Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

kowtow · 11-11-2015 02:47PM

RightTurnClyde wrote: »

On the kerb, we put up a 8 x 2 inch timber, supported with stubs of rebar drilled into the passage side. Filled in the trunking for the cubicle, kept the trunking back 4inches from the timber. Pour the concrete, tap the timber faces to prevent honeycombing. Job done

Was thinking of a timber like that, only thing is whether it serves any purpose to have a slight "lip" at the kerb to retain a mat, or any bedding for that matter. Certainly can't be worth building up forms for!

On the scraper - Dairymaster or Dairypower (or are they identical for scrapers?)... is very likely to be one of the two.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 11-11-2015 02:50PM

kowtow wrote: »

Was thinking of a timber like that, only thing is whether it serves any purpose to have a slight "lip" at the kerb to retain a mat, or any bedding for that matter. Certainly can't be worth building up forms for!

On the scraper - Dairymaster or Dairypower (or are they identical for scrapers?)... is very likely to be one of the two.

Dairymaster, I'd say. Looks like the two I have in.

whelan2 · 11-11-2015 02:51PM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Dairymaster, I'd say. Looks like the two I have in.

i have dairy power and its not them anyway

RightTurnClyde · 11-11-2015 02:54PM

kowtow wrote: »

Was thinking of a timber like that, only thing is whether it serves any purpose to have a slight "lip" at the kerb to retain a mat, or any bedding for that matter. Certainly can't be worth building up forms for!

On the scraper - Dairymaster or Dairypower (or are they identical for scrapers?)... is very likely to be one of the two.

I'm fairly sure it's dairymaster. dairy power doesn't have the rubber track cleaner setup like that
Wouldn't bother with the lip, only another place for urine, milk and bugs to fester.
PS keep a good slope on the cubicle bed

stanflt · 11-11-2015 06:24PM

My young bull left me for greener pastures today- had grown quite fond of him around the yard all summer-

On a different note the bloody tax man had to get paid todayðŸ˜¡

frazzledhome · 11-11-2015 06:32PM

stanflt wrote: »

My young bull left me for greener pastures today- had grown quite fond of him around the yard all summer-

On a different note the bloody tax man had to get paid todayðŸ˜¡

..............and that young bull will cause tax problems too;):)

mahoney_j · 11-11-2015 07:27PM

stanflt wrote: »

My young bull left me for greener pastures today- had grown quite fond of him around the yard all summer-

On a different note the bloody tax man had to get paid todayðŸ˜¡

I take it well be seeing him in a catalogue after Xmas ,if so looking forward to introducing him to some of my heifers/cows next may

freedominacup · 11-11-2015 07:36PM

First collection after cows were housed full time up by half a litre/cow/day. Always be a bit concerned about how silage will feed until it's tested by the cows. Herd split now. Winter calvers and a few carryover heifers going to be pushed a bit. Bring them up to 8kg and see how they react. I never thought I'd say this but a fty system is on the wishlist. Be s huge benefit on the shoulders of the season and should pay for itself faster as numbers rise.

Timmaay · 11-11-2015 07:38PM

Been keeping an eye on the milkers diet, they usually end with some combination of maize, precision chop 1st cut pit silage, and two different lots of fairly leafy bales, one pure leafy early cut, and other later cut with some steam. Order of preference for the cows is the maize and pure leafy bales, they go mad for either, the slightly steamy bales next, and in a very very distance 4th, the PC pit silage. I have to practical starve them to get them to finish it ha. I wounder is it the fact that it's pit silage, PC, or was it cut just too late for here (25th of may). I'll be rationing out the high did bales from now on so the spring milkers will have to get use of the pit silage, but moving forward I know I have to change what I do. Wagon cut early may is probably the best solution!

stanflt · 11-11-2015 07:44PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

I take it well be seeing him in a catalogue after Xmas ,if so looking forward to introducing him to some of my heifers/cows next may

With the help of God hopefully

Has been lots of promise of young footballers around these parts who failed to make the grade- to be successful you need to deliver and if a bull doesn't deliver he's no good

Deepsouthwest · 11-11-2015 08:07PM

stanflt wrote: »

With the help of God hopefully

Has been lots of promise of young footballers around these parts who failed to make the grade- to be successful you need to deliver and if a bull doesn't deliver he's no good

If they keep him off the beer, fags and women he might have a chance so!!

stretch film · 11-11-2015 08:43PM

kowtow wrote: »

While we're on scrapers can anyone identify the make of this saddle? It might well be dairypower as it runs on their track but apart from a number written in weld I can't see any identifying features.

Was wondering if I could get a slightly longer pair of "wings" to take it from 9ft to 10ft or thereabouts.

also - did anyone use precast kerbing / heelstones when putting in cubicles? Is it easy to get, expensive?

Rather than buying longer wings remove the flat from top of existing wing, cut the existing ones in three equal lengths. Weld it back in a cranked style. Something like an elongated Z shape iykwim. If you buy a longer set of wings you will increase the area unscraped behind the blade . The other way will increase your catchment.

darragh_haven · 11-11-2015 08:46PM

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

If they keep him of the beer, fags and women he might have a chance so!!

Many a footballer floundered on those rock around these parts......

Greengrass1 · 11-11-2015 08:46PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Been keeping an eye on the milkers diet, they usually end with some combination of maize, precision chop 1st cut pit silage, and two different lots of fairly leafy bales, one pure leafy early cut, and other later cut with some steam. Order of preference for the cows is the maize and pure leafy bales, they go mad for either, the slightly steamy bales next, and in a very very distance 4th, the PC pit silage. I have to practical starve them to get them to finish it ha. I wounder is it the fact that it's pit silage, PC, or was it cut just too late for here (25th of may). I'll be rationing out the high did bales from now on so the spring milkers will have to get use of the pit silage, but moving forward I know I have to change what I do. Wagon cut early may is probably the best solution!

Never had a problem here with cows finishing up silage. Don't know if it to do with them being bales or not

mahoney_j · 11-11-2015 08:50PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Been keeping an eye on the milkers diet, they usually end with some combination of maize, precision chop 1st cut pit silage, and two different lots of fairly leafy bales, one pure leafy early cut, and other later cut with some steam. Order of preference for the cows is the maize and pure leafy bales, they go mad for either, the slightly steamy bales next, and in a very very distance 4th, the PC pit silage. I have to practical starve them to get them to finish it ha. I wounder is it the fact that it's pit silage, PC, or was it cut just too late for here (25th of may). I'll be rationing out the high did bales from now on so the spring milkers will have to get use of the pit silage, but moving forward I know I have to change what I do. Wagon cut early may is probably the best solution!

Finding same here with pc cut silage no matter how high the quality is ,to me it's just chopped to a pulp,cows naturally seem to prefer the longer chop of bales .going all bales here next year

Greengrass1 · 11-11-2015 09:05PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

Finding same here with pc cut silage no matter how high the quality is ,to me it's just chopped to a pulp,cows naturally seem to prefer the longer chop of bales .going all bales here next year

Can chop distance be changed? These bigger machines coming out now again will just make pure powder out of grass

kevthegaff · 11-11-2015 09:07PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Can chop distance be changed? These bigger machines coming out now again will just make pure powder out of grass

What's the deal with precision, is it better. You'd imagine better for the abdomen, longer grass silage

Greengrass1 · 11-11-2015 09:14PM

kevthegaff wrote: »

What's the deal with precision, is it better. You'd imagine better for the abdomen, longer grass silage

4 to 6 inches supposed to be best for rumen I'm told. Sp harvesters could chop it to 2 inches

kevthegaff · 11-11-2015 09:15PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

4 to 6 inches supposed to be best for rumen I'm told. Sp harvesters could chop it to 2 inches

wonder why they chop so much with stones, extra diesel

mf240 · 11-11-2015 09:19PM

The big self propeleds chop it in dust so they can fit more in the trailers.

Went all bales a few years back.. wouldnt go back to pit.

Deepsouthwest · 11-11-2015 09:20PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

Finding same here with pc cut silage no matter how high the quality is ,to me it's just chopped to a pulp,cows naturally seem to prefer the longer chop of bales .going all bales here next year

Interesting comments on bales v pc. Everyone seems to get caught up on the whole cost between the two argument, which is minimal anyway. But surely the proof in the pudding is in the animals eating it.
Probably the single biggest influence on me making the change was from talking to a v good farmer around here who said it was only after the switch the bales that he found cows properly put on condition over the winter.
I wonder if I'll be of the same opinion in the spring when I've got them all fed, but it's so far so good for now.

Greengrass1 · 11-11-2015 09:44PM

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Interesting comments on bales v pc. Everyone seems to get caught up on the whole cost between the two argument, which is minimal anyway. But surely the proof in the pudding is in the animals eating it.
Probably the single biggest influence on me making the change was from talking to a v good farmer around here who said it was only after the switch the bales that he found cows properly put on condition over the winter.
I wonder if I'll be of the same opinion in the spring when I've got them all fed, but it's so far so good for now.

I won't be showing dad this thread. He is all gung ho atm to go buy this shop soiled baler local dealer has.

Not a hope in hell

pedigree 6 · 11-11-2015 09:44PM

A lot of people here feeding bales. Does anyone have the plastic on the bales instead of the net. I think it's great as the bales are in perfect condition. But the aul fella here doesn't like it as he says it's harder to take off compared to the net. I'm undecided here.

Deepsouthwest · 11-11-2015 09:52PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I won't be showing dad this thread. He is all gung ho atm to go buy this shop soiled baler local dealer has.

Not a hope in hell

What's ur plan?

degetme · 11-11-2015 09:54PM

I find no problem with precision silage once its well preserved. maybe this is where powder comes into play and free/low in nitrogen

Deepsouthwest · 11-11-2015 10:06PM

degetme wrote: »

I find no problem with precision silage once its well preserved. maybe this is where powder comes into play and free/low in nitrogen

I never had a problem with it either, always preservered perfectly, I'd be fussy enough covering a pit, so nearly zero waste, and they always ate it too. It was performance from it that I found was lacking.

FarmerDougal · 11-11-2015 10:07PM

Heard it takes more diesel for harvester to chop it longer

Greengrass1 · 11-11-2015 10:12PM

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

What's ur plan?

Nothing as yet.
my father has heavy metal addiction

BG2.0 · 11-11-2015 10:13PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Nothing as yet.
my father has heavy metal addiction

Surely getting your shed built is more important!

darragh_haven · 11-11-2015 10:14PM

Contractor here can adjust chop lenght from the cab. From 15mm minimum to about 80mm max, he used to remove half the knives on the older SP. If he's doing a longer draw he'd charge to leave it the longer lenght. We always get it cut as long as the SP will allow.
50% to 55% of our silage is done by bales now thought.

Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

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