Little stress hope for the best

basempires · #1 05/12/10, 04:15 PM

We're rebuilding a farm in the upstate NY area. As far as cattle go we have 5 holstein steers, 2 open mixed breed heifers, 2 pure Belted Galloway ready to breed. We have 7 acres refenced with 3 strand electric....just enclosed another 8 acres which i'll split in half within the next 2 weeks. Have room for another 20-25 3-4 acre pastures which we're fencing as money permits.

Anyway, I have a 2 year old bull along with 2 more pure Belties and one has a calf coming in next week. Big issues is going to be sorting and adjustment as the facilites we have are from 1850 or so...be pulling out barbed wire and replacing with electric.

Want to have all the Galloways bred in July so they don't calf to early in the season. Just a little stressed as it's been 30 years since I've dealt with breeding etc....4-h at 12 years old, lol. Anyway we're going to MIG graze with ultimately 25-30 pastures....along with sheep, chickens, pigs, turkeys...most of which we already have....heritage breeds. Goal is to ultimately run closed herd, flocks, gaggles, etc.

Anyway, just a little frustrating atm as the facilities aren't up to snuff and the last time we brought in new cattle the broke out and chased them for 2 days through woods, etc. ,lol.

We're definately going in the right direction but I feel for all of those, including us, that are making the best of the situation and taking their lumps when they come. Hard work rebuilding.

farmerjon · #2 05/13/10, 10:46 AM

I'm right there with you. We have an older farm that for the past 20 years or so has not had much done but the hay baled. There are alot of half torn down fence lines that we do our best to get back up and fix what we need, but it always seems the cows find there way out. The worst was at 7am on new years day after we had some freind stay over from out of town.

I also found if you fix the old barb wire as much as possible and run the hot also it just adds to it a little bit.

tinknal · #3 05/13/10, 11:15 AM

Off topic and JMHO but have you thought about February/March calving?

You have to watch them closer when they calve but you avoid the problems of mud and rain. Once a winter calf is dried up and eating there is much less chance of scours and other diseases. Added bonus is that the calves will be ready to eat grass once it greens up.

Tad · #4 05/13/10, 01:28 PM

Good luck starting out. I work for my father on a dairy near Buffalo but my wife grew up in Owego. Her father is a barber in town, make sure to give him a hard time if ever you go there! We rotationally graze 70 milkers there is nothing easier than grazeing, once the learn to respect the fence that is!