getting cows and calves in from a field

[happy hollidays]

Ihave been without a computer for a few weeks, (quite nice actually) but these are a few things we learnt last year after having just entered into dexter keeping. We keep our crush between two gates to get them used to walking through the crush on a daily basis, thus there is no panic when they are contained in it. We also put a knackered horse trailer with straw in it in the field that they are in and they get used to loading themselves in a trailer on a daily basis. I used to put treats in it at first, now they go in by themselves regularly. We put paving slabs around the ring feeder to stop them standing in mud, they can be moved easily as and when required. As we only have two dexters and 12 sheep, we bought a sheep ring feeder for hay. We have found that you get a lot less waste on the floor if you put the round bales in on their side instead of standing upright. When it gets low I put it into hay racks in their stables, save any thing getting stuck!!!