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Christmas is just two weeks away and for those people looking for gift ideas to suit the farmers in the family, outlined are some options to suit both a big and small budget.
1 Weighbridge
A weighbridge for cattle is a great investment for the farm. The scales don’t lie and will tell you plenty about silage quality, meal feeding and just how good the genetic potential of the herd is.
They range in price from the high spec EID compatible models down to the more moderately priced, non-digital weigh crates on the second hand market.
2 Calving/lambing cameras
Calving cameras can also be an expensive purchase. But again, there are a range of models available which may be more affordable.
Cameras in the calving shed allow farmers to keep a close eye on cows on the occasions they have to leave the yard, as well as taking the hassle out of checking cows through the night.
Also, as there is less need to enter the shed to check on a cow’s progress, animals in labour are not being disturbed.
3 Hand-held gas de-horning iron
A hand-held gas de-horning iron is a great tool for farmers when disbudding young calves. They are lightweight, easy to operate and much more mobile that the larger irons that connect to a gas cylinder.
4 Cattle clippers
A good heavy duty set of cattle clippers are a great asset at housing time. Clipping cattle along the tail, back and head keeps animals cleaner, less prone to lice and reduces the risk of pneumonia.
Clipping cattle prior to selling them live can improve the visual appearance and attract greater buying interest.
5 GPS unit
On a mixed arable and beef unit, a GPS unit will help improve the accuracy of fertiliser and spray applications when using older machinery. They can also be used for drilling seed or preparing a seedbed for reseeding.
1 Good-quality wet gear
Good-quality waterproof clothing takes the hardship out of working in poor weather conditions, helping to keep farmers dry. Lightweight options are often more comfortable than heavy duty clothing.
2 Thermal footwear
A new pair of work boots or wellingtons with a thermal insole, or even thermal socks, will bring a smile to any farmer and provide a welcome comfort on a winter’s morning.
3 Work tools
A new silage fork or hand scraper is always welcome when winter feeding, especially on yards where cattle are housed in multiple sheds.
Is there a farmer out there that doesn’t crack up when someone has moved the silage fork and you have to go looking for it? A fork in each shed is a small but valuable thing. Hand-held and power tools are another option to help carry out servicing machinery or farm repairs.
4 Hand-held weigh scale
How many farmers fill meal in a bucket and know the exact quantity of concentrate being fed to their cattle?
Rolled barley will be lighter than a blended ration and a blend will differ from a pelleted nut. Also, will every bucket be filled to the same level?
A hand-held weighing scale is a low cost piece of kit. Buckets can be filled and the weight checked to improve the accuracy of meal feeding.
5 The trusty pen knife
A good-quality pen knife is a must for every farmer when opening bales of silage or straw, bags of meal or fertiliser, or on those occasions when bale twine is being used for a “short-term fix”.
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