Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
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I've seen them too, but didn't realize the calves were tethered.lorihadams said:
Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...
- Thread starter Quail_Antwerp
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Ohioann
Lovin' The Homestead
QA Will you be allowed to have other bovines on the property? I know with the chicken houses (both fryer/ broiler and the egg houses) you are not permitted to have any other birds on the property because of biosecurity. We looked at an egg house several years ago but decided that the dust levels wouldn't work with the asthma in the family and I didn't want to give up my heritage poultry. Also do you have enough land to spread the manure? Can it be spread or does it have to be injected? If you don't have enough land to spread/inject do you have a source that will purchase and remove it? Amish friends of mine manage 3 broiler houses and the litter is shipped out by the semi load!! You are taking on a huge job and although I have personal objections to veal production I hope you and E will be successful and enjoy the work.
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Quail_Antwerp
Cold is on the Right, Hot is on The Left
We have farmers around us who willing take the manure to spread on their fields, but we do plan to spread some on our own land. The manure is liquid, since the calves are only ever on milk replacer. The manure is drained into a tank and it's sprayed onto the fields.
Yes, we can keep other bovines even with the veal barn. In fact, our eventual goal is to have our own small herd of white faced herefords and black angus. E wants to raise the herefords, but angus are faster growing so we can have those ready for market faster than our White Faced Herefords. Our initial goals with the veal farming is to use it to acquire those 9 acres next to us, have an income so we can gradually build our beef herd, and then once the mortgage is paid off, I can convert that veal barn into a hatchery (shh don't tell E that last part!!!) But we're looking at at least a 20 year loan.
We also looked into poultry barns or turkey barns - but like you, Ohioann, I didn't want to give up my heritage breeds and we were concerned about diseases, etc. Plus, there's one already in Cadiz and they just got 77,000 chicks brought in. Seventy Seven Thousand Chicks!!! Can you just imagine the NOISE they must make???? Aye yi yi!!!
lori - to feed them, in front of their stalls is a bucket like bowl for their milk. All the milk to feed them is mixed in one large milk tank and pumped out through a hose that reaches through the whole barn. After each calf drinks their milk, you have to write down how much milk you gave that calf and how much they drank. They want each calf to be 250#'s before shipped out. The vet comes out and check calves, too, randomly to be sure they are healthy and being cared for. They have to vaccinated, too, and the company supplies pennicillian and scour meds any case a calf gets sick.
We're not guaranteed a veal barn at this point - and we're not worse off if it doesn't go through. It just means I would work harder this year to expand my poultry and goats and save back the $ to get that first white faced hereford on our own LOL
Oh, and the veal company we're talking with explained more about loose housing - and it really doesn't sound that bad. They are in individual pens for the first 10 weeks, and then the gate between two pens is removed so that there is 2 NOT TETHERED calves in a pen together. The only concern we have with that is feedings may take longer because you have to be sure both calves in a pen drink their own milk. I think it could make accurately recording an individual calf's consumption a bit tricky. Maybe not, though, since it's something E and I would be doing together and one could be filling milk while the other is watching who's drinking it.
In other news, the neighbors behind us have 4 dogs - vicious dogs - running at large. They leap at vehicles and the kids school bus, AND a few days ago they killed my beautiful Blue Sebastopol goose!
They got 4 of my ducks, too. A report has been filed and the prosecuting attorney's office has said I need to write out the value to replace my adult stock and submit it to them for restitution with pictures of the birds alive and the bodies after the dogs got them. The neighbors have confirmed that these dogs run deer, and we saw them in our neighbors yard eating on a deer they took down. Yesterday morning they were in our pasture chasing Mick and Rocky!!! We've sequestered Blessing, our Angus heifer, into the barn so they can't get her.
Yes, we can keep other bovines even with the veal barn. In fact, our eventual goal is to have our own small herd of white faced herefords and black angus. E wants to raise the herefords, but angus are faster growing so we can have those ready for market faster than our White Faced Herefords. Our initial goals with the veal farming is to use it to acquire those 9 acres next to us, have an income so we can gradually build our beef herd, and then once the mortgage is paid off, I can convert that veal barn into a hatchery (shh don't tell E that last part!!!) But we're looking at at least a 20 year loan.
We also looked into poultry barns or turkey barns - but like you, Ohioann, I didn't want to give up my heritage breeds and we were concerned about diseases, etc. Plus, there's one already in Cadiz and they just got 77,000 chicks brought in. Seventy Seven Thousand Chicks!!! Can you just imagine the NOISE they must make???? Aye yi yi!!!
lori - to feed them, in front of their stalls is a bucket like bowl for their milk. All the milk to feed them is mixed in one large milk tank and pumped out through a hose that reaches through the whole barn. After each calf drinks their milk, you have to write down how much milk you gave that calf and how much they drank. They want each calf to be 250#'s before shipped out. The vet comes out and check calves, too, randomly to be sure they are healthy and being cared for. They have to vaccinated, too, and the company supplies pennicillian and scour meds any case a calf gets sick.
We're not guaranteed a veal barn at this point - and we're not worse off if it doesn't go through. It just means I would work harder this year to expand my poultry and goats and save back the $ to get that first white faced hereford on our own LOL
Oh, and the veal company we're talking with explained more about loose housing - and it really doesn't sound that bad. They are in individual pens for the first 10 weeks, and then the gate between two pens is removed so that there is 2 NOT TETHERED calves in a pen together. The only concern we have with that is feedings may take longer because you have to be sure both calves in a pen drink their own milk. I think it could make accurately recording an individual calf's consumption a bit tricky. Maybe not, though, since it's something E and I would be doing together and one could be filling milk while the other is watching who's drinking it.
In other news, the neighbors behind us have 4 dogs - vicious dogs - running at large. They leap at vehicles and the kids school bus, AND a few days ago they killed my beautiful Blue Sebastopol goose!
They got 4 of my ducks, too. A report has been filed and the prosecuting attorney's office has said I need to write out the value to replace my adult stock and submit it to them for restitution with pictures of the birds alive and the bodies after the dogs got them. The neighbors have confirmed that these dogs run deer, and we saw them in our neighbors yard eating on a deer they took down. Yesterday morning they were in our pasture chasing Mick and Rocky!!! We've sequestered Blessing, our Angus heifer, into the barn so they can't get her.
TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Wow, you sure are busy Aly.
Can't you shoot the dogs if they are threatening you or your livestock on your property?
Crazy!! Sorry about your beautiful goose!
g
Can't you shoot the dogs if they are threatening you or your livestock on your property?
Crazy!! Sorry about your beautiful goose!
g
keljonma
Epicurean Goddess
QA, it is good to hear from you. This veal barn sure sounds like quite a venture. I will pray that every thing works out for the best.
justusnak
Almost Self-Reliant
QA, this is why I am excited about my Christmas present....my 20 guage! I will no longer fear walking in my woods....fear for my animals....or my grandchildren. I know it sounds mean, and heartless..but bring on the compost! I am so sorry about your goose! If these people KNWO thier dogs are bad dogs, WHY in the world are they letting them run loose!?? Sounds like a moveing target practice to me!!!!! Good luck with the attorney...I hope you get everything that is due to you, and these dogs are put down.
Oh, and good luck on the veal barn. I personally wouldn't do it....sounds like a lot of work! LOL But I DO love me some veal, once in a while.
If these people KNWO thier dogs are bad dogs, WHY in the world are they letting them run loose!?? Sounds like a moveing target practice to me!!!!! Good luck with the attorney...I hope you get everything that is due to you, and these dogs are put down. Oh, and good luck on the veal barn. I personally wouldn't do it....sounds like a lot of work! LOL But I DO love me some veal, once in a while.
FarmerDenise
Out to pasture
lorihadams
Always doing laundry
Baby I am so sorry about your birds I just lost a duck and had to put down a roo for killing her.
Holderreads is getting out of sebastopols completely so you may want to look into that if you want replacements.
I'm glad you guys have a good plan...I'm with you on the loose housing though, it does sound more difficult to keep accurate records. :/
I just lost a duck and had to put down a roo for killing her. Holderreads is getting out of sebastopols completely so you may want to look into that if you want replacements.
I'm glad you guys have a good plan...I'm with you on the loose housing though, it does sound more difficult to keep accurate records. :/
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
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If those dogs had done that to my birds, it would be time for SSS.
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