The journey into the abyss of no return

[farmerjan]

Okay, I can be wrong... but are you sure it is all "new" cattle when they come back in??? None that have been there before ???? We have one place with "wish fences".... older owners, never did much upkeep, fences are really abominable.... they run there for summer pasture... so nothing in there for 6 months or so, then put some back... but we try to always put back some that were there the year before... and they kinda keep the rest "there".... Have had some calves get out... kept some heifers and the next year put some back that were familiar... could NOT keep them in even with plenty of grass....so it does not work all the time...
Many times a fence is more of a "suggestion" of boundaries, and animals will respect it until they get hungry, or until there are outside forces that push them against it.... like predators.

Not saying that is your case... just making suggestions that there might be a reason that those cows aren't getting out.

 

[Weldman]

Okay, I can be wrong... but are you sure it is all "new" cattle when they come back in??? None that have been there before ???? We have one place with "wish fences".... older owners, never did much upkeep, fences are really abominable.... they run there for summer pasture... so nothing in there for 6 months or so, then put some back... but we try to always put back some that were there the year before... and they kinda keep the rest "there".... Have had some calves get out... kept some heifers and the next year put some back that were familiar... could NOT keep them in even with plenty of grass....so it does not work all the time...
Many times a fence is more of a "suggestion" of boundaries, and animals will respect it until they get hungry, or until there are outside forces that push them against it.... like predators.

Not saying that is your case... just making suggestions that there might be a reason that those cows aren't getting out.

Oh I'm sure these cattle are getting out, just at 1.5 miles away I'm not seeing it and they ain't coming up the ridge. Either way, that fence is the one I have been needing to take down for years and even told them it needs to go. Perfect timing to do it now. I'm curious as to how long I could stretch barb wire between drill stem pipes that doesn't flex like tee posts.

 

[Weldman]

I’m jealous

 

[farmerjan]

Hi-tensile barbed wire should be good for 25-35 ft on pipe.... some even farther... usually 2 to 3 x what you would do on T-posts... no more than 16 ft on T-posts, max... the thing is, it's more the spacing... no matter how tight you get, the longer the stretch, between posts, the more likely an animal will try to go through the wire... and yes, they will reach through barbed wire... and hi-tensile has some flex to it, the whole idea is so that it can "spring and stretch" if say a limb falls on it... so will have a little give in longer stretches, for animals to try to reach through.... here, the d@#n deer go through it often...

 

[farmerjan]

I’m jealous View attachment 120802View attachment 120804

You're looking at pigs at the wrong time of the year for your temps unless you have them inside... they will NOT survive being born in ZERO weather... no matter how well they are bedded...

 

[Weldman]

Just go ahead and burn it to the ground, raze it all. Wildfire number 3 right up our arse.

 

[farmerjan]

OH-NO... not good...

 

[Weldman]

Still haven't sold any of the piglets. All 24 still there and they are posted on 4 or 5 different FB group local pages. Their pen is getting smaller by the day.

 

[Weldman]

Got Pooch's brother over here now, he is chained up within able to touch noses and that's it. Pooch wanted to kill upon seeing him, I think he has finally learned his job, to guard this place from idiot neighbors dogs, varmints and idiots.
Best to have two to fight against coyotes and whatever else.

 

[Ridgetop]

A warning about Anatolians - males and females, even raised together from same litter, will fight when mature. After about 2 years old they become aggressive to each other. It is best to have a difference in age when keeping same sex Anatolians. Male and female pairs are great and will work together.

I wonder if you would have better luck selling the piglets if you offer to take them to the butcher for the purchaser. Collect the purchase price, deliver the pig to the butcher, and the buyer arranges the cuts they want with the butcher, and pays the butcher for the slaughter and cut/wrap when they pick up the pork.