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We have been busy lately making the old cow shed into a new slatted house. This means that no longer do we need to clean them out with the four prong pike and barrow every day. The cattle are in now for the winter. I can't believe how easy it is. The tractor puts in the a bale and we spread it about with a pike. They are eating barley silage and straw in the above photographs. Yes I know the straw is piked much too close to the head feeder.
Cattle are making savage money at the moment. The only thing is the small cattle are also making big money. So if you sell your cattle you can't really afford to buy any replacements. How can can this be so? Dear cattle in a recession. Me not understand?
When we were making the new slatted shed. I kept thinking me or my son would get hurt. We didn't though. Oh no! We took down the scaffolding last week and guess who split his finger open with a scaffolding plank? Yeah it was me!
Number one son made (cut and weld) the head feeders and gates. Not bad for a 16 year old eh?
Looks like a really professional job on the head feeders, sure that boy's got real engineering talent.
ReplyDeleteAnd a nice easy job of feeding.
And no mucking out, just need a slurry pump and spreader tank now?
What you going to do with all the spare time? Leading kale?
No, there doesn't seem to be any sense or reason in the sale price of livestock, as you say, to sell dear means buying dear. Doesn't matter what you get through the auction, the price seems to stay high in the butchers. Sell the biggest two and feed the others? Then hope to buy some cheaper later in the winter? A crystal ball would be nice to have.
He's done a great job, Cumbrian. Just hope he doesn't emigrate with the other 300000 poor souls who have left Ireland in the last few years. My father went to England during the 'black fifties'.
ReplyDeleteI still have plenty of farm work like weeding and spreading muck on the veg plot. I wouldn't like to live in the countryside without cattle. It can very boring at times. Especially with no public transport or a pub.
I am told the livestock boats are running again. I don't agree with the live exporting of cattle. Especially places like Libya. They don't kill cattle humanely like they do in Britain and Ireland.
Will probably try to buy some in January when farmers are hard up after Christmas. Thanks for the advice!
Didn't realise so many people want out of Ireland, understandable I suppose if there's nothing there for them, but sadly just accelerating the desolation of the rural areas and more derelict buildings.
ReplyDeleteSure you'll have plenty to keep busy with, how did the kale weeding go?
No, I often wondered about the wisdom of exporting live animals for meat, seems such a waste of effort and cost, not to mention discomfort for the animals.
A carcase would be so much lighter, easier and cheaper to transport, and far more humane than some of the ritualistic slaughter practices in some countries.
Don't know where from or what breed, but there used to be a regular Irish cattle boat docked in Silloth, I think it's stopped now though.
Good thinking, a lot of people could probably do with a lift after the Christmas and New Year celebrations and expenses, anybody with space and plenty fodder might be able to pick up a few bargains. Best of luck, looking forward to reading about the January auctions.
Yes Cumbrian, It does accelerate the desolation of rural areas. Governments seem to have a policy of only providing infrastructure in the towns and cities. A lot of the young people have gone to Australia and Canada. They are starting to only allow people under 45 with a recognized trade in their countries. I think we live in a post industrial society and there will never be manufacturing again. China seem to export everything to Europe.
ReplyDeleteI got tired weeding the Kale. It's growing very well and the Red Shank seems too be dying off.
The EEC actually subsidises the boats that take the live exports. I suppose the seas will get roughsoon and they will stop the boats until spring. Then the prices will probably drop and we will curse ourselves for not selling them. It's all swings and roundabouts on a farm.
Thanks!
Yes, sad, we were once the world power-house of engineering and innovation, now it seems we're regressing into a third world country, living on past reputation. Agreed, I don't think we'll ever be a world leader again, anything we make seems to be owned by foreigners, and an awful lot of stuff comes from China.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting harder to emigrate as well, what were once our colonies are now dictating who can be allowed in. Australia for example used to require a criminal record to be sent there, now you'll not be admitted if you have one.
Maybe a pity we in the UK don't have a similar immigration policy?
Pleased to hear the kale's growing well, sure the cattle will enjoy it, you still going to try folding them over it?
First time I knew the EEC subsidises the cattle boats, I still can't make sense of exporting live meat, it must cost a fortune compared to carcases. Or am I missing something?
I believe Brazil is a bigger economy than the UK. China is supposed to be starting making cheap small cars. No doubt with recycled metal? I have bought lots of cheap and nasty tools made in China. You can't make something good, cheap!
ReplyDeleteI will try to fold the Kale with the battery electric fencer strip grazing the field. If the weather gets really bad. I will just harvest it a fertilizer bag full at at a time.
Just been reading: Compassion In World Farming website. I have signed up for their email newsletter. Apparently it takes 9 days to transport live cattle to Libya.
Reading a letter in a farming newspaper today. Calves were being sold at an Irish mart for 813 Euros. The writer asks how can the buyer make any money when they have dosed and fed it. Unbelievable.
Thanks for your comment!
Yes, "Made in China" used to bring to mind cheap, nasty, not really up to the job, etc. But I think in more recent years their economy has really started to take off, and lots of branded goods are made / assembled in China. For example, Mrs likes to do cross-stitching as a hobby, and needs a bit of concentrated light / magnification on some of the more delicate work; I buy head strap things, complete with 4 lenses, bright little light including batteries, a useful piece of kit, cost £9, delivered, from China. I even gave my computer whizz-kid one, he was impressed and uses it for the intricate jobs repairing computers ( a hobby of his).
ReplyDeleteChina seems to be buying up an awful lot of things globally as well, not bad for a third world country whose economy was based on cheapo stuff and take-away curries.
Perhaps we ought to go to China and open English take-aways?
9 days in the hold of a ship, must be Hell on earth, I've never seen a cattle boat inside, but they can't be very pleasant. I'm sure there must be a reason for it, but it still escapes me.
813 Euros for a calf? Maybe time to send a couple of your big stirks to market?
China does make some good branded items. So does India. Western Europe seems to be a consumer based rather than manufacturing.
ReplyDeleteI have always believed in Keynesian economics. Rather like the 1945 Labour gov't that rebuilt Britain. When you build houses you create a demand for manufacturing. Even the lady selling the bacon butties to the builders is making some money. People buy new houses(or social housing) and they want to decorate and furnish them accordingly. Keynesian economics says that if you don't have a demand you get recession. It's all bubble and burst. I suppose it's like Newton's law of Physics:
"What goes up. Must come down. "
English take aways in China. That is a good idea. We could do with some English pubs in Ireland. Serving real ale and traditional regional pub food.
I see the EEC signed up a trade agreement with Canada yesterday. Canada and the EEC can sell and export milk products and meat to each other. Hope it's not live exports.
I have read that they live export because we have the grass and they have the cheap grain to finish them.
It was 813 Pounds for a calf at Ballymena market.
Butcher came and looked at cattle last night. We have only got one ready. They pay dead weight only. Says we should feed them nuts until January. Number one son's heifer is the one that's ready. They say the day you buy. Is the day you sell. Meaning a cheap animal only makes a cheap price at market. My Friesian cross bullocks are only worth 1.50 a kg. They are charging 11 Euros for stewing beef in the supermarket.
Thanks!
Yes, the construction industry / housing market is a pretty good barometer of the economy, sadly it went too far and too fast, resulting on the big bust and stagnant market we now have.
ReplyDelete1.50 per kg, and the cheapest cut 11 in the supermarket, who's making the big bucks? And it's not all stewing beef, I've seen prime cuts at £24 per kg.
French prices cheapest cut is ribs, a cut we don't see in UK, at least I haven't, a short length of rib with a couple of inches of meat attached, excellent for long slow cooking and very tasty, 3.99 Euros per kg. Best cuts I noticed up to 18 per kg, not 100% sure which part of the beast, the French butchery is based on the muscle structure of the animal, not the bone structure, so some cuts are not so easily identifiable.
There building boom was the same in Ireland. Banks lent money for mortgages of 3 and 400000 Euro. the banks when bust and property prices have dropped dramatically. Yet the banks won't loan people money any more. Britain and Ireland have followed Japan into negative equity.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense to buy a full or half heifer from a butcher or farmer. I will save far more money eating one of my own cattle.
Didn't know the French base the muscle structure instead of bone structure. I know they prefer the lean continental meat with very little fat. They also kill animals who are 7 years old. They like their meat mature. The sound like they know their food and wine.
𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬/ 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐬 / 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐫. Kham. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐒) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐢 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧-𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐫. Kham 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐒𝐕-𝟐 𝐬𝐨 𝐢 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐫. Kham 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲! 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐚 (UPS 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞)𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬! 𝐢 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 (𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝! 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰! 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞! 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐨𝐧 dr.khamcaregiver@𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬-𝐚𝐩𝐩 +𝟐𝟑𝟒8159922297 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 him on his website: drkhamherbalhealingcenter.wordpress.com/
ReplyDelete