Viewing a thread - Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Forums | Classifieds (108) | Skins | Language

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

Is anyone but me tired of mud?	View previous thread :: View next thread
Forums List -> Stock Talk	Message format

Jon

Posted 1/27/2024 13:00 (#10596207)
Subject: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Callao Missouri

Tired of mud. Hopefully before i die i can get every hoof under roof in the winter time. Everyone says cattle buildings wont pay. But i wish someone smarter than myself could put numbers to the actual cost that running cattle outside during the non grazing time of year actually costs. It seems to me like lost gain and condition costs money. Feeding in the mud costs money. Buying rock and bunks costs money.
Time lost screwing around costs money
The damage to pasture in the winter delays, and reduces feed production in the summer. Cost money.

If i could get it done today every hoof on the farm would go to town. Tomorrow i may change my mind.

(IMG_20240127_123901783_HDR (full).jpg)

(IMG_20240127_130227863_HDR (full).jpg)

Attachments
----------------

IMG_20240127_123901783_HDR (full).jpg (119KB - 272 downloads)
Attachments

IMG_20240127_130227863_HDR (full).jpg (244KB - 283 downloads)

gavogel

Posted 1/27/2024 13:29 (#10596253 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Marion,ks

x2 on the mud . I do not know how to post pictures but I think my mud is worse ,your cattle sure are cleaner than mine.If a pot would pull in my yard( dont think it could even get here) my cattle would have a new home. I feel sorry for them its a shame they have to live like this.

Ben

Posted 1/27/2024 13:52 (#10596286 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

North Mo.

gee think it is nice here "non grazing time of year" what's that? and here I thought all that snow was not good.

Lb94

Posted 1/27/2024 15:03 (#10596378 - in reply to #10596286)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

West Central Illinois

Ben - 1/27/2024 13:52

gee think it is nice here "non grazing time of year" what's that? and here I thought all that snow was not good.

I'm pretty happy to see the ground again and what little fall stockpile we grew grazed gain. We don't have enough to not unroll hay but I feel it's enough it makes good supplement

Direct Injected

Posted 1/27/2024 15:09 (#10596385 - in reply to #10596286)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

SW, Missouri

Ben - 1/27/2024 13:52

gee think it is nice here "non grazing time of year" what's that? and here I thought all that snow was not good.

(IMG_20240125_080353726 (full).jpg)

Attachments
----------------

IMG_20240125_080353726 (full).jpg (286KB - 87 downloads)

Jon

Posted 1/27/2024 15:40 (#10596426 - in reply to #10596286)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Callao Missouri

That is stock pile in the photo's its worse than the over grazed land. At least the over grazed land is compacted and the cows aren't tearing it up as bad. 5wt calves are going in 6" with every step.

easymoney

Posted 1/27/2024 16:02 (#10596453 - in reply to #10596426)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

ecmn

It gets old.

We aren't supposed to have mud for a couple months. But it gets more muddy each day.

SLC

Posted 1/27/2024 13:53 (#10596288 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Cattle buildings don’t pay? Must be a location thing. They would not pay here. Except the nearby mega dairy has some YOOOOG barns. I have heard but don’t remember how many acres under roof

WCWI

Posted 1/27/2024 19:44 (#10596744 - in reply to #10596288)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

SLC - 1/27/2024 13:53

Cattle buildings don’t pay? Must be a location thing. They would not pay here. Except the nearby mega dairy has some YOOOOG barns. I have heard but don’t remember how many acres under roof[/QUOTE

]Where is here?

WCWI

Posted 1/27/2024 21:42 (#10596882 - in reply to #10596744)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Don't know how you can feed 32 bales to 56 cows, unless they are darn small maybe he should be buying some rings, I feed 2 -4x6's to 57 cows and 3 bulls a day, no more.

SLC

Posted 1/28/2024 18:27 (#10597966 - in reply to #10596744)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Southwest Kansas. Mostly a semi arid climate. Except last may through July when the rain would not quit

wayneNWAR

Posted 1/27/2024 14:16 (#10596314 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

north west arkansas

It’s been a lot of years since it’s been this bad. Sure making for some sick cattle in this area.

eight

Posted 1/27/2024 14:57 (#10596363 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

South Texas

I thought we liked rain. Feed is a lot more expensive without it.

Direct Injected

Posted 1/27/2024 15:07 (#10596383 - in reply to #10596363)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

SW, Missouri

eight - 1/27/2024 14:57

I thought we liked rain. Feed is a lot more expensive without it.

nothing better than a winter drought in this part of the world. Zero and dry trumps this mess any day of the week in my book.

wayneNWAR

Posted 1/27/2024 15:35 (#10596422 - in reply to #10596363)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

north west arkansas

Takes double the feed “here” when it’s like this.

eight

Posted 1/27/2024 16:05 (#10596463 - in reply to #10596422)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

South Texas

We did that one last week. Well and the cold before that, went through a lot of hay. Drying up now but I still wouldn’t try feeding with a pickup. But then I’ve got rock and caliche hills to put the hay on. I sold 4wts today, would have been several more cull cows if this last 6” rain had missed again.

Never understood why guys watch them sell, I’m watching a bobber.

(IMG_4139 (full).jpeg)

Attachments
----------------

IMG_4139 (full).jpeg (93KB - 82 downloads)

Direct Injected

Posted 1/28/2024 07:27 (#10597093 - in reply to #10596463)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

SW, Missouri

eight - 1/27/2024 16:05

Never understood why guys watch them sell, I’m watching a bobber.

Gives a sense of pride and satisfaction watching them walk in and sell. I never understood why guys wouldn't watch them sell!

wayneNWAR

Posted 1/28/2024 08:38 (#10597208 - in reply to #10597093)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

north west arkansas

Same. To me it’s the most important duty I have and that’s how I know I did my job well.

eight

Posted 1/28/2024 12:36 (#10597533 - in reply to #10597093)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

South Texas

How many times a year do you sell? Mine go straight off the cow, being a one man operation it’s hard to do more than one place on a day, I just added it up, that’d be 16 days sitting in a barn, noon to, well I guess they’re done by 5 now but they’ll run to midnight in the fall. Well maybe it’s 12 days, sometimes I’ll catch and sort one place the evening before and then haul those in the morning and catch and sort a smaller place in the morning as well.

Edited by eight 1/28/2024 12:39

drk

Posted 1/27/2024 14:58 (#10596364 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

It feels like the mid March thaw here in central Iowa, mud everywhere. Usually we are frozen this time of year and can feed on the ground, had to get the tire bunks out or they just stomp it all in. Going through bedding in the feed lot pens like crazy to, a building would definitely help that.

Edited by drk 1/27/2024 14:58

Dave9110

Posted 1/27/2024 15:02 (#10596372 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

north-central Indiana west of Fulton

Sorry Jon, I’m enjoying this weather with no dairy cows to mess with, no manure to wonder what to do with! I do wish it was firm enough I could get out and cut some brush though….too muddy for that even!

SWMN Farmer

Posted 1/27/2024 15:15 (#10596391 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Just got done cleaning mud around the manure spreader tires, probably should have stopped a load or two sooner. Unreal in MN in January. Last year at this time I was nervous to get manure applied and not get stuck because of deep snow, this year its mud.

PeteMN

Posted 1/28/2024 16:39 (#10597798 - in reply to #10596391)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

E.Central MN

We received a lot of rain in December that made a mess of the cow yard, Finally got cold and the cattle didn't like the frozen lumps. Got a little snow to fill in the holes and the cattle were walking around easier. Now there's very little snow left and driving creates muddy ruts that aren't very deep. Still better than blizzard conditions or -20 freezing temps. I think the fog is messing with people's minds more than anything else. It's winter, the only people who should be unhappy with these temps are the snowmobile salesmen and the ice fishermen.

cows-n-crops

Posted 1/27/2024 16:08 (#10596469 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

NEMO

Mud? Watch u talkin' bout Willis?

North end of the county still has some snow hanging on.

Kind of amazed where we bladed paths in the snow so we could get around how deep it froze. Can still sort of get around with the truck but if you venture off the path you will be stuck. So back to tractors.

Burning through the hay at an alarming rate. Talked to a guy at a kids function today and he said he was choring for his Dad. Before the snow he could set out 8 bales to 56 cows and make it through the week. Now they are eating 32 bales a week...or more!

Anybody that had hay to sell has stopped. Too much winter left to sell any reserves.

drk

Posted 1/27/2024 16:32 (#10596494 - in reply to #10596469)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

32 bales a week for 56 cows? Holy crap. And that would be exactly why I don't feed hay in bale rings anymore. That's just insane.

cows-n-crops

Posted 1/27/2024 20:50 (#10596809 - in reply to #10596494)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

NEMO

drk - 1/27/2024 15:32

32 bales a week for 56 cows? Holy crap. And that would be exactly why I don't feed hay in bale rings anymore. That's just insane.

For perspective I think they were 5x5 1100# bales. So rough figures around 90 pounds per head per day. Probably more wasted with the snow and trying to cover/set out for extra days because he works a full time job and feeding for his Dad that had surgery and stuck in the house.

Main point: 4 times as much hay being used than prior to the snow. Snow/damp/extra cold takes so much more.

I figured we burned twice as much feed the last 2 to 3 weeks.

drk

Posted 1/27/2024 22:16 (#10596908 - in reply to #10596809)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

That makes a little more sense, but still a lot. But you are correct they are burning through a lot of feed. Does any silage get chopped in that part of the world? Or just feed hay? Feeding like that guys are gonna run out of hay way before they get to grass won't they?

Edited by drk 1/27/2024 22:21

6030Deere

Posted 1/27/2024 19:17 (#10596706 - in reply to #10596469)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

N MO

I'm at 25 for a group of 80 and giving them 6-8 lbs corn and ddg's. fall's nursing babies

garvo

Posted 1/27/2024 19:21 (#10596710 - in reply to #10596706)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

western iowa,by Denison

I feel your pain,we have poured concrete because of 1983-think we are just a bit over 10,000 yards

cows-n-crops

Posted 1/27/2024 20:54 (#10596812 - in reply to #10596706)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

NEMO

6030Deere - 1/27/2024 18:17

I'm at 25 for a group of 80 and giving them 6-8 lbs corn and ddg's. fall's nursing babies

What do your bales weigh?

At 1500 pound bales you would be around 67# per head per day in hay.

6030Deere

Posted 1/28/2024 00:30 (#10596979 - in reply to #10596812)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

N MO

Yes sir but how much do the fall babies eat? They are weighing 4-450 so are they eating 5-10lbs of it??

Next year they will be getting corn silage.

feelnrite

Posted 1/27/2024 16:48 (#10596516 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

northwest tennessee

Yes cattle are wrecking everything. We have had some snow and a hard freeze and now rain everyday for I think this is the 7th day now. I have had enough but knew it was coming. It was nice and dry and firm for a long time there.

gee-haw

Posted 1/27/2024 17:00 (#10596535 - in reply to #10596516)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

southern middle TN

Same boat here in middle TN. Nice long dry fall and early winter. Now back to normal TN winter weather. Ya’ll be safe over that way and have a great evening!

feelnrite

Posted 1/27/2024 18:49 (#10596672 - in reply to #10596535)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

northwest tennessee

You do the same gee-haw. We just need some sun bad, today was not good.

1030

Posted 1/27/2024 19:55 (#10596758 - in reply to #10596672)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Extreme se nebr.

What ever we get remember it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Russ I know why you r country is made for sheep because they do not like mud.

beanplanter

Posted 1/27/2024 18:19 (#10596640 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Missouri

Don't feel special, I think a lot of us are headed toward a real mess we'd rather not deal with. The rain melted the snow off and took our frost out so fast the bottom fields even flooded. I have plenty of silage, but I can't believe how much my cows are eating and they still look terrible. I don't care what it costs, I will have a concrete pad and bunk line with a good solid feed path before next winter.

A guy was in the welding shop needing his silage wagon axle fixed yesterday. They told him it'd be two weeks. I didn't bother asking how it broke, I'm pretty sure I know. Made me go look my spare wagon over just in case I bury my boat anchor.

On the way home tonight I had to pull a neighbor's truck out of his front yard before he and his girlfriend killed each other. Could hear them having words from several blocks away. Told him I had to go feed a group of heifers before dark and he better go get his some Chinese before he doesn't have one to feed.

JDSWMO

Posted 1/27/2024 19:17 (#10596707 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Do bears crap in the woods?

Buried the old goat yesterday on a place where the dozer was setting. Seriously considered just digging a bigger hole to shove it off into, figured I would just get the cat stuck on the last pass.

Russ In Idaho

Posted 1/27/2024 19:27 (#10596718 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

I feel for you guys dealing with mud. No way could our country handle the amount of moisture you get. I envy the forage you can grow without irrigation. We struggle with sub par crops with irrigation and dealing with drought all the time. I remember my grandfather telling me about hand digging springs out to try and provide drinking water for his sheep. I still use those springs to this day. I also worked on them in my lifetime, but with a backhoe.

I remember him telling me how he watched the ecosystem he ranched in his lifetime. How it changed three times, one of the big differences was the species of small and big game. Everything each generation has down has benefited the land and ecosystem. This website has allowed me to learn how to guys farm and take care of your animals. However each geographical area has its own challenges.

I honestly have seen with my own eyes the need for housing for livestock in a lot of areas. We are pushed to feed more people with less land every year. Our agricultural people have risen to the challenges and road blocks put forth by our government to do so.

This mud will soon pass, and there will be something else causing sleepless nights. The reason for the sleepless nights is because we care about our livestock and land. I just want to tell you there is a lot in your areas to be thankful for. You guys have great markets to sell crops and livestock. Rainfall, growing seasons.

Keep the pictures coming be it mud, snow or great growing crops. I'm glad when you guys do great, because when you do good it trickles down to us. Be it better markets or used equipment when you trade that we can afford to buy. I've got a great neighbor that is reaching the later part of his life, his health is not good. It's a day by day deal. The other day he fell in small bathroom. His wife couldn't get him up, she called and I got there in under 3 minutes. Hard to see a person that used to be 6'3" and twisted steel. Today just maybe 100 lbs., but still has a smile and joked with me while I helped him get up and dressed.

I spent a lot of time with him the last 34 years, learned a lot from him. One thing I'll never forget was him telling me. Kid I sure like it when you do good. Because it rubs off and down to me and I do better myself. I've watched his family screw him over, but he kept going.

So tomorrow's going to be a better day, because we're getting closer to spring. Mud's not going way for some here. But it will, trust me.

Edited by Russ In Idaho 1/27/2024 19:29

TP from Central PA

Posted 1/27/2024 19:44 (#10596743 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: If I could live long enough to be 25% of Garvo........

With buildings and concrete as far as the eye could see I would be happy................frost came out here and then it rained like crazy, we ground ear corn today............Took the load and mill to my parents down the road just to work on the big concrete pad, even the driveway and lanes are wet and soupy around the barn, epic mess and its January!

Joelt

Posted 1/27/2024 20:32 (#10596798 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

perryton, tx

It’s been as muddy as I can remember around here since mid December. While inconvenient, the moisture brings hope for our crops and pastures and it sure beats incessant dust storms.

Edited by Joelt 1/27/2024 21:36

notillmc

Posted 1/27/2024 20:53 (#10596811 - in reply to #10596798)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

SW TX PANHANDLE

I’ll trade you some dust for your mud!

k350024v

Posted 1/28/2024 06:39 (#10597059 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Western, New York

Glad I'm not the only one feeling this. This year is really bad. We went from single digits to 40+ in a week. Melted all the snow and made it way worse (it already was bad). I scraped a few loads of muck out of our barnyard yesterday with the skid steer and feel like I didn't make a dent....I hate seeing the cows like that

Edited by k350024v 1/28/2024 06:40

8030ac

Posted 1/28/2024 06:42 (#10597063 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

63384

Yes would like 15° sunshine and no wind

1066smoker

Posted 1/28/2024 06:50 (#10597069 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Frederick, Md

Mud here too. I do have a concrete lot that I feed on, but the cows don’t want to walk out once they are in, so they lay in slop and then the baby calves get to nurse crap covered tits. I priced a building last week and I’m leaning pretty hard towards building it this summer. Only problem is I quickly forget what a mess this is when it gets warmer and drier.

Ralph52

Posted 1/28/2024 08:49 (#10597226 - in reply to #10597069)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

WCIN

But..but.. Greg Judy says buildings are a waste of money! You clearly just need more ground to spread those cows over, more ground = no mud.

Built a 40x80x16 with an 18’ lean in 2015 paid $24K for the building and $12k to put it up. My only regret was not doing two

Lb94

Posted 1/28/2024 10:20 (#10597363 - in reply to #10597226)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

West Central Illinois

Ralph52 - 1/28/2024 08:49

But..but.. Greg Judy says buildings are a waste of money! You clearly just need more ground to spread those cows over, more ground = no mud.

Built a 40x80x16 with an 18’ lean in 2015 paid $24K for the building and $12k to put it up. My only regret was not doing two

Well... yea. My little fat cattle lot is such a mess I can't even imagine having all my stock cows in lot conditions like that. I try and rotate them to the hillier ground when it's like this and gotta keep them off the crop ground that got planted to grass last spring.

Any pugged areas like around mineral feeder, where hay was unrolled and other trafficked areas I'll come around in about early March and throw a little bit of red clover, annual ryegrass and ky31 fescue seed to help it recover better next season

PTO

Posted 1/28/2024 08:05 (#10597148 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Northeast Misery

Don't want to be discouraging, but it's going to get worse this week. Probably going to have to quit feeding silage for awhile.

Jdel

Posted 1/28/2024 19:22 (#10598096 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Wheelersburg and Lancaster, Ohio

I was about to chime in and agree with everyone about how bad it is. Then while feeding today it dawned on me that it’s the same every year here.

EarlJay

Posted 1/29/2024 08:36 (#10598814 - in reply to #10598096)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Southern Ohio

Jdel - 1/28/2024 20:22

I was about to chime in and agree with everyone about how bad it is. Then while feeding today it dawned on me that it’s the same every year here.

lol. Agreed. We got just our token week or two of canadian concrete and back to the mud for the next few months. With the dry summer into fall, it was nice to feed most of my hay without dealing with mud. Most of the cattle are on stockpile now since mid December and will be hopefully for another 4-6 weeks. For me, this is seeming to be the ticket. Very little cold weather tractor starts and minimal rutting the place up.

Jdel

Posted 2/1/2024 07:30 (#10603191 - in reply to #10598814)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Wheelersburg and Lancaster, Ohio

Remind me where you are in southern Ohio.
My cows are at the Wheelersburg farm. Most of that cold week there was enough snow down there to keep the ground from freezing.

EarlJay

Posted 2/1/2024 14:18 (#10603759 - in reply to #10603191)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Southern Ohio

Also in Scioto County. But you're right, it wasn't a real heavy freeze but enough that there wasn't much mud to deal with.

Swenny79

Posted 1/29/2024 14:57 (#10599298 - in reply to #10596207)
Subject: RE: Is anyone but me tired of mud?

Concordia, KS

I'm 39, we just came through the worst drought I ever remember, and the old timers say its the worst they have ever seen. We had a few little showers that made stuff muddy in December, and got close to 1 inch of rain in several shots. Then we got close to 10 inches of snow in several shots on top of that. Gravel roads are a mess, mud roads are darn near impassible without a tractor. Cattle are in mud. Wheat has standing water in places where the frost isn't out and nowhere for the water to go.

I'm trying really hard to be thankful for the moisture but I'm tired of the mud, snow, drifting snow, Arctic blasts, drifting snow again, gelling tractors, and now mud battle. I'm thankful we aren't calving yet. This moisture means we will have brome to turn cows into early, and that's a huge blessing because feed supplies are tight and I should have chopped more corn. I didn't and its my fault but I'm thankful we have small pastures to go piecemeal pairs out to early after calving. After a month of this battle I'm very tired/frustrated/done with it all.

I've heard several times on here if you curse the moisture you have never been through a real drought, and I can sympathize either way. If you cattle guys in the I states deal with this every year, I don't fault you for grain farming only. In winters like this I don't know how my Dad and Granddad did this stuff without fenceline bunks/front wheel assist tractors and the gear we have now. Its a daily internal battle to remind myself to be grateful and not mad at the damn mud, because lots of good will come from it.

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

(Delete cookies)