Time is flying by and I can't believe its November! October has been a busy month but with signs of winter on the horizon, we managed to get the maize silage done and grass seeded planted before the weather turned.
- New weighing scales - Dad and I wanted to monitor the weight of cattle more closely so we invested in a weighing adaptation to the crush. This then enables us to calculate the daily weight gain and most importantly select the most profitable diet for the animals. The big steers that are close to slaughter have approximately 30kg of feed (15kg maize silage, 11kg grass silage, 4kg corn) per day with the intention of putting on over 1 kg/day. However, different percentages of protein and corn added to their diet can greatly affect the growth of the animal. Therefore, paying closer attention to the weight of the bullocks can indicate the best diet for our animals.
- Tractor and JCB course - Last week I attended a 2 day tractor course at Hatpury College, where I learnt more about the mechanics of a tractor as well as hitching on implements and machinery safety. Next week I am going on a 3 day loadall course as by law, all operators of fork lifts/telehandlers need a certificate.
- Calf Rearing course- I am currently studying an online Calf Rearing course, where various practical and academic tasks are set and then an assignment must be completed on the topic of interest. I thought I would never have to use the Harvard Reference guide again....but I was wrong!