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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Rural Voice, 1986-09, Page 28DWR pRA111AQrE Farm & Municipal Drainage Systems Clay & Plastic Tile Installations All workmanship guaranteed R.R. 4, Stratford 519-271.4777 PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING Sales Breeding Stock: Performance Home -tested Boars & Gilts from Health Monitored Herds Feeder Pigs: Large volume of uniform, top quality, healthy feeder pigs with a 24-hour guarantee 4v SWiNF 00 © QcOo 6,9 O .,84.2300 00 Services Animal Health Care Products Supplies Identification, backfat, probing, pregnancy checking, and feed testing Norm Wilson Ivan Wolfe Fordwich Mitchell 519.335.3127 519-348-8543 QUALITY SWINE CO-OP HEAD -QUARTERS BOX 53, SHEDDEN, ONTARIO 519-764-2300 28 THE RURAL VOICE NEWS PASTURE DAY AT DON SHAVER'S FARM Pasture Day 1986, was held August 6 at Don Shaver's purebred beef farm, north of Milverton. Bill Olan, OMAF Red Meat Ad- viser for the counties of Huron, Perth, and Waterloo, arranged the pasture management demonstra- tion. Don Shaver aims for a 80 per cent grass, 20 per cent legume mix for pasture. According to Don, cattle generally do better on this mix, as bloat is almost nil, and scouring is reduced, even on very lush pasture. Two types of pasture management were viewed and discussed. Both were 80 per cent grass, 20 per cent legume. Type one consisted of eighty- five acres of river flats. The river runs lengthwise, and is cross - fenced into six sections. The cattle are rotated from plot to plot every five to seven days. The cattle were on their third round this year. The pasture being grazed, was eight to ten inches high, and no sign of any plants go- ing to seed. No clipping or harrow- ing has been necessary up to this time. The fertilizer program consists of barnyard manure spread very thin (just before a rain if possible). The spreading takes place after the cattle have been around the second or third time. Spreading is flexible and governed by the condition of the soil and the other farm work. Don Shaver says that this system allows good use of man power and machinery, and gives the pasture an increase in growth from July 1 to the end of the season. George Jeffery, from Gallagher Power Fencing Systems, outlined the different systems available. Gallagher Power Fencing Systems were first developed in New Zealand, and now are in use in over 100 countries. Their equip- ment includes four types of energizers for electric fence, in- cluding solar systems, battery, and plug-in hydro units. The second type of pasture management consisted of ten acres divided into five long narrow plots. Cattle are given about 20 to 30 feet of new grass daily. The Gallagher Tumble Weeds are used to move the electric cross fence. The thirty feet of new pasture the cattle were on was eight to ten inches high, with no sign of any plants going to seed. Don Shaver says that because of the high con- centration of cattle grazing, the cattle hooves act in a churning mo- tion, and do an effective job of spreading the droppings. Bill Olan outlined some of the current OMAF grant systems. Capital Facilities — in place till March 31, 1989, and up to $1500 for each producer. These are for