhold

Yea sure look I suppose I could - it's hard to explain - the house is right bang in the middle of it - if it was a field next to us with ditches etc I wouldn't even think about it I'd just let it out - but we do like the privacy and isolation of where we live and don't really want to give that up as stupid as that sounds...just prefer not to have someone poking in around the house whenever they want to...

As for the steepness of the hills...yes half the site is that steep....I'm planting 1500 trees next week...but that's as close as i want to get to the house without blocking out all the views...we are at a nice elevation! Plus I worked bloody hard re-seeding this place...cleaning up the trash by hand and it's all back in grass now - I'm not undoing all of that!! Never again!!!

Someone with experience of sheep and all the gear etc would probably stick them on it without hesitation...I'm starting from scratch here unfortunately.

I'm considering my original plan now - two donkeys...two alpacas!! Pets only! Cheaper fencing...and probably not as difficult to care for.

Need to look at the cows a bit more maybe...sheep...everyone has me freaked out about what's involved!?!?

Water John

A neighbour of mine with a few steep acres, has a guy who puts in a couple of pregnant mares for the summer. No fuss, lovely to stroll out and have a chat with and a rub in the morning and evening.
No need for a herd number or winter shelter, great company.

Genghis Cant

How much of the land is in grass? If it's most of the five acres 2 assessment or alpacas etc would make very little impact on it. You'd need enough stock to graze it down and keep it grazed down..... But not so much as to skin it and go hungry!

Smallhold

About 3 or 3.5 acres in grass....1 acre in woodland (being planted today :-) ) and about an acre consumed by the house and drive etc...I can top it every now and then but don't want to be out there week in week out in the summer for hours on end...won't have that time to be honest...it's nice having a bit of land but jesus it's a pain in the arse at the same time...suppose a good complaint though...lot to be said for 1 acre flat site!

pedigree 6

Water John wrote: »

A neighbour of mine with a few steep acres, has a guy who puts in a couple of pregnant mares for the summer. No fuss, lovely to stroll out and have a chat with and a rub in the morning and evening.
No need for a herd number or winter shelter, great company.

I think you have to have a herd number now for horses.
Before I got out of them, I had to get the stables registered and I was able to use the cattle herd number for that.

jimini0

Can you split the 3.5 acres into 3 paddocks?
If so get 2 Galloway or angus heifers and put them in calf for spring time.You can then move them into from one area to the next easily. And they can be easily out wintered. A bit of rough grazing and a shake of nuts and a bit of hay they be happy out. Sell the calves then in late autumn the money you get from the calves will help pay the feeding and fertiliser costs.

Smallhold

It naturally lends itself to be fairly evenly split into 3 paddocks...was planning on doing the fencing that way! Thanks I think based on a lot of the comments I'll look into maybe 2-3 cattle so...

jimini0

Smallhold wrote: »

It naturally lends itself to be fairly evenly split into 3 paddocks...was planning on doing the fencing that way! Thanks I think based on a lot of the comments I'll look into maybe 2-3 cattle so...

Cattle are easier manage if they are quiet. If kept dosed and handled they are easy enough. A good hardy breed with a bit of shelter will survive the worst of winters. I have 2 Angus cows out all year. They spend the winter on a hill with plenty of shelter. A bale of hay every few days and a handful of nuts on other days. Serious coat of hair starting to come back on them now getting ready for winter.
They will be moved home in Feb march in time for calving.

Injuryprone

I'd be trying to keep it simple tbh. As a beginner I'd be inclined to stick with fatteners, be they cattle/ cull cows whatever. I wouldn't be getting involved with things like breeding/calving/calf rearing etc until I'd be comfortable with minding the adult cattle first. Reason I suggested cull cows is they'd eat more grass than fat bullocks etc. Ex dairy stock would be very easily handled. I don't think 3.5ac would carry too much over winter either without ploughing your field again!

larthehar

I.d be pro sheep, buy a few young cull ewes in the spring with bad udders or lost lambs. Buy a footbath and run them through it every 6 weeks.. dose them regularly. They would fatten off grass if feet are kept right and don't run the risk of ploughing up the place like heavy stock would.. sell off to the factory in the backend of the year!

Signpost

As far as I know this crowd will give you donkeys for free - http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ie/.

Mod Snip. No need for that here.

poor farmer

Smallhold wrote: »

About 3 or 3.5 acres in grass....1 acre in woodland (being planted today :-) ) and about an acre consumed by the house and drive etc...I can top it every now and then but don't want to be out there week in week out in the summer for hours on end...won't have that time to be honest...it's nice having a bit of land but jesus it's a pain in the arse at the same time...suppose a good complaint though...lot to be said for 1 acre flat site!

First world problem.

Smallhold

Completely agree...but still it's a problem

parishsavings

Smallhold wrote: »

Completely agree...but still it's a problem

If it is a problem I will give you 100 euro for the lot and pay the conveyancing, win win situation my friend

Water John

Hah, there always a carpetbagger around the corner.

Smallhold

parishsavings wrote: »

If it is a problem I will give you 100 euro for the lot and pay the conveyancing, win win situation my friend

Hardly win win - I reckon the sheep with all their problems would be a better solution to my problem. Cheers for all the genuine suggestions has been helpful!

parishsavings

Smallhold wrote: »

Hardly win win - I reckon the sheep with all their problems would be a better solution to my problem. Cheers for all the genuine suggestions has been helpful!

Haha only messing! And stick to cattle!

Peter005

I recommend sheep!! I have about 3/4 acres like yourself and over the summer invested in 5 pedigree Zwartbles sheep! They are brilliant, I absolutely love them and they're so friendly! They're an ideal beginner breed as the lamb very easily, are extremely docile and produce heaps of milk - They also look great!! The guy I bought them off put them in lamb for me so don't have to worry about rams. I left mine out right up to December and then brought them into our 2 empty stables to lamb over christmas, but if you put them in lamb for easter time you could definitely get away with leaving them out all year provided they have shelter! Also with regard fencing I just put 2 strands of electric wire about knee height! works a treat and was simple and cheap to put up, also nice and neat.

80sDiesel

Why do you need to cut it so often? You could let it grow into a hay meadow and cut it twice during summer. You would not even have to collect the hay thus letting the nutrients back into the soil.