My small farm is in bad shape.

jimini0

Due to a family disaster things have gone tits up at home. I only have 2 cows left which I have seriously neglected in the last month. I left them for nearly 2 weeks with very little or no feed. A neighbour looked in and seen no feed so he went and got a bale. A cow calved on her own but I didn't know about for a few days. A friend spotted her new calf and rang me. I have no fertiliser out so they will have little grass. I will try get some out at the weekend. Anyways I tagged the new calf last thursday. Took the bvd sample and fired it in van. Only spotted it now. Also didn't register the calf. Anyways my main concern is Will the bvd sample be OK if I sent it off in the morning? And register the calf a couple of weeks late?

J.O. Farmer

Bvd sample will be fine but the department won't like it if you tell them your registering the calf a few weeks late. They much prefer to see a D.O.B. inside the last 28 days.

The part time boy

Sure maybe the calf was only born a week before you register him !

punisher5112

If you are having issues or falling behind is there anyone that could give you a dig out.

Squatman

flog the two/three of them, and start again down the line when you are in a better position. Donedeal would be very easy way to discretely do this.

Wildsurfer

In all you have outlined I would think a bvd sample should be the least of your worries. Send off the sample.

Miaireland

Squatman wrote:

flog the two/three of them, and start again down the line when you are in a better position. Donedeal would be very easy way to discretely do this.

This might be the best thing at the moment. You seem to have a lot to deal with at the moment and this may make things easier at the moment.

_Brian

Obviously your neighbors is a decent type and knows your under pressure.

Thank him for the help and maybe ask for a bit more to get you over the hump.

I'm not sure about selling out, when I'm a mess I love to go walk through stock, look at them and relax.

Don't panic about not having fert out yet, plenty don't and if you don't have much stock the grass will come anyway.

Buford T. Justice XIX

jimini0 wrote: »

Due to a family disaster things have gone tits up at home. I only have 2 cows left which I have seriously neglected in the last month. I left them for nearly 2 weeks with very little or no feed. A neighbour looked in and seen no feed so he went and got a bale. A cow calved on her own but I didn't know about for a few days. A friend spotted her new calf and rang me. I have no fertiliser out so they will have little grass. I will try get some out at the weekend. Anyways I tagged the new calf last thursday. Took the bvd sample and fired it in van. Only spotted it now. Also didn't register the calf. Anyways my main concern is Will the bvd sample be OK if I sent it off in the morning? And register the calf a couple of weeks late?

Sending off the BVD sample now and registering the calf within 27 days of you finding out he was born is the best you can manage right now so get that out of the way first.

As Brian said, ask that neighbour for a bit of help and advice I'm sure he won't mind and may appreciate you asking.

Look, don't sweat the little things, you can't change the past so get a bit of fert out and a bag of ration and a bit of silage and start feeding the cows up a bit, a Kg a day even to get them used to you.

We all make mistakes so don't worry about them, just learn from them and you'll be alright. We have a good community here too, if you want to ask for advice in a thread or by PM, I'm sure most will be willing to give some tips.

Feckoffcup

If you cant care for your animals properly, sell them.

tellmeabit

How much ground have you ? Let them out to a patch with water and fenced. Let them pick away and get some fertilizer out in another patch. Put a plan together to get yourself back in the groove.they will be happier out. And if you can give them ration to keep them happy

jimini0

Its been a tough month but life must go on.
The cows are in good shape thank god. They will be going out to grass at the weekend. Gonna sell them when back in calf and replace with weanlings. I was abit worried about the tag cos this is the first time things were done late. Tagging and registering was always done within 2 days so was not sure of the consequences.
Work has suffered too but those people understand.
We have good neighbours they have been great the last month.
Thanks everyone for the advice.

Water John

You have a plan there. Ignore any gobsh***s.

kk.man

Feckoffcup wrote: »

If you cant care for your animals properly, sell them.

Normally I would agree with you but ya never know what's going on behind closed doors.

My advise like the rest on here take your time don't panic ...life getting easier now on farms. Best of luck.

greysides

Feckoffcup wrote: »

If you cant care for your animals properly, sell them.

I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt to that comment and assume it's just blunt rather than very insensitive!

lab man

Keep the head up jimmi a lot of ppl wouldn't even post on a forum for help, things will get better

jimini0

Feckoffcup wrote: »

If you cant care for your animals properly, sell them.

Thanks. I hope your life stays perfect.

ganmo

How are things this week?

jimini0

ganmo wrote: »

How are things this week?

Better this week. Bvd sample got sent away and negative result. Calf is registered. Cows are happy out eating a bit grass. My good neighbour spread a few bags of fertiliser for me yesterday . Things have to start to come back to normal soon. Life must go on.
Thanks everyone

Water John

Good to hear. Lean on real time neighbours or those on Boards any time.
We all need help on occasion, both mental and practical.

_Brian

jimini0 wrote: »

Better this week. Bvd sample got sent away and negative result. Calf is registered. Cows are happy out eating a bit grass. My good neighbour spread a few bags of fertiliser for me yesterday . Things have to start to come back to normal soon. Life must go on.
Thanks everyone

Good man.

My father used to say:
"It's hard to move forward if your always looking backwards"

Siamsa Sessions

jimini0 wrote: »

Better this week. Bvd sample got sent away and negative result. Calf is registered. Cows are happy out eating a bit grass. My good neighbour spread a few bags of fertiliser for me yesterday . Things have to start to come back to normal soon. Life must go on.
Thanks everyone

Good man. I was watching the gardener fella Alan Titchmarsh a few years ago and he was reseeding a lawn. He threw out the hayseed and said something like, 'Grass grows because it wants to grow'. I often think the same, even if the fertiliser goes out late.

Same with animals too: they try their best to grow and thrive (well, most of them anyway ). Tisn't like they're trying to cod us (again, most of them aren't!)

anthony500_1

Two years ago I was in the same boat, uncle terminally sick, and Me left looking after the farm, working full time and doing my best to take care of him, tbh 2015 came and went and I don't remember much of it, my uncle passed away anyways and i got the farm, in 2015 I might have only checked the stock twice a week if even that some weeks as I just had to much going on, but unlike you my "good farming neighbour", the day my uncle was burried he approached me and told me the stock on the farm were practically worthless and to sell out, his brother in this instance told him to shut up and leave me alone, two weeks later he then approached me one morning I was out watching the cows to see if they were bulling, he crossed empty fields of his own to approach me to explain that farming was a tough game and that I'd be better off selling up and getting out, needles to say I didn't entertain him, this is my second year calving down 10 cows on my own, I've had no losses and nothing has gone hungry, my neighbour on the other hand has 30 cows, 2 dead cows, and 3 calf's lost this wear alone, the point I'm making is we all have them dark times in our life, at least you have ppl around you willing to help, and give a dig out to you, keep your head up, don't panic about the small things, I've no money for fertilizer this year, but it will be OK, grass will grow regardless, I've low stocking numbers so I'll survive, as will my stock. And for you its all about getting your head right and everything else will follow. Listing to your helpfull neighbours that are actually helping you and not a lad sitting on a high stool preaching how he would do it. We have a saying in our house "the man that never made a mistake never made anything" so forget about yesterday and look forward to tomorrow.

kerry cow

What is the situation regarding late registered calves . I sent off a few today that I though I had done but for some reason they turned up on the tb test as not on cmms .
Genuine mistake .

Buford T. Justice XIX

kerry cow wrote: »

What is the situation regarding late registered calves . I sent off a few today that I though I had done but for some reason they turned up on the tb test as not on cmms .
Genuine mistake .

They'll send you a letter reminding you of your obligations regarding registering them on time and inform you that late registrations will increase your chances of getting compliance inspections in the next few years.

Sh!t happens, just try to get them registered with the correct date of birth.

_Brian

kerry cow wrote: »

What is the situation regarding late registered calves . I sent off a few today that I though I had done but for some reason they turned up on the tb test as not on cmms .
Genuine mistake .

They don't seem to beat down on situations where a genuine mistake is made.

Green farmer

Reading the heartfelt support given in this thread would remind you of the decency and compassion that's still out there, And goodness in people is alive and well, when you look for it.

Water John

It's handy to have a contact number for your Agricultural Officer (AO) in the county DVO office.
If you explain honestly why something was delayed or in error, they are usually very good.

mcgiggles

I've no addition to this thread other than to say I'm glad you have gotten yourself in the right direction again OP. Life can get tough fairly quick and its nice to know there are still decent folks willing to give a hand or even just some advice. Hope the hard times pass for you. When you hit the bottom, the only way is up!

dusty207

jimini0 wrote: »

Better this week. Bvd sample got sent away and negative result. Calf is registered. Cows are happy out eating a bit grass. My good neighbour spread a few bags of fertiliser for me yesterday . Things have to start to come back to normal soon. Life must go on.
Thanks everyone

I've nothing to contribute as a I'm a city Dub but reading this thread there's a warmth and caring going on here that's long been lost in the city.
Best of luck and hope all works out for you.

Icelandicseige

Best of luck to you OP. Do what ever you have to do for YOU and the people closest to you!!.

Track9

Agree with Bufort T ,& poeple will help , on line & on farm . They need to be asked tho.
Can i suggest two things .
A ; Make a To Do List Every evening for the next day & stick to that with few exceptions.
B : Also we need to use the word NO more often .
Us Irish dont like to refuse & take on too many things.If the request / job favor is not related to your immediate goals ( list items ) say no Politely of course
Best of luck . P

Muckit

You've clearly never met my wife then

J.O. Farmer

Muckit wrote: »

You've clearly never met my wife then

I don't think I've met mine yet nevermind yours but I think there's a saying about a happy wife and a happy life going together.

SKIPPY150

glad to hear things are getting better for you op