Archive Article: 2002/06/07
Continuing our coverage
of the Beef 2002 event,
Jeremy Hunt and
Richard Allison report
the latest views on
using sexed semen,
woodchip corrals and
profitable heifer beef
WOODCHIP corral management is still a learning experience with early on-farm results indicating that woodchips are too small on many corrals.
SAC adviser Seamus Donnelly told producers that woodchip corrals are proving popular for over wintering beef cattle. "More than 450 have already been constructed in Scotland, with many more in the planning stage."
The reason for their popularity is the many benefits they offer, including reduced straw costs, low labour requirement, land being released for cropping and few cattle health problems. In addition, woodchip corrals cost up to 10 times less to install than buildings.
"To ensure their success, adequate planning and selecting the correct site are crucial. Be nosy and dont be afraid to seek advice from producers already operating corrals.
One common mistake is overstocking the corral and placing extra pressure on the system. Ideally, allow 15m sq (160ft sq) for cows and 6-8m sq (65-85ft sq) for stores, said Mr Donnelly.
However, Dumfries and Galloway producer Nigel Forster told FW that he believes stocking rates should be lower than recommended by the college. Also make sure the feed area is as large as possible and keep the area open to allow wind and sun to dry out the chips.
Mr Forster has two pairs of corrals for overwintering spring-born suckler calves on his unit near New Luce. "Cows are dried off and housed in cubicles.
"We are still learning how to manage corrals. We decided to feed animals in the corral, but there was a build-up of dung within 3m (10ft) of the feed trough. Woodchips became compressed and will need to be dug out and renewed this summer."
To overcome this problem, chips will be scraped back on the bottom side of each pair of corrals, so calves will be fed on the hardcore area and walk through a gate to the woodchip area.
Using the correct size chips is also crucial for its function, said Mr Donnelly. "Current chipping machines produce pieces which are too small for stock to trample dung through the top 2-3in into the digestion area below."
To solve this, Stranraer-based producer and contractor John McIntosh has imported a Chunky Chipper from Finland. "The machine is fitted with a special blade to produce larger chips, which are more than 3in in diameter. Many neighbouring producers are queuing up for the chunkier chips." He also plans to install more corrals on his unit, eventually keeping more than 1500 suckler cows on them.
Frost is another problem as the corral and animals can become dirty, said Mr Donnelly. "One solution is to turn animals onto a paddock because the hard ground will not become poached.
"It can be tempting to construct a corral in a quarry, but this should be avoided as the water table can rise with water flowing up through rock fissures."
Despite all this knowledge, we need more feedback on how corrals are performing. Research is also needed to determine the best shape and size and whether rubber can replace wood, he added.
The Chunky Chipper produces larger fist-size woodchips which are ideal for corrals, says Seamus Donnelly.
• Use larger woodchips.
• Ensure sufficient area.
• Avoid feeding on chips.