Recent content by Rob30

I don't have any idea why you wouldn't graze your hay fields. As far as weeds go , the only seeds available for the cows to spread are already in the field, if they are eating them and crapping them out. The hoof action from the cows help work in manure and crop reidue and add oxygen to the...

I am looking at some cattle that are due in January. The problem is my barn will only hold 3-4 cows at a time. I would have a total of 18 cows due in winter. Does anyone think this is possible? I have read about people calving during good weather with out a shelter. If I get a winter storm I do...

I am looking at upgrading some of my hay making equipment. Currently I use a 9ft NH haybine, NH side bare rake, and a 5X5 Hesston 5600 round baler. I have been making hay for 6 yrs now, basically self taught, through books and taking to others. I am finding that it takes my a long time to make...

I am in central Ontario. I am only trying to built up a small herd of grass fed cattle. We have been running a small meat business. Selling grass fed beef locally. With out too much effort we have been selling so well that we are having a hard time keeping up. Our goal is to aquire some cows as...

Well first of all we have both sheep and cattle now. Each have their own advantages. Sheep are probably at least twice as profitable. You can keep 5 cows for each cow. Each has 2 lambs. If you lose half the lambs you still make a profit. Spreads your risk. However sheep need much better feed. A...

We are sheep farmers that are diversifying into cattle. I am looking for creative ideas to expand my herd. We currently have a few cattle but want to expand to about 30 head. We are selling our beef directly to customers in the form of naturally raised grass fed beef. The problem we have is we...

I did a little reading, and yes it is a vacuum over hydraulic. Now after my reading I think switching to electric over hydraulic would be easier if not cheaper. The vacuum system requires modification of the truck. The electric system reuires no modification of the truck. The trailer controller...

Just bought a 20 ft 5th wheel tri axle float for hauling hay. It has air over hydraulic drum brakes. I don't have air on the truck. My options are to change to electric over hydraulic. Not sure if this is cheaper or easier. Or I could change to electric brakes. The problem is the baking plates...

How much faster is the discbine? Mowing is the slowest part of my hay making. I can rake and bale a field in the time it takes to cut the hay. I have found a few reasonably priced discbines. It is too late for this year, but I am thinking about next year.

I have a hesston 5600 round baler that goes through tires like crazy. The right tire keeps blowing. I went through a tire and three tubes last season, and this season I blew the first tube, then bought a used tire with rim already mounted from a local dealer, and just blew that one. Does anyone...

Well, I think he will end up in the freezer. He is purebred, but not registered. I am hoping to find a registered red angus bull. My comments about his temperament are probably not fair. I have not wintered this bull yet. I find we work much closer with the cattle winter. In the summer, even...

I have recently started direct marketing our grass fed beef. Since we are grass finishing we are keeping British type cows with an black angus bull. We also bought a few black angus steers. The problem we are having is the angus are a little higher strung then our other cattle. The bull seems...

I have a hesston 5600 round baler. I am having problem when the bale gets to around 3.5ft the hay stops baling. The baler picks the hay up and it discharges out the back. If I notice when it is happening I can tap the hydraulics, tightening the tailgate and the baler starts working again, but...

I thought a haybine would be better for rough land? How much hp are we talking for a 9ft discbine? I run a new holland 469 haybine now with my old fordson major. Very good on fuel, but slow.

I am looking for the pros and cons for each. I have read that the discbine has the advantage of being difficult to plug up, and cuts faster. The haybine is better, from what I understand, in rough country. Anything else?