I have always regretted that the Department specification insisting on the agitation points being outside the shed was not in force when I built my slatted houses. Granted at that time in the 1970’s, slatted cattle houses were untried and few were in existence. Originally, to agitate slurry, the single slats were lifted manually up and the pump dropped into the tank. To avoid that dangerous and heavy job, I bought gang slats with the trap door in the middle but I am always nervous of something happening and just two days before Christmas, it did. One of the hinges came loose and a weanling slid into the tank below. Luckily, he was able to stand and we hoisted him out with a thick rope. We welded up the metal bar and hinge and so far, all is well but it could have been much worse if it had happened over the actual Christmas period or if it was later in the season and the tanks were fuller. I would really like to make new agitation spaces in end walls of the tanks and I am resolved to get a quote in the new year. This is not the first time I have had a near miss with this system.

On the production side, in my At Large column, I go into the details of the information I received from ICBF on how individual cattle did and how it was related to individual star ratings of the sires. The potential of such available information is a real breakthrough. Meanwhile, we are preparing to plough the Rounduped oats volunteers. They have died back really well but it is noticeable how the dense mat of meadow grass has kept its green colour and will need to be treated when we get round to planting the beans, hopefully in early March. Grass growth has continued throughout the winter this year, especially with the new leys.

Read more

Slurry safety: seconds from disaster on Galway farm