Farmer Focus: Farm shale cuts costs of new cow track

When it comes to what value we put on an acre of land, we often consider the age of the sward, the soil type, or even the money spent to bring that piece of land into a profitable, farmable state. What we sometimes forget is the value that land can bring below the till line.

See also: Guide to tackling white line disease in cattle

About the author

Ewan McCracken

Ewan McCracken helps parents Brian and Lynne run the family’s 240-cow spring block calving herd on an 86ha milking platform on the Ards Peninsula, County Down. Milk from the New Zealand Friesian cross Jersey herd is sold to Dale Farm.

Read more articles by Ewan McCracken

We are fortunate enough to have recently acquired a piece of land to act as an out-block for rearing youngstock. However, owing to the topography of our area, rocky outcrops were a frequent sight.

What we initially believed were annoying obstacles for a mower later turned out to be an invaluable source of diggable rock, providing a key asset for future infrastructure.

For grazing systems, adequate access to paddocks is crucial. Last week, we began the process of building a new cow track stretching 370m to reach a 3.5ha (9-acre) block of land. Until now, our access had been limited as we were sharing a lane with the neighbour’s herd.

The cost of importing hundreds of tonnes of crushed rock, diggers and tractors, and labour costs can soon build up. Yet our newfound source of brittle, shaley rock has proved perfect for building roadways, instead of importing hardcore.

Although the time and capital required to install high-quality tracks can be very significant, it can ultimately reduce the cost of future hoof repairs.

We had noticed an increase in the number of white line infections and soft tissue hoof injuries during the period of grazing on that block. The hard tarmacked surface, combined with gravel, created a perfect environment for hoof trauma.

As my dad and I had been taking a DIY approach to treat and repair injured cows’ feet, it was easy to lose track of the true cost of each repair when we weren’t getting a hoof repairer’s invoice.

For instance, to treat a severe white line infection, we need one shoe, one-fifth of a tube of shoe glue, antibacterial spray, 50ml of antibiotic and 15ml of anti-inflammatory – and let’s not forget about the 17 litres/day of milk lost for five days.

If you really wanted to be critical, you could also include the cost of reduced fertility and premature culling.

Ultimately, we hope the new cow lane will prove to be a very worthwhile investment.