Beep s

Got the dung samples done with Oldcastle labs, €40 this year, think it was €25 last year, how much are other labs?

When is the deadline for having the samples done this year?

I'm don't seem to be getting any reminder texts from the dept. at all this year.

2nd September Farmlab

Sent ours yesterday by registered post, arrived today. Over 8 euro to post them

Did mine a few weeks ago with Farm Labs. Results back in a few days. Negative in both.

Yes, my vet said it's a waste of time sampling this time of year.

What age are they?

Are their calves the best calves with the highest daily gain etc?

Are they cows you are keeping or prepping for the factory?

Wonder would it be worth stringing them up if they have a few years on them and replacing with smaller more efficient animals.

Our ranged from 580-780kg. Mostly Limos

40 or 50kg is a lot in a calf? Is the difference noticeable looking at the calves? I know those scales are supposed to be calibrated and everything, but I wonder if it's possible they were out one of the years, especially if it was a rented scales.....Were the cow's weights similar to last year?

When you stand on the scales you know whether they’re working right or not😎.

When is the deadline for the dung samples (Faecal Egg Testing) to be sent in?

I got a text from the Dept (DAFM) saying the 01 Oct 2022.

Terms and Coonditions say;

Get proof of postage in case there's any crap over it....

Well, I got my Dung Samples sent away today. Sample bottles came yesterday. Now, they came sealed in the envelope I was supposed to send them back in. I still can't figure out how, I could get the empty sample bottles out of the sealed envelope without ripping it, and then used the same envelope to send them back in. 😥

Found the easiest way with those lads was tempt them out by opening the head gate and closing it before they got out

I weighed them Saturday and had to get in the chute & push a couple of them up on to it. Stock too quiet is my issue. They'll just stand there for a scratch so moving 380kg weanlings not easy. Not a fan of hitting as drives them mad.

They had a great thrive since I started creep feeding them (weighed in August when I started). All LM/X and averaging just over 1.5kg/day Vs 1.3 before.

I think a good way is to leave the headgate open, and run them through the crush a couple of times over the scales. Maybe have a cow or two along with them to get them moving. Once they're used to crossing the scales, and realising there's a way out at the front, they'll stand on it better.

Found that year’s ago, no issues now. What I done was run them up the shoot with front gate open to let them get use to walking up onto the scales, then back up the shoot to be weighed. Another no no is weigh & then dose, they’ll not want to get on scales the next time

They are more inclined to go back alright, but do you not have trouble getting them into the crush with the scales at the back?

That's a good idea. I always think that there should be an animal held at the top of the crush outside the head gate. When the second animal is caught in the head gate, then release the front one. Never seen it anywhere but it would speed things up.

Was working fine yesterday afternoon anyway. Hopefully short term thing