Lock, Stock and Chitchat a Seacht

Parishlad wrote: »

Don't find them noisy at all. Yes, they make noise, but unless you are hyper sensitive then it's no problem.
Yeah, great job to keep calves in. Never had one come out through them.
The downside I suppose is that there are only 7 feeding spaces as opposed to 10 in the regular barriers. It's not an issue for me though as I would never have more than 6/7 cows together in a pen anyway.
(Also handy when I want to stick the MooCall on one of them!)

Wish I could talk this old fella into getting them. This is his 'modern' set up, though modern was something in the 80s era The headlock can only be opened by wedging & levering a bar against the shutter at the top, think it used to be an old fashioned mobile crush, waste of fcuking space is what I call it!!
Heifer only had mastitis thankfully when we got her her in, vet was on the way anyway by that stage so let him treat her. Will she come back into milk in the quarter she had it this year or is it gone for good? Was early stages, just crud in it, she had been running milk the last day or two and infection must have got up.

blue5000 wrote: »

No mention of a steak to open the headgate?

Aye, that was a bit missed-steak :pac:

Heifer calved early this morning, temp must have brought it on. Nice heifer, just needed a small pull. Had to strug out the tubes from the cow though, injections will have to do her.

Parishlad wrote: »

Hang on a sec.....wasn't the heifer black yesterday!!! :P

Nope, the one in the crush at the time I took the photos was one I was tagging for the scheme! Had to do six yesterday, mad bastards too. I do a lot of work down on this farm

I can't understand those quad bikes for the life of me. Roll bars and safety frames came in for tractors decades ago and not a stitch of any protection on a quad. Never seen a farmer yet to wear a helmet on one.

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Nope, the one in the crush at the time I took the photos was one I was tagging for the scheme! Had to do six yesterday, mad bastards too. I do a lot of work down on this farm

It's gas though cos not so very long ago here it would have been a big job to catch the cows to tag them. Would have needed a couple of extra bodies and stress levels would have been high! Got it all done in 10 mins on Saturday - by myself!
Only have a small farm here with a small number of cattle. I have spent a small fortune in the last few years on 'facilities' and I'm sure a lot of locals think I am stone mad. But I don't regret it one bit and already have plans underway for another project that should really see me finished from a building perspective.

Parishlad wrote: »

I have spent a small fortune in the last few years on 'facilities' and I'm sure a lot of locals think I am stone mad.

With recent farm/agri related deaths facilities to make things stress free for man and beast are worth far more than the money it cost.

Anyone using the anti backing bar in the crush like the ones on DD? Are they as good as they seem? They seem pretty simple. Might knock one together in the morning.
I was testing on Monday with a very particular vet. He was like the Wolf in the 3 little pigs huffing and puffing over cattle having too much freedom in the crush. He'll be on after dinner tomorrow and measures everthing and writes it down as well. He's the type that would test the dog if he was loose around the yard at the time.

foxy farmer wrote: »

Anyone using the anti backing bar in the crush like the ones on DD? Are they as good as they seem? They seem pretty simple. Might knock one together in the morning.
I was testing on Monday with a very particular vet. He was like the Wolf in the 3 little pigs huffing and puffing over cattle having too much freedom in the crush. He'll be on after dinner tomorrow and measures everthing and writes it down as well. He's the type that would test the dog if he was loose around the yard at the time.

I asked our vet and he reckoned they werent all that successful to get them right down the front . I must hang a forcing gate that will hold two or three at the back gate until I cant poke them down the front .
Our yard at the crush is a bit too roomy for them so they often do a couple of laps before headin down the corner where the crush is

Bullocks wrote: »

I asked our vet and he reckoned they werent all that successful to get them right down the front . I must hang a forcing gate that will hold two or three at the back gate until I cant poke them down the front .
Our yard at the crush is a bit too roomy for them so they often do a couple of laps before headin down the corner where the crush is

That's true a second person keeping stock moving down the crush is handy. Our vet wouldn't be too bad like that. Some wouldn't help at all.

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Ha! My father is after getting birthday wishes from Leo Varadkar.
He's 80 on St.Patrick's Day.
He's a bit chuffed with himself now.:D

Was it that he just bumped in to him somewhere or is it something more formal because his birthday is on Paddy's Day?