[near horse]

Hi Donn,

I thought folks considered hi tensile non-woven wire dangerous for horses. Some people called it a cheese grater. I know that electrified should keep them off of it most of the time but what happens when Mr. Bear shows up? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing as much as inquiring. If it has worked well for you, I’d like to know. I hate stretching woven wire fence and would be glad to use multi strand hi tensile. Whose stuff did you use? Premier and Gallagher are some we see out here. In fact, we put some New Zealand (Gallagher) style stuff in for a rotational vs continuous grazing study a few years back. It worked pretty good – the weak point seemed to be using spring gates. Even though they were hot and cattle were trained to electric fence, a desperate heifer would still barrel through them.

Did you use spreaders or stays to keep the wires apart between line posts?

[near horse]

I’m sorry Howie but I find destroying cattle because the price isn’t good an atiquated solution. Why doesn’t this guy pour his milk down the drain since those prices are in the crapper right now as well? If a dairy out here milking 4000 cows can deal w/ lousy calf prices then so can someone milking 200.

[HTML]He sent three of them a couple weeks ago and got a bill for $28 and something. [/HTML]

Somebody there is picking up calves at almost no cost and making money – and eventually those calves will end up at the packer along with other cattle.

Although this isn’t composting it is about decomposition – the body farm (as it’s called) in TN takes human corpses and lets them decompose in the elements for forensic study – they know how long it takes to completely breakdown a body. The compost pile provides a “more stable” environment and is less subject to daily changes in temp, humidity …. BUT it doesn’t get the benefit of “insect assisted decomposition” 😮

[HTML]You define whether you are a “real” farmer, as you put it… no one else can, should, or should be allowed to, define you.[/HTML]

Well said, Robert. Recently I heard that the govt thinks you are a hobby farm if you gross less than $250,000. Please! As far as I’m concerned, there are a lot of folks that meet the above “definition” of farmer that are more office managers. They have nice pickups, expensive equipment, lots of land, and hire everything out. They never touch an animal, fix equipment, work the soil or harvest anything – they pay someone else to do it but they are considered farmers. Those guys aren’t farmers to me. Except they do know how to farm the govt programs but that’s another story.

[near horse]

Howie,

With 3 or 4 bull calves composted per week, are you saying that the local farm/dairy you mention in your post is “knocking bull calves in the head” and composting them because calf prices are so low? I know some dairies did that in the past but that’s an incredible waste:mad:. If they believe that bull calves are what’s hurting their dairy’s profitibility, then they need to get into another line of work.

I did originally want to comment on Andy. I agree that composting is a good way of dealing with animal carcasses and we do that w/ any animals that we lose at our place as well. That said, I haven’t had to deal w/ anything close to my heart – yet. And I dread the day.

Burying might actually slow the process down if it reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the carcass.

Although it’s a little late –

Condolences to you on your loss Donn.
“Goodbye Andy”.

[near horse]

Donn, For your perimeter hi tensile I assume you are talking woven wire not multiple single strands. Is that right?

In our neck of the woods, a moose is way more trouble than a bear. We’ve had moose walk into charged polywire and drag it and 20+ step in posts off into the woods (like a terrestrial Moby Dick) with the fence “popping” the whole time. The moose never even changed pace:eek: BTW – our horses were hiding in their shelter peaking out through the cracks:)

When moving cows (or sheep) you can use a strand of polywire (uncharged of course) stretched between you and one other person and cover a lot of ground. Animals don’t know it’s not hot.

Out west the biggest trouble w/ electric fence is getting it grounded well when the soil dries out – and it sure does in late summer.

[near horse]

Plowboy,

Congrats! Will he have a box stall or tie stall;)

[near horse]

Land-grant schools are some of the folks holding patents on grain. Most folks would consider “heirloom” varieties as junk – although they could have a gene or two worth swiping. Just been my experience. A good example of Univ interests, while not grain related, is a recent $400,000+ grant at a local land-grant school to identify the “genome” (genes) associated with better feed conversion. Come on.:eek:

[near horse]

New comment. I should have read further down the page of [HTML]http://www.prseeds.ca/[/HTML] Priced in small increments (5g to 50 g) and I didn’t see bulk amounts available. So I guess it’s more for gardens:o
Sorry.

[near horse]

Some of the seed sources listed are primarily veg seeds not much in heirloom grains etc BUT a link on the rareseeds website brought this site [HTML]http://www.prseeds.ca/[/HTML]. In Canada but looks like they’ve got some neat stuff. “Goodcompanion” – are you familiar with any of the heirloom wheat varieties listed? The internet never ceases to amaze one:)

[near horse]

Hi horsepower,

As I mentioned somewhere previously, I have an AC AllCrop 60 in my now collapsed shed. It needed a bit of work BEFORE it started wearing the shed. Not sure yet how bad it got munched. The original problem was power unit was gone – whether motor or PTO – nothing left. I sure would like to get it going. They seemed to be pretty popular and versatile units (like you say pretty small grain bin but the bigger the bin the more grain your horses get to pull around the field w/ them – :D). I assume you are using a powered forecart to run the AC 66. Is that right?

If you ever need parts, check out yaz [HTML]http://www.yazallcrop.com[/HTML]. That’s the place!

Keep us informed on how you’re doing it – how many head if you use horses.

Regarding the drill – you use 2 on a six foot drill? I’ve got a 12′ Superior drill that I need to get going as well. How easily does a 6 footer pull w/ 2 head? I was thinking 4 on the 12′. Donn, any thoughts from your end as well?

Thanks.

[near horse]

I’d like to add my 2 cents although it probably is time to move on.
It comes down to which gamble are you willing to take. You need to play the odds so to speak. So here’s my breakdown:

No colostrum – death sentence.

Said to have colostrum and run through sale barn – a little better than the previous death sentence. Usually not the healthiest calves in the first place and going through an auction is even pretty stressful to adult cattle so not a great option.

From private party w/ cattle – better option. Regardless of the Johne’s situation there. Then follow vaccination protocol used by cattle people in your area and you’ll be fine.

The reason you used a multiple vaccine is you don’t know which pathogen your animal will be exposed to. So you play it safe.

at school it was vaccinate, medicate and pump with hormones

The previous statement is more about “production medicine” (which I don’t think you are interested in). Producers are pushing cattle to reach market weight and using hormone implants is one way to “increase efficiency” or feed conversion. There’s a rule of thumb among the pen riders at feedlots – “If you don’t see 5-10% acidosis, then you’re not pushing them hard enough”. Kind of sick but that’s where production is at in commecial animal ag these days. Also look at BST or Posilac in dairy cattle (although Monsanto has now spun it off to someone else). It’s all about numbers – get them cranking out the milk, pedal to the metal and then cull them. Often before the cows reach the break even point (4 lactations). Doesn’t make sense.

becorson –

but wanted to add that milk replacer is generally cheaper than real milk, that is why dairy farmers usually feed their calves replacer

I’m not trying to sound rude but where is this? Most dairies out here use cull milk (not saleable) and replacer. Trying toget by on as little replacer as possible. That stuff is running close to $80 per 50# bag now. Maybe I’m just seeing the big dairies out here – 4000 cows.

[near horse]

Hey Donn,

If your canvas is made of canvas (?), you might look at tent maker supply or sail makers. I know that might get pretty involved but it should be cheaper than $800. Good luck.

[HTML]http://www.hamiltondrygoods.com/canvas.html[/HTML]
[HTML]http://www.outdoorfabrics.com/products.html[/HTML]

[near horse]

Oh come on Dave. That isn’t Idaho in February. Where’s the snow? I’m just jealous:). The mules look fine.

[near horse]

Out here in wheat country, the inland northwest, wheat goes straight from the combine to truck to bin storage. No drying because it is dry at harvest (like 12% moisture or so if I recall correctly). If you haul to the elevator, you will get docked or refused storage if your moisture is above say 15% (can’t remember the exact number).

Lost grain during harvesting probably has more to do with combine adjustments than drieness of the grain. Mostly soft white wheat here – pasta stuff, not bread.

[near horse]

Hey Donn,

Can’t help specifically w/ a JD canvas and I don’t know how big a JD 12 requires but could a draper canvas from a swather “work”? They are pretty narrow (4′ at best). Also, you might look at contacting this fella – he does a lot with AC All crop combines from the 40’s 50’s and has canvasses that will fit those (about 5 to 8 foot headers I think). [HTML]www.yazallcrop.com[/HTML]

It seems that many folks working horses to harvest grain use binders (or at least that’s what you hear about). Have you used older combine harvesters to cut your grain? PTO driven or separate motor? I’m looking at rebuilding an old AC All Crop (needs work – my shed collapsed on it).

Good luck.

[near horse]

Wow. It’s surprising that horses have even survived the poor bedding, housing and feeding practices we’ve foisted on them :rolleyes: Some of this is starting to approach PETA levels. My horses are looking for a 2 stall flat w/ shag carpet and roomservice. I told them to get a second job.:D

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