Farming Chit Chat

Black Smoke · 29-09-2012 01:14PM

whelan1 wrote: »

justin mc carthy is taking over from matt dempsey as editor at the farmers journal:eek:

He might put a nice picture on page 3, to brighten things up in this bad weather.

Muckit · 29-09-2012 05:31PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-19755077

The_Conductor · 29-09-2012 05:37PM

It does sound more than a bit incredible. Totally aside from the timescale involved- we simply don't have predators around capable of something like this (correct me if I'm wrong!). 'Very worrying'? I'd be more than worried if there was something around capable of this- I'd be downright terrified. Lets see how the story plays out........

Bodacious · 29-09-2012 07:09PM

smccarrick wrote: »

It does sound more than a bit incredible. Totally aside from the timescale involved- we simply don't have predators around capable of something like this (correct me if I'm wrong!). 'Very worrying'? I'd be more than worried if there was something around capable of this- I'd be downright terrified. Lets see how the story plays out........

A red stag maybe.. They starting to rutt here at the moment ... They can be vicious ... It had to be something bigger than a dog to break rib cage

1chippy · 29-09-2012 07:19PM

yeh i'm inclined to lean towards the vink. have had a technal and it has started to slip. they are just not that great. has anyone the vink beef or is it worth spending that extra few quid? The first cow is due on the day of my wedding so i want something thats going to be that bit faster.

just do it · 29-09-2012 07:24PM

Muckit wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-19755077

That is shocking. Some animals get imported illegally, I hope they find out what it was and cull it.

Edit - and prosecute the culprit (if that's the cause).

Birdnuts · 29-09-2012 07:38PM

just do it wrote: »

That is shocking. Some animals get imported illegally, I hope they find out what it was and cull it.

Edit - and prosecute the culprit (if that's the cause).

I'd say its more likely the calves were killed and butchered by the hand of a criminal gang supplying the black market for meat. There was a similiar case in Tipp last year involving a bullock if I remember rightly and farmers in these parts have told me of other cases involving sheep as well as calves.

whelan1 · 29-09-2012 07:44PM

what age where the calves? didnt read the links (sorry)

johnpawl · 29-09-2012 08:41PM

speaking of cattle, I was looking back through pics thread and seen that a lof of your pics have been wiped for some reason....?

[/QUOTE]

That happened unintentionally. I was using imageshack and I thought the pics were permanently on the threads, but when I changed the pictures in my account they disappeared off here

just do it · 29-09-2012 09:01PM

johnpawl wrote: »

speaking of cattle, I was looking back through pics thread and seen that a lof of your pics have been wiped for some reason....?

That happened unintentionally. I was using imageshack and I thought the pics were permanently on the threads, but when I changed the pictures in my account they disappeared off here

Ah sucra I'm disappointed to here that. I was hoping to be able to look back over pictures for a few years :rolleyes:

wesleysniper38 · 29-09-2012 09:08PM

pakalasa wrote: »

Agree with above. I borrowed a Vink from a neighbour a while back. Easy to use. I then bought a Technal one, from Magenta Direct.
The Technal is fine, but more akward to use.

Is it not inclined to 'ride up' ? when the cow goes down and sit too close to the passage to get a big calf out?
In my experience jacking with the cow/heifer gone down can be fatal if not done absolutely right. Do you agree?

wesleysniper38 · 29-09-2012 09:14PM

Muckit wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-19755077

It looks a bit suspect to me. The animals were gone to the knackery before anyone saw them according to the donegaldaily.com news:rolleyes:

Finno59 · 29-09-2012 10:12PM

whelan1 wrote: »

what age where the calves? didnt read the links (sorry)

Think i read somewhere a year old. its a wonder rte havent reported on it yet

pakalasa · 30-09-2012 10:43AM

wesleysniper38 wrote: »

Is it not inclined to 'ride up' ? when the cow goes down and sit too close to the passage to get a big calf out?
In my experience jacking with the cow/heifer gone down can be fatal if not done absolutely right. Do you agree?

Which one are you talking about now, the Vink or the Technal?
The Technal I got has a Moorepark head. I think the Vink may have too.
I hate using the jack, to be honest. I always think I'm putting way too much pressure on the cow. I have been using too ropes on their own for years, but you can seriously damage your back that way.
What technique do people use on the jack? I prefer to wait till the cow is pushing before I pull. Using plenty of lubricant on the calves head.

redzerologhlen · 30-09-2012 10:53AM

wesleysniper38 wrote: »

Is it not inclined to 'ride up' ? when the cow goes down and sit too close to the passage to get a big calf out?
In my experience jacking with the cow/heifer gone down can be fatal if not done absolutely right. Do you agree?

At lot of the time with a big pull it is hard to avoid them going down from my experience, With a very big pull we have often put a cow on her back, the seem to open up a small bit more when you do. If you get caught on the hips and the cow is down lift the cows back leg and more often than not the calf will fall out the rest of the way by itself.

Muckit · 30-09-2012 02:26PM

C'mon the Tribesmen

I've a horrible feeling though it may not be our day

I hope I'm wrong!!

1chippy · 30-09-2012 04:33PM

put in the first of the dry cows today. 19 in at the start of oct, its definately a first for us. hoping to prolong the grass a bit in front of the rest of them and the weanlings. there seems to be no base of grass at all in any of the fields.

redzerologhlen · 30-09-2012 05:15PM

Muckit wrote: »

C'mon the Tribesmen

I've a horrible feeling though it may not be our day I hope I'm wrong!!

Feck it, you were right

I hope the squad stick together for next year, they are a great team imo. You will hear all sorts of sh1t about how they were wiped off the field today but they didnt perform anything like what they did in the other 2 games with the cats. They didnt seem the have the same desire to tear into the match or even go for the ball, they handed a lot of silly ball to the cats. I'll be shouting for them again next year anyway because I think it will be a few years yet before our lads get to the required level (if at all with current management)

Richk2012 · 30-09-2012 05:27PM

Pakalasa [QUOTE
What technique do people use on the jack? I prefer to wait till the cow is pushing before I pull. Using plenty of lubricant on the calves head.[/QUOTE]

Yea plenty of lubricant on the calves head , especially on the crown and back towards his neck . Have the ropes soaked in water so they are soft and easliy worked and easy tightened on the hocks .

Once i get the ropes on the feet in the crush , i let her back out into the straw bedded shed , (if shes a quiet girl ).
Even though they get worked up at calving i find it amazing , a tight pull by hand on both ropes will bring the cow to a hault from moving and allow the jack to be positioned , and then you have plenty of space to work .

If shes not so quiet we put them in the other crush with the sideopening gate , so when she goes down under pressure the side opens so she is not trapped.
Dont really like this way though as their head is still caught in the front when they collapse and there is a concrete wall to the other side of the cow , so this sort of limits the space and movement of the cow when shes down .

Then jack on slowly allowing the cow to push with you . Another thing i always do is wear working glove with a rubber palm for grip on my right hand . There is nothing more frustrating then your hand slipping on the handle at the vital time .
If your to use the jack properly though , its better to let it act as a lever rather than trying to pull the calf with the ratchet .
Pushing down on the jack to ease the calf out a certain amount and then raising it back up again , then ratchet in the slack of the ropes , and begin to lever down again .

Finally i always have a bucket of cold water near me for the calf .
I splash a small amount into their ear if they are slow to respond , however i was told by one of the vets that if you throw a bucket cold water over the newborn calf it also shocks him with the sudden temp change and can stimulate him to begin breathing properly.

wesleysniper38 · 30-09-2012 06:44PM

redzerologhlen wrote: »

At lot of the time with a big pull it is hard to avoid them going down from my experience, With a very big pull we have often put a cow on her back, the seem to open up a small bit more when you do. If you get caught on the hips and the cow is down lift the cows back leg and more often than not the calf will fall out the rest of the way by itself.

One of the reasons I had to get out of the sucklers, albeit reluctantly, was the regular necessity for the jack and the lack of help available between 1am and 8am... (and thats when I was there myself)
although I used to curse them at the time I miss the cows

all said and done I still believe they were the only thing to leave a few quid if you had a bit of luck.

Just saw the forecast....not good, getting cold with wind and heavy showers..

Black Smoke · 01-10-2012 09:37AM

Why cant F&F on boards, have some really interesting, topics to discuss like the guys over on BFF :cool: http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=74641

Manoffeeling · 01-10-2012 09:42AM

Black Smoke wrote: »

Why cant F&F on boards, have some really interesting, topics to discuss like the guys over on BFF :cool: http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=74641

Tis good to see people talking about their health and other issues. That guy needs Guinness and peanuts.

whelan1 · 01-10-2012 09:42AM

it would be alot worse if he couldnt go at all:D

aghead · 01-10-2012 10:41PM

redzerologhlen wrote: »

At lot of the time with a big pull it is hard to avoid them going down from my experience, With a very big pull we have often put a cow on her back, the seem to open up a small bit more when you do. If you get caught on the hips and the cow is down lift the cows back leg and more often than not the calf will fall out the rest of the way by itself.

Redz i've the solution to your calving woes, a quality docile salers bull :-p

naughto · 02-10-2012 12:49AM

Username John · 02-10-2012 07:47AM

Miserable enough night and morning down here. Ferocious rain last night at 23.00, and mad rain again this morning...
Mad dark as well these mornings... Bloody winter is here...

whelan1 · 02-10-2012 07:49AM

ok here so far, cows still out at night....... hope i dont speak too soon

Manoffeeling · 02-10-2012 07:51AM

Anyone with the pit opened yet?

Black Smoke · 02-10-2012 08:06AM

Absolute flood of rain Saturday night and again Sunday night.
Then last night, very windy and massive showers. River overflowing in parts of land this morning. Lots of tree branches down and broken. Cattle miserable. Land totally fkued up.
Seriously considering selling all stock except cows and a few heifers I have for bull in December. Really concerned, that if we get a dodgy spring, either too wet or too cold and hard like this past spring, there will be a major fodder and feed crisis, and as a consequence a major cattle price collapse.
One thing is certain, we need a kind spring!!

bbam · 02-10-2012 08:29AM

Manoffeeling wrote: »

Anyone with the pit opened yet?

Was talking to a friend who made bales in two goes during the "summer". One half got badly wet as the river flooded into the field.. that half are a total loss when he opened them.. firm but black and sour smelling. half feeding a total loss and he reckons the other half is poor to average..

He's off out thismorning with as much weanlings as are anywhere near selling and going to cull a few cows too... i'd say it will be a problem repeated often throughout the country.

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