April | 2012 | Curiousfarmer

Grazing Winter Rye II: All Business

April 8, 2012

Five days after turning the cattle into half the winter rye field. They ate it down to nothing. And I have a round bale of hay available at all times. But they want the green stuff.

When I turned them into the field five days ago, they did some running around, feeling their oats. This time they were all business. They knew what rye was, and they wanted it.

I love turning cattle into a new field of luscious forage. Imagine tucking into a really good meal, and you won’t run out of food, and you won’t lose your appetite for about four hours. I imagine this is how the cattle feel. Nice.

Happy Easter!

8 Comments | Curious cattle, Curious crops | Permalink
Posted by Curiousfarmer

Grazing Winter Rye

April 5, 2012

I planted winter rye after corn silage harvest last fall. I spreaded the bedding pack manure from one hoop building evenly over the field, disced the field lightly, and planted a bushel of rye per acre with my drill.

It came up nicely and gave me a few days of grazing last fall. The real beauty of winter rye is that it stays green all winter. When the snow isn’t too deep, it’s nice to find a sea of green in a dead and dormant winter landscape.

Winter rye also takes off growing in the spring faster than anything. It has an alleopathic effect, meaning it’s competitive with other plants. A quick glance in the field found no weeds.

In the photo above you can see the cattle in the rye, kept in with a single electric wire. The field with the ATV is alfalfa/grass. The dead area is where I concentrated the driving of machinery, keeping the compacted/damaged area in one place, rather than scattered throughout the fields.

In the photo below you can see the saying is true, “grass is greener etc,” even when it’s not. I’m amazed at cows’ body knowledge. They will reach under an electric fence, mere inches from being shocked, and rarely get shocked.

3 Comments | Curious cattle, Curious crops | Permalink
Posted by Curiousfarmer

English Style Farrowing Hut from Port-A-Hut

April 2, 2012

The English Style Farrowing Huts are working pretty well so far. Four of the five sows farrowed, each in her own hut.

I probably should have spaced the huts farther apart. I’m having some trouble with sows returning to the wrong hut after they leave to eat and drink.

It’s also going to be a challenge to process the piglets away from the sow. Sows can be aggressive defending their young, and a squealing piglet sets them off.

I’m glad I purchased the optional roller which fits in the doorway. I’m able to leave the door to the hut open so the sow can come and go as she likes, but the roller keeps the piglets in until they are big enough to jump out. The roller is the blackish thing in the bottom of the photo below.