Farming Chitchat 10/10- Now VIRUS-FREE!

toleratethis · 05-12-2019 9:02pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Well, it says pasture for life so I'm guessing that housing wouldn't be an option there?

I've seen videos of lads feeding silage and hay to outwintered cattle but could you imaging outwintering cattle anywhere west of kildare? Our rainfall would be too high in most areas to outwinter many and not have a huge effect on spring growth.

Wrong type of cattle and wrong management I'd suggest.

Say my name · 05-12-2019 9:13pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Well, it says pasture for life so I'm guessing that housing wouldn't be an option there?

I've seen videos of lads feeding silage and hay to outwintered cattle but could you imaging outwintering cattle anywhere west of kildare? Our rainfall would be too high in most areas to outwinter many and not have a huge effect on spring growth.

Ah they do say they can be housed if necessary but obviously pasture is better and no cereals.

https://www.pastureforlife.org/

kk.man · 05-12-2019 9:33pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Well, it says pasture for life so I'm guessing that housing wouldn't be an option there?

I've seen videos of lads feeding silage and hay to outwintered cattle but could you imaging outwintering cattle anywhere west of kildare? Our rainfall would be too high in most areas to outwinter many and not have a huge effect on spring growth.

With respect and not wanting to come across smart, what did ye do before slatted sheds and before sheds full stop? It's not that long ago and cattle survived in every part of the country. I know of some ruff land in North of this county and its not that long ago fellas were out wintering stock.

Say my name · 05-12-2019 10:07pm

kk.man wrote: »

With respect and not wanting to come across smart, what did ye do before slatted sheds and before sheds full stop? It's not that long ago and cattle survived in every part of the country. I know of some ruff land in North of this county and its not that long ago fellas were out wintering stock.

The department won't allow outwintering of cattle. Well they won't allow poaching and damage to the ground.

There's some posting on other forums on social media of bale grazing in this country but they use light British breeds and have old pasture saved up for half the year and the bales placed on top at silage time.

Not a slight on any farmers here with second jobs but all this talk of regenerative this and ecological that but in my mind they're not worth a damn if they don't provide a living.

I see a comment was made at the icmsa gathering about a mandatory proposal that every farmer should plant 2ha of trees. There was a comment made on social media that that'll be nice for the landowner who only has 2ha's. All these proposals they always favour the larger landowner and are made by the larger landowner on these committees who have paid help at home.
Anyway gone away from pasture for life..

Odelay · 05-12-2019 10:08pm

kk.man wrote: »

With respect and not wanting to come across smart, what did ye do before slatted sheds and before sheds full stop? It's not that long ago and cattle survived in every part of the country. I know of some ruff land in North of this county and its not that long ago fellas were out wintering stock.

That would be when a person with 16 cows would have been thought of as a progressive farmer.

Birdnuts · 05-12-2019 10:13pm

kk.man wrote: »

With respect and not wanting to come across smart, what did ye do before slatted sheds and before sheds full stop? It's not that long ago and cattle survived in every part of the country. I know of some ruff land in North of this county and its not that long ago fellas were out wintering stock.

Probably more hardier and traditional breeds allied with more sustainable stocking rates allowed for such an approach

Albert Johnson · 05-12-2019 10:21pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Well, it says pasture for life so I'm guessing that housing wouldn't be an option there?

I've seen videos of lads feeding silage and hay to outwintered cattle but could you imaging outwintering cattle anywhere west of kildare? Our rainfall would be too high in most areas to outwinter many and not have a huge effect on spring growth.

Out wintering stock was commonplace until the last 20 year's even here in deepest darkest Connaught. It couldn't have been easy but there was no alternative at the time, slatted sheds are only a reasonably recent concept locally and up until there arrival a byre with a few cow's tied in stalls was the only real option. One of the biggest differences I've seen in my life time is the reduction in farmer's locally, cattle numbers have also fallen but not to the same extent. The few herds left have increased in size which wouldn't make a return to out wintering any easier. There were smaller herds at the time with more help and time to carry out the work associated with out wintering.

Small groups of stock are the secret imo and a run of rough grazing is almost essential to avoid mud and hardship. Having said that an elderly neighbor often shows me where he and his fore father's used to out winter 5 two year old store bullocks for sale at a fair around St Patrick's day. It's a low lying bog meadow and yet it supported those cattle from Xmas to Paddy's day and still yielded a hay crop in late summer. It required a lot of work and some luck but I'm told everyone was in the same boat. Perhaps the weather was really better in the past and of course the cattle were smaller, hardier native breed's. I don't think putting a bundle of heavy continental stores into the same piece of ground in late October and leaving them there until May day would have the same amount of success.

Albert Johnson · 05-12-2019 10:29pm

Odelay wrote: »

That would be when a person with 16 cows would have been thought of as a progressive farmer.

The above statement is very true but I don't think the current average suckler herd is even that big today. Perhaps I'm misguided but I'm sure I read a figure of the average herd being circa 12 cow's in recent years. I know locally that a lot of lad's would have less than 16 cow's and I know more lads with less than 10 as opposed to more than 30 cows.

funkey_monkey · 05-12-2019 10:37pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Well, it says pasture for life so I'm guessing that housing wouldn't be an option there?

I've seen videos of lads feeding silage and hay to outwintered cattle but could you imaging outwintering cattle anywhere west of kildare? Our rainfall would be too high in most areas to outwinter many and not have a huge effect on spring growth.

Not much ground around here could support cattle year round. Grass fed would be as far as e could go, but out wintering would be a disaster for the cattle, ground and me.

I've sometimes thought about going along that path, but it is a big step.
Although, I'm not sure about claim in video that cattle sweat in shed as their bodies are working harder to digest it.

Nekarsulm · 05-12-2019 10:53pm

It's a long long time since milking cows were out all year round.
Tie up byers are around in some form at least 150 years, and before that the cow would practically have shared an end of the dwelling house/cottage.
Young stock, yes.

_Brian · 05-12-2019 11:07pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Probably more hardier and traditional breeds allied with more sustainable stocking rates allowed for such an approach

I think rainfall patterns have changed. Too many days and weeks with rain and no break, ground gets no rest from rain. It used to be that there would be heavy rain and then dry days.

We half out winter.
Smaller stock have access to Dry paddocks but also have access to slatted shed for silage at the barrier. They mostly stay out, this evening in the blowing wind and rain they were in though.

wrangler · 06-12-2019 12:08am

Just after being asked to do santy again on Sunday for local Irish KIdney Association christmas party.
Looks like I've triggered a new career.
Have to say I had a ball on Wednesday

Water John · 06-12-2019 12:13am

Enjoy, don't do a Billy Bob Thornton.

Birdnuts · 06-12-2019 12:35am

_Brian wrote: »

I think rainfall patterns have changed. Too many days and weeks with rain and no break, ground gets no rest from rain. It used to be that there would be heavy rain and then dry days.

We half out winter.
Smaller stock have access to Dry paddocks but also have access to slatted shed for silage at the barrier. They mostly stay out, this evening in the blowing wind and rain they were in though.

I'm not so sure about that - last winter was remarkably dry and mild and if you look back to some of the winters in the 40's and 50's we've had it pretty easy most of the time, even more so if you look further back to earlier centuries when climate induced famines were not uncommon

I says · 06-12-2019 11:50am

Just waved the vet out the gate, herd test clear for another year.

Parishlad · 06-12-2019 12:09pm

I says wrote: »

Just waved the vet out the gate, herd test clear for another year.

Good stuff! I have the reading of our test tomorrow morning. Always a nervy time.

orm0nd · 06-12-2019 12:37pm

I says wrote: »

Just waved the vet out the gate, herd test clear for another year.

just got locked up here with a single reactor, rest were spotless.

I says · 06-12-2019 1:02pm

Parishlad wrote: »

Good stuff! I have the reading of our test tomorrow morning. Always a nervy time.

Yeah Tis a stress alright

I says · 06-12-2019 1:03pm

orm0nd wrote: »

just got locked up here with a single reactor, rest were spotless.

A pain in the backside

wrangler · 06-12-2019 2:43pm

I says wrote: »

A pain in the backside

A lot of breakdowns around here, bad time coming into the calving season

_Brian · 06-12-2019 6:14pm

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7761215/amp/Actress-Rooney-Mara-tells-awful-devastating-conditions-inside-British-animal-farms.html

Well farming sure looks bad if your a non farmer.

I’ve said for a while that housed pigs and poultry is just awfully unnatural for the animals.
I’ve been inside a handful of these units myself and didn’t like them.

ganmo · 06-12-2019 7:29pm

Undercover?? Looks more like trespassing under the cover of night to me.

The rest of it is the reality of farming.
Pic of a stillborn piglet, pic of dead pigs been stored.
Claims of sows crushing piglets because they dont have enough room, sows with more room will actually crush more piglets.

farmersfriend · 06-12-2019 7:35pm

Parishlad wrote: »

Good stuff! I have the reading of our test tomorrow morning. Always a nervy time.

Same here

whelan2 · 06-12-2019 7:36pm

farmersfriend wrote: »

Same here

Good luck with it

Castlekeeper · 06-12-2019 8:00pm

Nekarsulm wrote: »

It's a long long time since milking cows were out all year round.
Tie up byers are around in some form at least 150 years, and before that the cow would practically have shared an end of the dwelling house/cottage.
Young stock, yes.

Same around here, the place is also littered with enclosures, usually called fairy forts, which held cattle for almost long as they've existed here.

Out wintering is not necessary for PFLA certification, just an all forage diet.

_Brian · 06-12-2019 8:39pm

ganmo wrote: »

Undercover?? Looks more like trespassing under the cover of night to me.

The rest of it is the reality of farming.
Pic of a stillborn piglet, pic of dead pigs been stored.
Claims of sows crushing piglets because they dont have enough room, sows with more room will actually crush more piglets.

I don’t think this is the “reality of farming” that we should be expecting.

Neither chickens nor pigs are naturally indoors animals.
Can see signs in the poultry photos that many of the birds are struggling to stand.
I’ve been on pig farms that don’t use crates and they say losses are minimal.

For as long as farmers rear animals in these conditions they are handing a stick to animal rights groups to beat all farmers with.

Animal welfare has to become before profit. These animals would be happier and healthier given proper space and access to our door spaces. Yes the meat will cost more.

tanko · 06-12-2019 9:08pm

Mountain vets on BBC2 looks interesting.

Genghis Cant · 06-12-2019 11:49pm

_Brian wrote: »

Yes the meat will cost more.

This is where the consumer has to step up to the mark.
You can't pay lip service to animal welfare standards , a premium product must command a premium price.

_Brian · 06-12-2019 11:52pm

Genghis Cant wrote: »

This is where the consumer has to step up to the mark.
You can't pay lip service to animal welfare standards , a premium product must command a premium price.

Yep.
Consumers need to get out and buy the best products and support farming methods they want to see.

Parishlad · 07-12-2019 12:23am

farmersfriend wrote: »

Same here

Best of luck. Hopefully a good day for us all. I couldn’t even look at the cattle tonight when I was feeding them.

davidk1394 · 07-12-2019 12:58am

Last night a few of us headed up to Jim o the mills in Upperchurch. It was on the wish list for a while and we organized a bus up. A lovely spot with good pints of Guinness and good music and plenty of craic. It's well worth a visit if any of ye are ever passing nearby on a Thursday night.

Lime Tree Farm · 07-12-2019 11:04am

What next, compulsory vegan/vegetarian ?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nursery-drops-vegan-only-menu-after-parents-revolt-qx30bp53f

coolshannagh28 · 07-12-2019 11:33am

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

What next, compulsory vegan/vegetarian ?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nursery-drops-vegan-only-menu-after-parents-revolt-qx30bp53f

I told my last discussion group meeting slightly tongue in cheek that in 20 years it would be against the law to slaughter an animal , now I am sure .

Buford T. Justice XIX · 07-12-2019 11:44am

coolshannagh28 wrote: »

I told my last discussion group meeting slightly tongue in cheek that in 20 years it would be against the law to slaughter an animal , now I am sure .

I doubt it, c. All the research coming out now and being started now is focused on carbon sequestration on grasslands and the vast majority of it is hugely positive. We are close to a tipping point where there will be more cattle and sheep needed to drive C sequestration and there has to be a end product there for them as well.

Veganism is on a high atm but that will change when the research is spread more widely.

That, and the water lapping around their ankles when they're making their breakfasts:D

_Brian · 07-12-2019 11:55am

coolshannagh28 wrote: »

I told my last discussion group meeting slightly tongue in cheek that in 20 years it would be against the law to slaughter an animal , now I am sure .

Can’t see it ever being that way.
Eating meat and animal products is an essential part of a wholesome overall diet. Veganism has it’s cycles, seems very topical now but the fact remains something like 83% of people who start a vegan diet return to a regular omnivorous diet within a year.

Veganism is latching on to climate change issues at the moment but as more and more reliable information comes out they will loose that link and so their current cycle of popularism will fade again.

_Brian · 07-12-2019 11:58am

Local farmer has started butchering his cattle and selling the meat from home and he has a stall in one of the local towns.
Called in thismorning to support them.

Can’t wait to get the steaks on the pan tomorrow ðŸ€€

farmersfriend · 07-12-2019 12:16pm

Parishlad wrote: »

Best of luck. Hopefully a good day for us all. I couldn’t even look at the cattle tonight when I was feeding them.

Went clear, hope you have same results

gozunda · 07-12-2019 12:30pm

Didnt take long tbh ...

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057794469/2/#post111946693

Hard Knocks · 07-12-2019 12:47pm

_Brian wrote: »

Local farmer has started butchering his cattle and selling the meat from home and he has a stall in one of the local towns.
Called in thismorning to support them.

Can’t wait to get the steaks on the pan tomorrow ðŸ€€

Fair play to them

Hard Knocks · 07-12-2019 12:58pm

_Brian wrote: »

I’ve been on pig farms that don’t use crates and they say losses are minimal. .

many years ago I worked in a farrowing house
I saw lots of sows kill the newborns and had a few close ones where they tried snapping at me rescuing the piglet
To me the crate is like a calving gate

07-12-2019 2:54pm

_Brian wrote: »

Local farmer has started butchering his cattle and selling the meat from home and he has a stall in one of the local towns.
Called in thismorning to support them.

Can’t wait to get the steaks on the pan tomorrow &#55356;&#56320;

That striploin looks well marbled . We used to kill our own when we had a bigger tribe and always found a fr hiefer the tastiest

Buford T. Justice XIX · 07-12-2019 4:31pm

gozunda wrote: »

Didnt take long tbh ...

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057794469/2/#post111946693

Tbh, it's pretty much as expected. Opinions matter much more than the overwhelming science that differs from the opinion.

An article about neonics but the methodology for publicity is pretty familiar to anyone here.

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/12/05/viewpoint-how-a-small-group-of-scientists-and-pliable-media-created-a-catastrophe-narrative-that-hurts-bees-and-farmers/

Say my name · 07-12-2019 7:21pm

_Brian wrote: »

I think rainfall patterns have changed. Too many days and weeks with rain and no break, ground gets no rest from rain. It used to be that there would be heavy rain and then dry days.

We half out winter.
Smaller stock have access to Dry paddocks but also have access to slatted shed for silage at the barrier. They mostly stay out, this evening in the blowing wind and rain they were in though.

I was just thinking about this this evening about not just you saying land is getting wetter in the winter, compared to years ago.

If you compare to the 60's. Tractors were smaller and lighter then. The same with stock. Fertilizer and chemical use wasn't as widespread then. Some people say phosphates and chemicals do actually harm the fungi life and aeration of the soil.

Anyways in recent days I've been reading up on lactic acid bacteria that people spray on soil and it opens up the soil and increases growth in plants. The beauty for dairy farmers, thumbs down if you're not, is that you can make it from your own milk. It occurs naturally in soil and management like the above kills it as well as the fungi.

https://blog.bolandbol.com/2017/04/24/more-knf-introducing-the-fabulous-lab-lactic-aid-bacteria/

Say my name · 07-12-2019 7:24pm

I wonder how Muckit is getting on lately?

He's disappeared completely off here from being the most prolific poster on f&f.

Jb1989 · 07-12-2019 7:39pm

Say my name wrote: »

I wonder how Muckit is getting on lately?

He's disappeared completely off here from being the most prolific poster on f&f.

Don't know. But no harm in a break from social media if that's the reason. Aduits getting as bad as children, but the Aduits are telling the kids off for the usage, and them as bad.

kollegeknight · 07-12-2019 7:40pm

Christening today, godparents, grand parents and our own clan. The only job. Watching Moana now for the evening.

Say my name · 07-12-2019 7:46pm

Jb1989 wrote: »

Don't know. But no harm in a break from social media if that's the reason. Aduits getting as bad as children, but the Aduits are telling the kids off for the usage, and them as bad.

I was up for a walk up the mountain one weekend. Anyways I met a father and son on the way down with a quad bike. Same discussion turned to technology and how it's good to get out in the open. He was like yourself and said he had to get the young lad away from the social media. He was saying this while flicking away on his phone. I thought it was hilarious. I should have took a picture of him.

Jb1989 · 07-12-2019 8:00pm

Say my name wrote: »

I was up for a walk up the mountain one weekend. Anyways I met a father and son on the way down with a quad bike. Same discussion turned to technology and how it's good to get out in the open. He was like yourself and said he had to get the young lad away from the social media. He was saying this while flicking away on his phone. I thought it was hilarious. I should have took a picture of him.

Perfect example alright. Boards has it uses to be sure, with this forum haveing great farming info but the likes of Facebook has its bad moments, so many aduits putting up pics of their kids etc, while knowing there's bad people on the Internet looking on, I think that some things are best kept relatively private. But that's just my opinion.

MickeyShtyles · 07-12-2019 8:05pm

Jb1989 wrote: »

Don't know. But no harm in a break from social media if that's the reason. Aduits getting as bad as children, but the Aduits are telling the kids off for the usage, and them as bad.

I noticed it during the week alright and Sent him a message.

Say my name · 07-12-2019 8:06pm

Jb1989 wrote: »

Perfect example alright. Boards has it uses to be sure, with this forum haveing great farming info but the likes of Facebook has its bad moments, so many aduits putting up pics of their kids etc, while knowing there's bad people on the Internet looking on, I think that some things are best kept relatively private. But that's just my opinion.

Totally sincerely agree.

Farming Chitchat 10/10- Now VIRUS-FREE!

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