Drystock -How often do you herd

Lad beside me would have ground rented everywhere. He wouldn't be proud of it but he'd admit he doesn't see all stock everyday. Some Sheep farmers wouldn't see sheep for long periods of time aswell.

Twice a day. Stock far too dear now to chance it. Good for exercise too after sitting in a office all day, Morning and evening.

Cattle around the house get seen twice a day. Doesn't take too long. Cattle on land a mile or so away, get seen by a neighbour every morning. I get a text from him. I see his then when I count mine there, in the evening.

Check twice per day if you can.

Otherwise if it goes a few days then you take the chance.

Ive done it both ways. All depends on commitments at times, easy for some to live in the field with them, not so easy for others.

Fragmented farm here so once a week (can go more if busy) unless something wrong. I have put store lambs to out farms in October for winter and looked at them once at Xmas and again when gathering for factory.

My big fear is a water leak I see that as bad a getting one dead.

If I was to add up diesel cost of driving round country vet bill and then gamble it still won't work out I can afford occasional loss. Plus I have to live too.

Ps. My figures are out of date with he value of stock this year.

I'm happier to be a bad farmer than one of these parents who don't show up to kids activities and when they do explain to everyone how busy they are and how much they could be at if they weren't here.

Work 12hr shifts so wouldn't see them every day. Usually every 3rd day. Might lose the odd ewe that could have been saved but touch wood I can't remember the last time I had a sick bullock. It depends what type of stock I suppose, young stock might be more prone to issues but cattle on their 2nd summer don't give much trouble.

I've dry cows on an out farm. I check them 2-3 a week max

I’m only a small farmer but have over €100k worth of cattle grazing so I think it’s an asset worth checking daily.

Jayus did you read any of the posts.

I have 5 or 6 small outside places, I scatter around a few bullocks, all have plenty to eat and drink. Do you think if I spend all day every day driving and looking at them, they would thrive better.

If you spend your life farming you will know, it's 80% management and 20% luck. And accept that everything won't go your way.

Don't be so fast to judge.

Good point above, about neighbours in outside places, in two places there are retired foreigners and they are great. They are on almost daily, to let me know what the cattle are doing. The wife gives them a Xmas cake to thank them every year. One has a blog set up about her dogs and the cattle.

Only problem is, when it's time to sell, I have to say, they are going home for special treatment

To the lads that are herding twice a day are ye looking at all your cattle before you head to work or are ye at home full time? Calves are looked at twice a day only because they are getting meal in the morning and are beside the house. Yearlings and two year olds are on two sperate out blocks and they get seen every second day alternatively, if I was to heard the all twice a day it would take up 4 hours every day it would leave no time for anything else.