need help with clean up

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cah

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Okay we have an overhang where Our cattle come in for shade... water the problem is it gets so nasty in there ... we clean it up but it is such a mess every time.. is there any tricks that can help clean up.. such as what do you all use? We have put down gravel but that seems to dissapear pretty fast with the clean up. does anyone use mulch, wood shavings and if so how is your clean up? Any ideas to make this job a little easier? THANKS
 
well there automatic water in there but they dont' make much of a mess with that... it's mostly urine and poo's! This time of year it just gets really bad... just thought I would post and see if anyone has any great ideas to help with the clean up or if shavings or something like that would help absorb.. it seems like the urine does not really go down in the ground very fast...
 
sounds like you might want to haul the manure out 2 or 3 times a year.or every week if you have a blade to pull it out from under the shed.
 
I would move the water to a sunny area. They don't need to shade while drinking, will do some of their business while going to the shade.
 
make sure your work boots dont have holes is my best advice. if you put sand down would the urine leave quicker that way? if gravel disappeared so would mulch but if its cheap enough why not?
 
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Move the water and lock them out of there. IF there are trees in the pasture or somewhere else where they can get shade they will be fine. IT helps if the shade moves like with trees the sun can dry up where they were standing in the morning.
 
Lay down geotextile fabric under the gravel. Put several inches of number twos on the fabric and several inches of densegrade on top of that. It will pack like concrete. The fabric is fairly inexpensive. You still have to scrape off the manure, but the rock will stay put. Ask your extension agent for literature on "hard surface feeding areas".
 
If I were you, I'd put down a layer of sand then cover that with rubber floor matts (like the ones used in horse stalls). This may be a more expensive fix than you would like, but it would last for years to come. It would also make cleaning the area easier if you put saw dust or straw down. If you choose not to put saw dust or straw on the matts, you could power wash them clean.
 
cah":106a6uum said:
Okay we have an overhang where Our cattle come in for shade... water the problem is it gets so nasty in there ... we clean it up but it is such a mess every time.. is there any tricks that can help clean up.. such as what do you all use? We have put down gravel but that seems to dissapear pretty fast with the clean up. does anyone use mulch, wood shavings and if so how is your clean up? Any ideas to make this job a little easier? THANKS
Click to expand...

Your best bet is to simply remove the overhang - that will keep the cows from hanging out around the water tank. We put up a windbreak for our girls, but that is it. The only thing you could put down that a mature cow won't tromp into the ground would be a concrete apron/floor - and that is still going to be hard to clean up.
 
The worst problem with an area that doesn't get enough sun to dry out and stays sloppy and smelly, is that lactating cows will lie in it, germs get in their teats, and next thing you have mastitis. We had it happen.
 
Thanks I like some of your ideas! When we moved into this farm the family that lived here raised sheep. They put the automatic water inside the barn which is great in the winter mt's but our fields are so new to cattle that there is not a lot of shade at all. We currently have seventeen head but with that said.. they sure can make a mess of things in the barn..... We may take some of your advice and see if we can get it looking better. We clean is pretty often but you sure can tell when it is really hot where they want to hang out.. can't blame them but we do have six momma's that we are currently weening babies from and don't want any problems with them. Thanks again for the advice
 
We put concrete slabs down around our water troughs if that helps any.....but then again that might not be the best thing for them to lay on....
 
Nothing like a group of trees for shade. I've got one pasture that started loosing a lot of shade trees. They were old trees that had reached the end of their lifespan and some were lost to wind damage. I realized that it would not be long and most of the shade trees would be dead so I started planting trees. It will take a few years but they will provide some nice shade one of these days. Planted some near a pond where my labrador dogs like to swim. One is buried their and the others will be buried their too. Potted some live oak seedlings from trees that I planted in the yard where I used to live. Did the same with some red oaks that came out of my parents yard. Planted a new pecan tree to replace one that is dying. I would guess the old pecan tree is well over 100 years old and is the only tree in and old 35 acre cornfield. So plant some history, plant some trees.
 
Now here is some real serious advice. Seems to me you folks have what is called the Grassman up there. I have seen his homemade huts. Seems to me if you were to invite him to stay in your place if he keeps it cleaned up it would be a win-win for both of you. :D
 
1982vett":237rahtk said:
Nothing like a group of trees for shade. I've got one pasture that started loosing a lot of shade trees. They were old trees that had reached the end of their lifespan and some were lost to wind damage. I realized that it would not be long and most of the shade trees would be dead so I started planting trees. It will take a few years but they will provide some nice shade one of these days. Planted some near a pond where my labrador dogs like to swim. One is buried their and the others will be buried their too. Potted some live oak seedlings from trees that I planted in the yard where I used to live. Did the same with some red oaks that came out of my parents yard. Planted a new pecan tree to replace one that is dying. I would guess the old pecan tree is well over 100 years old and is the only tree in and old 35 acre cornfield. So plant some history, plant some trees.
Click to expand...

The best time to plant a shade tree is thity years ago, or now!
 
you can try a big piece of this stuff they call cattle carpet, put it down and cover it with a few inches of crusher run....water, pee and liquid go right through the carpet stuff, but you still have the poo to worry about. Seen the stuff used on runways at BIG daries where the cows were knee deep in muck walking, and after this stuff gets laid down they walk right on top, pretty as you please....keeps em clean for milking in the production barns. :cboy:
 

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