Working Trailer Designed For Rotational Grazing

Working Trailer Designed For Rotational Grazing LIVESTOCK Beef Doug Abney has a college degree in engineering that has been a big help in finding ways to raise cattle more efficiently He and his family raise Belted Galloway cattle in Johnson County Indiana using sustainable pasture grazing as their source of feed Abney and his family run a 45-acre farm dedicated to pastureland that he’s developed through the assistance of conservation cost sharing programs and EQIP the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Abney’s rotational grazing system is highly efficient including a one-of-a-kind combination watering system/mineral trailer/tool cart that he built himself Abney built the device on a small trailer that he bought at a bargain price off Craigslist “I think the original trailer was probably used at an airport and it had been modified and lowered to the ground to haul something very heavy ” Abney says “I made a few changes to it myself took it to the field to make sure it worked then modified it again so our herd bull was able to use it just like the cows ” Abney’s 4 by 10-ft trailer carries a 300-gal water tank that allows animals to drink on all sides His registered Belted Galloway bull has such a large head that he had to make a special trough for him The waterer/trailer includes a large toolbox with 2 compartments that hold 10 bags of mineral The back of the trailer has a mineral feeder that holds 2 bags As cattle lick the minerals their necks rub against a small hood that wicks fly spray onto their necks It’s a self-application system that saves Abney time and increases cattle comfort Abney pulls the trailer with a small tractor and positions it in a lane where cattle from 2 pastures can reach it at the same time “The hardest part of rotational grazing is keeping water in front of the cattle at all times ” says Abney “This trailer allows me to do that because I have an in-ground water supply that’s never more than 175 ft away ” He connects a hose to the float so the water tank is always full Abney is expanding his rotation acres and hopes to double the number of cattle he has on pasture in 2016 He says the trailer works so well that he may have to make another one just like it for use in other pastures near his farm Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Doug Abney 4960 West 150 North Bargersville Ind 46106 ph 317 409-6857; www redbarnmeatsllc com

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