Livestock/General Farming photo thread READ MOD NOTE IN POST #1

kowtow · 03-05-2013 11:42AM

bob charles wrote: »

As you said you have hilly land. it looks like "a spare pair of jocks needed in the tractor cab" type of ground:D

We think it's quite flat.

But then we did come here from the Alps.

Tipp Man · 03-05-2013 11:55AM

delaval wrote: »

Fit to wean. Eating almost 2 kg Goldgrain nut 800gms milk replacer got them out to train to fence and will wean on Monday.
Will keep on this paddock for 1 week to be sure all ok then they will move to heifer area to join other weaned calves.
We moved earlycalved born Feb (weaned) calves there yesterday. I weighed in tractor trailer on way averaged 85kg. Cross breds mainly what do you think. They have 360 days till ai if they do .7/day they'll be fit. What do ye think?

They should be fine you'd have to imagine unless they get any kind of set back. As long as we get any kind of half decent year at all this summer

Ours got a really bad scour last year on the grass, no idea what caused it (lab tests couldn't find anything) which set them back a lot. That coupled with the dreadfull summer just gone and being out late this spring meant that we had to feed them a couple of kilos of nuts for a month outside - finished this week.

Bull off with a week so its in his hands now

yellow50HX · 03-05-2013 11:57AM

kowtow wrote: »

Not often one sees dairy calves suckling but here's one of ours - this one is a February born bull, suckled his mother for a month and then orphaned, since then has been rougue-ing the others (who, being dairy cows with little ongoing mothering instinct, don't seem to mind a bit)..

we also have a few FR cows that we use as sucklers as we would often get extra calves and double suckle. have found that cows are more likely to take to calves with the same colouring as themsleves. that siad we have had a few "twins" that are inseprable in the field, often see one brown lmx and his adpoted fr brother following thier mammy around and roaring for each other when they're seprated.

kowtow · 03-05-2013 12:00PM

yellow50HX wrote: »

we also have a few FR cows that we use as sucklers as we would often get extra calves and double suckle. have found that cows are more likely to take to calves with the same colouring as themsleves. that siad we have had a few "twins" that are inseprable in the field, often see one brown lmx and his adpoted fr brother following thier mammy around and roaring for each other when they're seprated.

Any issues with re-breeding while they are suckling? or are they off them by then?

just do it · 03-05-2013 12:15PM

Timmaay wrote: »

I wasn't much before ya, early oct,even with the relatively mild winter the field was very bare right through the last 6months, of course no growth with that spring we had, but its really rocketed up the last 2wks.

It has still worked out then. Given the weather you've probably missed out on 1 grazing?

Manoffeeling · 03-05-2013 12:55PM

stanflt wrote: »

got a lot of stick for reseeding 14th october 2012

Why did you quote me?

stanflt · 03-05-2013 01:07PM

Manoffeeling wrote: »

Why did you quote me?

Do you not remember asking me how the field was after we had about 5inches of rain- knowing that it wasn't sown

Username John · 03-05-2013 01:10PM

stanflt wrote: »

Do you not remember asking me how the field was after we had about 5inches of rain- knowing that it wasn't sown

Cos it seems stanflt didnt forget!

:eek:

yellow50HX · 03-05-2013 01:20PM

kowtow wrote: »

Any issues with re-breeding while they are suckling? or are they off them by then?

re-breeding?????

if you mean heifer calves getting bulled then yes we do have to watch them. we note if any heifers come in season which they can from about 5-6 months. we seprate the bulls from the heifers at weaning and inject the older heifers in case they are in calf. havent seen a young bull calf bull a cow even though they'll try. usually the big bull will come over make sure he does the job.

Manoffeeling · 03-05-2013 01:21PM

stanflt wrote: »

Do you not remember asking me how the field was after we had about 5inches of rain- knowing that it wasn't sown

No. There is life beyond the keyboard!!

The fields look fantastic after a bad winter and worse spring. Is there any of the old grass up?

Keep up the good work, but get yourself a bad memory. Enjoy the sun

kowtow · 03-05-2013 01:26PM

yellow50HX wrote: »

re-breeding?????

if you mean heifer calves getting bulled

Actually - I was thinking of any difficulties in the Dams re-breeding when they are still suckling calves. Obviously not a problem when Cows are being milked in the parlour, but a few people have mentioned that they might not settle with calves on them. Can't see why myself.. in any case we won't be rushing to bull this lot as they have a good deal of condition to make up after such a rocky start.

Good point about the heiffer / bull calves though.. these calves were all accidents, fathered by the tiniest screw of a bull I have ever seen when he was less than a year old. Maybe it was the hilly ground, or perhaps he has a stepladder..

The February calf in the picture would be nearly as tall now as his Father at the shoulder

yellow50HX · 03-05-2013 02:16PM

kowtow wrote: »

Actually - I was thinking of any difficulties in the Dams re-breeding when they are still suckling calves. Obviously not a problem when Cows are being milked in the parlour, but a few people have mentioned that they might not settle with calves on them. Can't see why myself.. in any case we won't be rushing to bull this lot as they have a good deal of condition to make up after such a rocky start.

Good point about the heiffer / bull calves though.. these calves were all accidents, fathered by the tiniest screw of a bull I have ever seen when he was less than a year old. Maybe it was the hilly ground, or perhaps he has a stepladder..

The February calf in the picture would be nearly as tall now as his Father at the shoulder

our cows are sucklers so yeah we need them back in calf. never had any problem with the FR's find them the same as the LM and AA cows. we keep them in the hope of getting heifer calfs for replacments. Are yours milking cows? would find it strange to have milkers suckling calves? That said my unlce and cousin bought a few fr cows a few years ago and buy calves for them, cows seem to take to calves no bother.

kowtow · 03-05-2013 02:21PM

yellow50HX wrote: »

our cows are sucklers so yeah we need them back in calf. never had any problem with the FR's find them the same as the LM and AA cows. we keep them in the hope of getting heifer calfs for replacments. Are yours milking cows? would find it strange to have milkers suckling calves? That said my unlce and cousin bought a few fr cows a few years ago and buy calves for them, cows seem to take to calves no bother.

The idea is to milk in 2015, possibly a little earlier, for the moment they are rearing their own replacements while we decide what stays and what goes...

They won't be rearing whilst milking - although I think some of the Dutch have experimented with this...

yellow50HX · 03-05-2013 02:34PM

kowtow wrote: »

The idea is to milk in 2015, possibly a little earlier, for the moment they are rearing their own replacements while we decide what stays and what goes...

They won't be rearing whilst milking - although I think some of the Dutch have experimented with this...

I get ya now. makes since. Might be worth your while to get a few other calves to put with them. A milking cow will raise 2 or 3 calves. if they take to the calves then you have extra scope. also the calfs drink enough to make sure her milk stays high. what we have noticed is the higher yeilding sucklers have too much milk and the calf ends up getting sick, hence we get a second calf.

kowtow · 03-05-2013 02:38PM

yellow50HX wrote: »

I get ya now. makes since. Might be worth your while to get a few other calves to put with them. A milking cow will raise 2 or 3 calves. if they take to the calves then you have extra scope. also the calfs drink enough to make sure her milk stays high. what we have noticed is the higher yeilding sucklers have too much milk and the calf ends up getting sick, hence we get a second calf.

Yup - had been thinking of that. Lots of people warned me about too much milk from dairy cows but I can't say it's been a problem so far, possibly because of the shortage of grass and the condition these were in when they came in.

I wonder if we got a couple of sucks from a neighbour whether we'd be able to get them on to the Dams without too much trouble... we have only one left to calve of our own.

yellow50HX · 03-05-2013 03:08PM

kowtow wrote: »

Yup - had been thinking of that. Lots of people warned me about too much milk from dairy cows but I can't say it's been a problem so far, possibly because of the shortage of grass and the condition these were in when they came in.

I wonder if we got a couple of sucks from a neighbour whether we'd be able to get them on to the Dams without too much trouble... we have only one left to calve of our own.

get a few AAX calves hardy as fcuk and you can sell them easier in the authunm, now that the grass is coming so will the milk and the calves will start to blow out of themsleves. its also good for the cow to get emptied. you'll need to get the calf to stay with one cow. we lock them into a lockable barrier and get them to drink with the cows calf until they they used to each other. the calves bond and the cows bonds too. otherwise the calf will wander between the cows and some will get drank more then others. Might be a bit too late this year but if you want to get the cows used to coming into the yard it might be an idea bring the cows in so that you can have calves milk them. takes a bit of time and patience but once they are used to each other you can let them off

royaler83 · 03-05-2013 04:23PM

Username John wrote: »

Cos it seems stanflt didnt forget!

:eek:

He should know by now that stanflt is never wrong :rolleyes:

just do it · 03-05-2013 06:01PM

stanflt wrote: »

Do you not remember asking me how the field was after we had about 5inches of rain- knowing that it wasn't sown

Scary, I thought only women had a memory like that

mikeoh · 03-05-2013 06:01PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSYV9rWh0GA one go of this and any beast will be haltered trained

johnpawl · 04-05-2013 03:51PM

http://imageshack.us/a/img819/6933/photomay04152338.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img507/6784/photomay04152455.jpg

moy83 · 04-05-2013 03:53PM

johnpawl wrote: »

http://imageshack.us/a/img819/6933/photomay04152338.jpg

Parthenaise ?

johnpawl · 04-05-2013 04:09PM

moy83 wrote: »

Parthenaise ?

Ya, sorry forgot to put in text.

moy83 · 04-05-2013 04:15PM

johnpawl wrote: »

Ya, sorry forgot to put in text.

No bother , I have a good few parts out of black limo and aa cows now and Im very happy with them . They are hardy little divils too compared to blues out of the same cows . Little bit lively though :-)

johnpawl · 04-05-2013 04:20PM

moy83 wrote: »

No bother , I have a good few parts out of black limo and aa cows now and Im very happy with them . They are hardy little divils too compared to blues out of the same cows . Little bit lively though :-)

Yeah find them very hardy too, l know what you mean about being lively, I find they're grand after a while though. I have them out of aax and pix cows, off chx later in the year see how they turn out. How do they compare to blue on quality off the same cows?

moy83 · 04-05-2013 04:29PM

johnpawl wrote: »

Yeah find them very hardy too, l know what you mean about being lively, I find they're grand after a while though. I have them out of aax and pix cows, off chx later in the year see how they turn out. How do they compare to blue on quality off the same cows?

Well they are still black , which is easier to sell in the mart compared to a blue .
I think they have a nice bit of muscle , but not as much as a blue but they are more consistant .
I have blue and part weanlins in the shed of the same age now and id say the parts look better and will leave a little bit more after them

johnpawl · 04-05-2013 04:38PM

moy83 wrote: »

Well they are still black , which is easier to sell in the mart compared to a blue .
I think they have a nice bit of muscle , but not as much as a blue but they are more consistant .
I have blue and part weanlins in the shed of the same age now and id say the parts look better and will leave a little bit more after them

How did the blues cross with your aa cows?

moy83 · 04-05-2013 04:45PM

johnpawl wrote: »

How did the blues cross with your aa cows?

Grand but id say you would want to be finishing them yourself . They look good as young calves but they seem to slacken off at a year old ( that could be my fault )
Im not inclined to put nuts into cattle and IMV the blues need them after weaning
, while the parts do ok without

ordinary farmer · 04-05-2013 06:07PM

johnpawl wrote: »

Yeah find them very hardy too, l know what you mean about being lively, I find they're grand after a while though. I have them out of aax and pix cows, off chx later in the year see how they turn out. How do they compare to blue on quality off the same cows?

are you using your own bull or AI id love to give my cows boldie but cant get my hands on some straws.

johnpawl · 04-05-2013 06:11PM

ordinary farmer wrote: »

are you using your own bull or AI id love to give my cows boldie but cant get my hands on some straws.

AI, that's actually the sire of those two calves now that you mention it.

Manoffeeling · 04-05-2013 08:07PM

just do it wrote: »

Scary, I thought only women had a memory like that

Word of warning -You should not assume all posters here are women. A fella got a chin wag for less

Livestock/General Farming photo thread ***READ MOD NOTE IN POST #1***

Comments

Livestock/General Farming photo thread READ MOD NOTE IN POST #1