Feeding costs 2nd attempt

[grassfarmer]

Problem is these older tractors won't last for ever and
the newer ones are not designed for longevity. Once
you get into electronics and computers on a tractor
the vibration, dust or dampness will play havoc with
them over the long haul. My tractor will roll over
16,000 hrs in the next few days - I only put 1000 of
these hours on it but it was well cared for by the
previous owner. This is the first tractor in my life I've
put 1000 hours on with no expense other than oil
changes and filters.

[ALLFARMER]

Ya electronics on equipment is not all good.
When I bought my D6 the mechanic told me at
least they can be still fixed without Finning.

Tractors are going to be like cars...throw away
items not worth fixing.

[tizhot]

We run 300 cows and calve out in March. Tractor is plugged in or in heated shop everyday (along with the processor). Takes 1.5hrs minimum to feed. After storm days or really cold spells its bedding(although we keep it to a minimum). Cows are on average 1 mile from yard.We make 2-3 trips per day so at most 6miles. Does my tractor warm up? Yup. Ten mins is good other than the -45 day last week it ran for 1.5hrs first. (should of been in the shop!) We also feed culls till Feb/March in corral,replacements and bulls. Really don't feel like figuring out my costs after typing this. Call me an idot but thats our way of doing things. Tried swath grazing one year and grew such a huge crop of triticale that I almost killed some cows so we won't go there again. Don't get me wrong we watch our costs in the feed end but labor and mechanical costs (although expensive) we don't look at enough. Ok I do sound like an idot!

[grassfarmer]

Your system must be very time efficient feeding those
numbers with 6 miles hauling included. What was the
problem with the triticale swath grazing - grain
overload?

[tizhot]

We try to be effecient and 1.5hrs is not spending time looking at everyone, so it takes longer 2-3 times/week. Grain overload was the cause. I let them have enopugh swaths that I figured they would be done in three days. I should actually talk to someone for advice. But I assume you wouldn't fence off enough for a day. If that was the case you would be moving electric wire everyday!

[grassfarmer]

I've never swath grazed myself but have a friend that
winters a large herd of cows exclusively on swaths.
He moves fence once a day but twice a day in very
cold weather (so they clean it up before they trample
it and it freezes down)
I believe that would be the way to limit wastage but
again there is a cost and commitment in time. The
other extreme is the guys that give them a quarter
section at a time.
I move fence on my winter grazing cows at times and
it's not a job i'm fond of. Packing a cordless drill,
posts, reels and wading through deep snow in very
cold weather isn't my idea of fun.