New calf

[ultrarunner]

New is not always best... plenty of issues and frustrations with new equipment.

I tend to buy used and for cash... keeps me from getting in over my head and I've found buying right used might even appreciate over time...

That said... when I was looking for my little Kubota... there simply was nothing used around... so it wasn't that hard to make the decision to make my best deal new...

 

[1648nc]

Sounds cool...

Trying to get my brother to do the same on some hilly property where cattle were raised a long time ago...

His main worry is fencing... said if one got out it could be a lawsuit... then again... he is in California.

New is not always best... plenty of issues and frustrations with new equipment.

I tend to buy used and for cash... keeps me from getting in over my head and I've found buying right used might even appreciate over time...

That said... when I was looking for my little Kubota... there simply was nothing used around... so it wasn't that hard to make the decision to make my best deal new...

That's exactly how I ended up with my 1648, although it was demo from a hay day. That is the only new piece of equipment I own other than a tater plow. Used mower, tedder, take, baler, boxblade, auger, grain drill, disc, moldboard, planter, etc.

 

[ultrarunner]

Did you guys weather the storms of late?

Seems lots of property damage throughout the region...

Hope you are high and dry.

 

[1648nc]

Did you guys weather the storms of late?


Seems lots of property damage throughout the region...

Hope you are high and dry.

Yeah, most of the damage was in the lower end of sc. I'm at the foot of the nc mountains, if it gets to my house we are building an ark. I'm about a hundred and fifty vertical feet above the nearest creek. It's bad down in sc, I wish I had time off to go help those folks out.

 

[EddieWalker]

Congratulations. I'm still working on my fence line and hope to have cattle in a few years. I think I can relate a little to your first calf when our first horse was born here. Now we are looking forward to our second one in March!!!

 

[farmer2009]

Sounds like a good plan. Congrats on the first calf. Every year the first calf is a big deal. Here's our first one of the season.

 

[ultrarunner]

What are you guys using to fence in your livestock?

I hear from horse people barbed wire and t-post is a tragedy waiting to happen.

As a kid spending summers on my grandparents dairy farm... they only used a single strand of hot wire on temporary wooden posts to rotate pastures...

My brother is trying to decide how to fence in 40 acres...

 

[farmer2009]

My perimeter fence is mostly 2 strands of electric barb wire. I do have one fence that was here at purchase it's 4 strands of cold barbed wire and one of single strand electric barbed wire in the woods. Cross fences are mostly single strands of electric barbed wire. All electric fences are on t-post spaced about 30-35 feet I did use the occasional tree especially in the woods.

Many people don't like electric barbed wire because of the wires memory. I've only had cows out a handful of times. Once was they found a hole in the cold 4 strand fence. All calves. All other times I've forgotten to close the gate.

 

[ultrarunner]

Not sure I understand "Many people don't like electric barbed wire because of the wires memory"

 

[farmer2009]

Not sure I understand "Many people don't like electric barbed wire because of the wires memory"

The wire has a memory to it. It likes to recoil even after stretched. People say that energizing it alows one to become entangled in an electric fence. As the barbs grab. I was raised with it and know the possibilities. But haven't had any problems. As I shut off said fences to work on them. Some act like you can't turn one off.