Farmer Focus: Sheeting the silage pit is a young man’s job

Sheila and I managed to get away to the Great Yorkshire Show for our three-day holiday and came home in time to get the silage done.

Michael had started cutting while we were away and we were unlucky that we got a rain shower on the Wednesday.

But we got 12ha lifted that night, hoping for an easier day on the Thursday.

In the event, knowing the forecast was for rain on the Friday, we worked until midnight to get all the silage in.

I decided sheeting the silage pit is definitely a young man’s job.

See also: First silage cut earlier than expected

Michael and Emma had their 14-hour round trip to the Royal Welsh.

There was some tough competition at the show and we have had better days at the office, but it was a fun trip all in all.

We didn’t want to get slurry on until Michael was home from the Royal Welsh, which tied in well as we wanted to leave it a week anyway for the grass to grow.

We had put slurry on straight after the first cut last time, and thought there might have been some scorching with the dribble bar.

The mats have finally arrived and are fitted in the shed, so we are slowly getting the cubicles up.

We have been lucky enough to get another three Jodie heifer calves, taking our total up to seven bright white heifers running around.

See also: Scottish awards success with Holsteins

With the amount of rain we had on the Wednesday, we didn’t expect the Stewartry Show to go ahead on the Thursday. But the sun decided to shine on the day.

There was a great turnout of cows and we were very fortunate to get champion.

Michael was away for Colin Laird’s stag weekend in Rotterdam, so he reluctantly left the ‘A’ team – Sheila, Emma, Anna and I – to show at the Dumfries Show.

We came home with champion and reserve champion and Emma won champion calf with a calf from her Showgirl herd. Michael may as well stay away every year.

And Sheila’s Jersey herd has grown, with the addition of another heifer calf.

See also: Read more from the Livestock Farmer Focus writers

Brian Yates milks 250 pedigree Holsteins in partnership with his wife Sheila, son Michael, and daughter Anna. Surplus heifers are sold for breeding.