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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 595877" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>I would second the comment above about having a "safe handling facility". </p><p></p><p>Today a neighbor and I loaded up my second shipment to the processor. This was a dream compared to the first shipment last June which is probably best described as a nightmare. At that time a large cow going for slaughter would NOT get in the trailer following the panels I had wired from the headgate to the trailer. She actually pushed one of the panels so hard the wire holding it broke and almost broke my arm at the same time.</p><p></p><p>Following that "learning experience" I constructed a heavy duty wooden loading chute with 6x6 posts and exactly 30" wide inside (Per Dr Grandin) so they can't turn, with gates to divert the ones being shipped into the trailer. Now with the tub, alley, squeeze, diverter gates and loading chute, once you get them into the corral there is absolutely no question that these cattle are going where I want them to go, not where they want to go. And they will do it without me being in with them nor getting hurt. Actually they now just move straight ahead from group momentum and into the trailer. 1200 lb cattle are much stronger than any of us. It is important to remember that. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately, the need for and cost of a safe handling facility for cattle is about the same whether you have 10 head or 100 head. I would urge you to just bite the bullet and do it right the first time, before you or anyone else gets hurt. It is infrastructure cost that must be invested. Look at it as a long term investment. Making handling days safe also makes the whole business more fun. </p><p></p><p>As far as low cost, I have been grazing the cattle on standing corn stalks for the past month plus. The original plan was to graze stubble after combining but the way the weather is here in WI and elsewhere, I would not be surprised in the corn moisture has INCREASED in the past week rather than dried. The cattle are getting used to grazing the full plants and that they need to cleanup some leaves and stalks before they get access to some more ears.</p><p></p><p>There have been several research projects done in the Canadian prairies regarding grazing standing corn. It looks to me like this is the way to grow an enormous number of cow days per acre that is available when everything else is about gone. Leaving the stalks standing rather than grazing combined stubble looks like it will leave more food out there for grazing even after the ground is covered with snow. I'm hoping these stalks will keep me from feeding too much high priced hay for most of the winter.</p><p></p><p>Think about grazing corn in Alberta.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 595877, member: 7509"] I would second the comment above about having a "safe handling facility". Today a neighbor and I loaded up my second shipment to the processor. This was a dream compared to the first shipment last June which is probably best described as a nightmare. At that time a large cow going for slaughter would NOT get in the trailer following the panels I had wired from the headgate to the trailer. She actually pushed one of the panels so hard the wire holding it broke and almost broke my arm at the same time. Following that "learning experience" I constructed a heavy duty wooden loading chute with 6x6 posts and exactly 30" wide inside (Per Dr Grandin) so they can't turn, with gates to divert the ones being shipped into the trailer. Now with the tub, alley, squeeze, diverter gates and loading chute, once you get them into the corral there is absolutely no question that these cattle are going where I want them to go, not where they want to go. And they will do it without me being in with them nor getting hurt. Actually they now just move straight ahead from group momentum and into the trailer. 1200 lb cattle are much stronger than any of us. It is important to remember that. Unfortunately, the need for and cost of a safe handling facility for cattle is about the same whether you have 10 head or 100 head. I would urge you to just bite the bullet and do it right the first time, before you or anyone else gets hurt. It is infrastructure cost that must be invested. Look at it as a long term investment. Making handling days safe also makes the whole business more fun. As far as low cost, I have been grazing the cattle on standing corn stalks for the past month plus. The original plan was to graze stubble after combining but the way the weather is here in WI and elsewhere, I would not be surprised in the corn moisture has INCREASED in the past week rather than dried. The cattle are getting used to grazing the full plants and that they need to cleanup some leaves and stalks before they get access to some more ears. There have been several research projects done in the Canadian prairies regarding grazing standing corn. It looks to me like this is the way to grow an enormous number of cow days per acre that is available when everything else is about gone. Leaving the stalks standing rather than grazing combined stubble looks like it will leave more food out there for grazing even after the ground is covered with snow. I'm hoping these stalks will keep me from feeding too much high priced hay for most of the winter. Think about grazing corn in Alberta. [/QUOTE]
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