Farmer Focus: Lucky to have only one flooded field

We seem to have fared much better than other areas of the country after the awful wet weather this weekend.

We are lucky that we only have one field that floods with water backing up from the River Enrick. 

Typically though, that was where all 130 cows, calves and heifers were grazing when the water levels became a concern.

See also: Farmers warned to stay alert after Dutch bluetongue outbreak

About the author

David Girvan

Livestock Farmer Focus writer David Girvan and family run a 140-cow Stabiliser herd and wool-shedding crossbred ewes on a 3,000ha upland farm west of Inverness. Finished stock are sent to Woodheads. Diversifications include pumpkin picking, wind turbines and a biomass boiler.

Read more articles by David Girvan

In that field, livestock can become trapped if we’re not vigilant during bad weather. I might have planned a bit better, had I realised the forecast.

Some time ago, dad extended the riverbank to connect it to higher ground. So, by opening a gate into the next field, the cows got to safety just fine.

I was questioning my decision to have all those cattle in one field though, dreading the mess I’d wake up to on Sunday, but was pleasantly surprised when I moved them. 

Having all our cows together has really simplified our grazing at this time of year. Most of our fields are now about 4ha (10 acres), resulting in a shift each day. 

We are going back into fields roughly five weeks after the last graze. Ideally it would be longer at this time of year, as the lush grass is going straight through them.

We had been giving access to straw in a feed trailer, then stopped when they were grazing steep fields.

I am not convinced it is worth the hassle and mess. It is an easy way to get minerals into the cows by sprinkling on top of the straw, though. 

We are planting two separate blocks of riparian woodlands out on our open hill.

The idea of these narrow areas of trees, up the side of a small burn, is to give shelter to wildlife and livestock, thereby increasing the biodiversity.

The more shaded the watercourses are, the less the water temperature rises, which has big benefits. The small section we are doing will have minuscule impact, though it all helps.

Due to the height and exposure to harsh weather in this location, I doubt if the trees will ever outgrow me and maybe not even my children.

The two blocks have now been deer-fenced and await the tree planters.