Plastic Barrels Make Handy Calf Feeders

Plastic Barrels Make Handy Calf Feeders DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Empty 15-gal barrels make great portable calf feeders says Tom Cook of Pewamo Mich With nearly 300 dairy cows he had plenty of empty teat dip and soap barrels on hand He cuts plastic barrels in half lengthwise with a circular saw and secures them together with 1-in long 1/4-in bolts with big flat washers Five barrels cut in half bolted together creates about 25 ft of trough to fill with supplemental grain for his calves on pasture Handles on each end make it easy to move them or dump water when it rains “I put 85 calves on pasture starting around June 1 and have 15 acres between three paddocks ” Cook says “Every day we pull it forward about 100 ft to spread the manure and reduce overgrazing in one spot ” The barrel feeders are light and easy to handle yet very durable “I’ve been using it for 15 years and have only replaced about half a dozen barrel halves ” Cook says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Cook Dairy 11454 Parks Rd Pewamo Mich 48873 ph 517 449-0322; cookdairyfarmer@gmail com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.