Feeding cattle at grass

red_diesel

Currently feeding concentrates to cattle in the field. I have two of those double galvanised troughs that I move from field to field. I have them fenced off and bring the feed with me each morning. I lay out the nuts, let the stampeded in then when they are finished eating I hunt them out and fence off. It's not too bad now but becomes a real pain when ground conditions deteriorate. Also moving the troughs and fence is a pain. Interested to know how others manage.

funkey_monkey

Double troughs on sand wheels. Move them about as needed - which is every 2 feeds at the minute. I'd like to have a laneway or area of hard standing to replicate what you have done, but doesn't work with the field layout at the minute.

It gets more problematic as the troughs move further from the gate. Sporting and eager animals can nudge into you or sport in front of you and throw out a kick.

mr.stonewall

A length of 12 inch corri pipe split up the middle. Left at strip wire. move as needed. Cattle one side me the other side

Ease to move by drilling a hole at each end and loop a bit of twine through to pull along

Aly Daly

Excellent idea,the heavy duty troughs are hard on the back as you move them to save ground as i do & your way ensures safety.

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122535316#Comment_122535316

I just get the big blue barrels and cut them in half

visatorro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122536528#Comment_122536528

Seen somewhere recently someone just bolting them together. Cannings farm I think

Dickie10

i have a little sacrifical paddock only about an acre in size basically a self ontained little field i fenced it and hung a gate so i use it if i need a place to hunt in cattle or sheep/lambs out of the way of other animals , its smack bang in the middle of the farm so its very handy i put the troughs in there and they can bog it if the want then they go back out to the field. access from two fields so gives options. last september it was like the battle of paschendalle. literally dangerous feeding them with getting stuck in muck etc

older by the day

Corri pipes and plastic barrels and lick buckets, all a big NO NO, when it comes to TB. water troughs on the ground. Everything should be rose up off the ground,

No point in inviting badgers to feed and wash with your cattle

farm to fork

20190907_132737.jpg

I bolt 2 halves of blue drums together and then tie them to each other (drill a hole in each end and tie with a piece of rope) and pull them to a new location in the field each time . Its like a little train behind the jeep.

kk.man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122584934#Comment_122584934

Great idea.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122584934#Comment_122584934

A fine field of stock there too, fair play.

Aly Daly

Great idea,fine cattle & lovely grazing for them,good farmer.

I says

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122584934#Comment_122584934

Reminds me of a neighbour who was buying weanling bulls out of a field. We he went to get out of the sellers jeep to walk among them he was advised against it. As they’d only ever been looked at by driving among them in the jeep.

Dickie10

any advice on these heifers? I’m thinking going in 10 days with some .

Farmer Dan

They'll be people here with more experience but personally myself I think they'd take another bit of feeding. I assume its to the factory your thinking about?

What's there ages like? I

Anto_Meath

My general rule is if you can see their rib bone they haven't got enough cover. Another place is the top of the tail should be a similar width to your hand. Finally at the front you should see a full fleshly look between the two front legs. Once all these 3 areas are well covered then the animal is fit for the factory.

patsy_mccabe

Quick question about feeding at grass - do you clean the troughs every time before adding the meal? By that I mean, remove all birdsh1t and earth, dung etc. If so, how do you clean them?

I says

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122603322#Comment_122603322

with me hands, unless there’s another way. 😀

PoorFarmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122603322#Comment_122603322

I turn the troughs upside-down once they are finished eating to keep the birds out of them. I wouldn't be feeding a lot of cattle though so it may not be practical to do if there are a heap of heavy cattle charging at you looking for their ration. They stay fairly clean that way in fairness, just the odd piece of earth that is easily removed.

Farmer Dan

The head off an old kitchen sweeping brush or similar

Aly Daly

Wipe off any bird or cow **** with a handful of grass.

patsy_mccabe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122604689#Comment_122604689

Ya, that's what I do. No easier way I suppose.

MfMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122604689#Comment_122604689

It's a good reason to leave troughs near a water source, so you can dip in an empty bucket and give a quick washdown on occasion.

Aly Daly

Bird **** can contain e coli that is the danger.

MIKEKC

Feeding cattle near a watercourse.Hope you dont have a cross compliance inspection

mf240

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122610107#Comment_122610107

He said water source not water course

mf240

Have this set up for feeding cattle on grass , can feed from inside so dont get flattened

Dickie10

i have a gate on the little paddock so i shut the cattle out and put the meal into troughs before they get in, an odd time they are in waiting but uusally its a race in quad down in front of them to go in and shut the gate before they make it, great sport altogether!

Aravo

Have an area fenced off with feeding troughs in it at field gate entrance with another gate on the fenced off area into the field. Gates closed, troughs filled, gate into field open, cattle in and fed. Closed after feeding. It's close to house so usually close gate later in day when cattle are grazing. Simple, but it works ok.