Korat Correct

Fascinating thread.

Random Chances challenges my statement that Brahmans are kept as a status symbol.

To clarify that they sure aren't kept for milk or beef production.Just look at the conformation.

Keeping them as a status symbol doesn't mean they don't want a profit.

Presumably one has visited the local "cattle market".Its the heifers that make the money for breeding cattle, to produce more heifers.

Thats OK until saturation point, when everyone has enough.( I understand that there has been a spate of unnatural cow deaths within 60km of Korat?

The principle is that cattle grow into money, especially if they are heifers.

I kept 75 Dairy/Beef cross Cows and ran two Simmental bulls to cover them, until I retired.(I also ran 530 breeding ewes.)

The cows had nothing but grass/silage. The calves were creep fed better silage or grass and "straights" in winter. Calves were expected to put on at least 1kg per day and were sold at 350-400kg for finishing. Of course they put that on from milk and grass until housed and even then had access to the dam until sold. The cows sort of weaned them off when they were expecting again!

For the beef system try to stay off the concentrates. In Thailand I understand they are about £90 per ton and there is no subsidy support. The real key is growing the grass and probably on a zero grazing system.That means having the right land, irrigation and harvesting set up.

The trick is to find the right processing set up and market.

At 270bht per kg deadweight one should make a profit.

I rather like the brown/ white indigenous Thai cow. I think it could be covered by a Hereford /Angus or Simmental, but the Charolais may be too big.

The Chary/Limo would be OK on a fit Fresian dairy cow ( avoid Holstein) and would make an excellent beef cross cow.

Use a Chary/ Limo on the beef cross cow too, but buy/or make a calving aid just in case.

If anyone has gone down this road I would be very interested to come and see how they manage their set up.

You can email me!!

Aviva Insurance (Thailand)are no longer associated with Norwich Union in Thailand. They sold their stake in NU to a Japanese Co. last year. ( My UK car insurance is with NU direct)

However if you are considering new car insurance ( or need any other insurance) ThaiSri Insurance Co Ltd. ( Part of the Zurich Ins. Group) offer 15% discount if you have any UK car insurance. The market price used to value the vehicle can also go down to 80% of the market price( discount off the new price). They also offer the UK NCB.

They need the "book registration of your car,insured name and address".

On the subject of safety in LOS, just read the scare notices sent out by the British Embassy here.

They repeatedly say all areas of LOS are subject to terrorist threats. I challenged them to substantiate their claim but they declined.Personally I feel safer here in Korat than in many places in the UK. Common sense and keeping your wits about you are the order of the day. The world is becoming a more violent place. Some places are more threatening than others. The forces for peace in the world are loosing ground. The US with GW Bush and lackey Blair are hel_l bent in protecting the interests of Big Business anywhere in the world where it is threatened.

The trick is to try to stay out of the firing line.

No Not bored yet!

But what are the alternatives?

Totster

Impressive!

You can get the photo from Google Earth?

Google Earth is well worth downloading.

My favorite is Lam Phra Phloeng Dam near Pak Thong Chai.

I have Google photos of it.

It is very long and used to have boats you could take up to 25 kms.

The whole set up has collapsed through Thai ineptitude.

It is well worth a drive via Pak Thong Chai to Ban Buhuachang Village and then to see the Dam!

The hills and the water remind me of home.

Shucks, I think I'll cry and give my support to Tony Bliar.

NO on second thoughts I'll settle for LOS.

> The rear seats are better than the "extra" two door cab.You don't have to

> keep sliding the front seats forward to gain access for passengers and

> shopping. I know the annual tax is more.

Well, yes, but being registered as passenger cars, 1st class insurance is less.

And, suddenly being a passenger car, you're allowed to drive faster. (Serious!)

Cheers,

Chanchao

Chanchao

I didn't know that 4 door makesIst Class insurance is cheaper.

I am working on Insuring the pickup now so that was very helpful.

Being 4 door does make the yearly tax go from 900 to 6000bht though I think?

TT&T server failure all day on the 5th July and the weekend before.

I told them I am paying for a service I am not receiving.

I complained and asked them for a rebate.

I asked if there is an Internet regulator?

I told them a Sham is defined as something that is not as good as or genuine as it seems to be....FALSE

I asked them if this fitted their description.

I am waiting for their response.

I am not sure how long my contract has to run but does anyone know of a better service?

I wrote another letter to point out their website is full of abracadabra as well as Thai.

The reply said they are developing www.ttt.co.th in English for foreign customers and apologise for the inconvenience.

This interesting topic is getting more practical by the day.

From what I have seen the Brahman bulls are unwanted and sold off for meat at 6 months at about 150-200 kg. In this case castration isn't an issue and nor is the darker meat. Its almost like veal and is what you see for sale in the markets at +/- 100bht/kg. Killing out will be just over 50% of the live weight so they don't make much money on the carcase.

In the UKcalves are normally castrated within one week of birth, to avoid a growth check if done later. The buyers don't like stressed animals either which bulls tend to become as they get older which turns their meat darker. This is quite apart from the management issues.

The quality meat that can be had in farang haunts in Korat comes from older bull beef and is very dark.

The Brahman cattle are mainly kept as a status symbol. Wealth being multiplied by the number of cows a man owns. They have their uses too and its the heifer calves the farmer wants. A six month bull calf might fetch 6-8000 bht whereas a heifer would make 20,000bht plus and thats income.

The Thai French Co operating out of Sakon Nakhon uses continental beef crosses, I understand. I want to see some of the 200 farmers who supply them with 18month old + beef. They would be a good place to start for anyone interested in getting a beef production unit going here.

Thinking about a new Misubishi pickup.

Has anyone got the Mitsuibishi dealers insurance or do they all act independently with a local firm they get commission from?

Old threads recommend Sampanh, AIG. IAG,Liberty and Viriyah. Has anyone had problems or good service from these?

ING are a big insurance company too. Anyone with them?

The price depends on the car value. Is that the book price or the price paid?

What about the goods carried in a pickup. Are all personal goods carried covered in the Comprehensive cover?

Is a valid UK NCB insurance ever taken into consideration?

smartecosse

Do you have a problem with visiting a Mitsubishi dealer?

If not go and enjoy their hospitality.

There are a range of 1& 1/2 pickups and if you are buying new may i suggest you ask for a big discount from the list price and then decide what "accessories" you want.

What an objectionable person Thai Ranger is.

I suggest that before he says anthing else he asks himself three questions. Is it kind, is it necessary and is it true? Otherwise don't say it.

I do not need to rise to his insults but rest assured the comments I have given on this thread are backed up by qualification and 25 years experience.

Dereklev

Your comments taken in good faith.

Take care to have too much "faith" in doctors.

POM's "prescription only medicines" are one way of protecting medical interests.

You know the saying "Doctor knows best"

They are very knowledgeable but sometimes they presume the rest of us are not,which is not true.

After many years the NHS now allows others to take blood, give advice and prescribe some medicines. Previously the NHS claimed it was an insurance risk. Medical Technicians ( Ambulance men)now use defibrillators and give morphine.

You can buy many drugs over the counter in most countries that are unavailable to you in the UK but it hasn't stopped UK drug abuse and hasn't caused it in the other countries.

By using common sense and getting to a centre of excellence for the best advice you can guide your families health care in the direction that meets your needs.

It is always worth listening to the professionals even though you don't have to take their advice.

Let me know if you manage to find out how effective the Public Health Service is in Korat. They should have a Consultant Physician in charge who should not only be accessible but have said something publicly on this Virus, that has been claimed to have killed children, its effect on public health and what they are doing to contain it.

What a fascinating topic. I had no idea there were so many expat farmers or budding farmers.

All the obvious pitfalls have been covered and by trial and error most seem to be succeeding in enjoying the hard work involved.

Its a pity the country does not have an cohesive agricultural policy or local farm advisory service to match it, though the Agricultural Dept of the local University can be helpful. What is the animal health service like though?

No Farm Coops or Guaranteed prices exist either and the markets are not well established. Middle men abound!

Farming is a fickle business because when you start production you often don't know what the market will be like when you want sell,and you have to sell when the crop is ready,if storage is a problem.

For a market there must be buyers and sellers and too many of one and too few of the other leads to a collapse in price.Some markets are a long way from the farm.

Knowing your market is vital,but for those wanting to farm a few acres/rai the first priority may be to become self sufficient in as many things as possible.

Irrigation is vital, as has been said,and with water most crops can be grown on a small scale,soil conditions permitting. Rearing animals for ones own consumption is a little more tricky. The processing facilities are somewhat primitve!! Butchering and storage costs may be high, but eating ones own produce gives real satisfaction.

Keep the experiences coming with comment on the successes and failures.

Dereklev

The British National Formulary states that Erythromycin is also indicated as an alternative to penicillin in hypersensitive patients, campylobacter enteritis, pneumonia, legionnaires disease, syphilis etc..

It is for gram negative organisms,the kind found in the gut and safe for children.

I was only trying to be helpful.

Thaipwriter

It can take up to 2 years even if you are both fertile.

Age is no barrier either though it may slow things down a little.

Keep "changing the oil" and listen to all those old wives tales.They don't do abit of good but can spice up the event.

If you are really concerned get a sperm count done.

There are more than 70 Enteroviral infection types.

They are spread by oral to oral or faecal to oral routes

Incubation is 2-5 days

They are highly contagious

After ingestion of the infected material EV's are implanted in the alimentary tract ( nose to gut)

Specific antibodies may be detected in serum after 1 week.

Affects children under 10 years and Neotates are known to suffer myocardial problems.

Treat the fever and replace lost fluids ( see entry before)

Oral lesions with mouthwashes.

Pleconaril is an antiviral drug !!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out for Cardiac or Neurological complications. ( stiff neck partial paralysis. See before)

Enterovirals can be misdiagnosed and often are. See herpes simplex or influenza.

There is also the possibility of a bacterial gut infection ( common in UK)

(A gram negative organism can be treated with Erythromycin!!)

Often a non polio enteroviral but all children should have been given Polio vaccine and possibly the Meningitis Vaccine hence the Public Health Dept.

(An information directory notice)

Dereklev -- Prevention is definitely better than cure so you have been given that advice.

Children don't die in numbers from Common Flu.

SO!

What do the children who have this " virus"complain of ? ( symptoms)

What signs of illness do they have?

Does any pyrexia ( high temperature) respond to aspirin/paracetamol and fluids +++?

In any case the patient with a headache vomiting ,fever, poor feeding or lethargy should be isolated, in hospital until diagnosed.

In the case of these and a stiff neck, menigitis should be suspected.

In the case of small children, who may not show all these symptoms immediately, assume menigitis AND TREAT AS until proved otherwise.

Is there a Public Health Dept in Korat and what are they doing about it? Are they arranging a mass vaccination programme in case?

Menigitis is highly contagious.

Treatment is IMMEDIATE Intra venous, benzyl penicillin 600mg for young children ( half for infants)

(Double for adults).

Some patients are sensitive to Penicillin and the Cefotaxime group are indicated.

An "information directory notice" ? dereklev

Let me know if you need further help.

Maichai

After posting my thread I found you had beaten me to it and what you say is very helpful

I think you have convinced a "Doubting Thomas"

I will go and check out all you draw attention to and add your disappointments to my wanted list.

Thanks again.

Please keep in touch.

You can email me by clicking on Korat Correct!

Being unpleasant to each other is so unnecessary,and being rude is sheer ignorance

Before you say anything Big Guns, first ask

Is it kind?

Is it necessary?

Is it true?

if it is not all three please don't say it.

I thank Big Guns and billd766 for their comments.

I am certainly thinking about fuel consumption (and alternative fuels which a diesel engine cannot convert to.)

However I will check out the others comments on the subject.

For information

Toyota offer 35kbht discount

Izusu 20-30k discount

Mitsubishi 45kbht discount.

On the Triton 2.5GLX 4 door, 2wd. List Price 608kbht ( Toyota 636k)

608kbht includes as I understand it.

1 year 1st class insurance

Registration

Transport

Tax on Insurance

Liner

55% film

Floor mats

Side Visor

Scuff plates

spare wheel lock

soft cover

tank of diesel

rear light cover

AND CD

That is in the out of town Korat centre!

I have to check the price again with the In town centre.

If anyone has bought one I would like to know what they think of it.

It doesn't have ABS but something called LSPV which assists braking.

The engine is a 2.5 Turbocharged Direct Injection Engine with a Common rail fuel delivery system (DOHC 16 valves) and is a definite improvement on the Strada.

Looking to buy a new 4 door pickup.

The rear seats are better than the "extra" two door cab.You don't have to keep sliding the front seats forward to gain access for passengers and shopping. I know the annual tax is more.

Only the Toyota has a fold "up" back seat but lacks other things standard, unless you go for the 3.0 litre model.

I don't want the "hi lander" as steping up and lowering the head hurts my bad back. The 2.5l seems ideal.

However the 4 door Mitsuibishi is 100k less than Toyata and Izusu. I rejected the Ford,Nissan and Chevy. Extras excluded.

Has anyone bought the Mitsubishi and got any comments?

I know its resale value may not be as good as Toyota but the compensation is that its always easier to sell cheaper.

This has been an interesting thread but excludes those unmarried with GF's.

My first reaction was to say I give my GF " a good beating once a week whether she needs it or not" but I think others have a adopted the comedians line.

I provide all the pleasures of daily living and give my GF, about 10kbht a month. It always exceeds this with those little "extras" that seem to be unavoidable, and she spends money like water when she has it so I give it to her in irregular amounts.

What I am really interested in is how the "butterflies" manage? Married or not. Does the monthly "bill" multiply x the number of conquests in any one month?

I'll second that advice.

And add

That you should always keep control of the money supply. If buying a house get a 30 year .

lease back as your ladies family probably own the land you intend to build on.

The further from civilization the more expensive it gets.

Don't depend on getting all the luxuries of UBC and Landline Telephone/Internet out in the sticks.

However if you have lived in rural britain you should know, otherwise stay in town.

Guyham

Thanks for that.

We will go and see.

Let me know if you have Dieters phone number of any other info on the Beef subject.

Just click on my name and send an email.

Guyham

Thanks for that phone number.

Do you know if they let farangs see their beef breeding set up?

I would like to visit the area and see some of the ? 200 farms that supply Thai Beef.

We could do with a similar set up in the Korat area.

Slaughtering and processing the beef is the key, as I think there is a market both locally and in farang centres.

Which better hotels in Sakon do you recommend?

I am honoured to have been appointed President in my absence.

As I have said before I do not think a Korat Expats Club is needed to arrange "mainly socials"

I have nothing against socials per se.

I do believe an "information directory" is needed and I refer to the variety of posts and threads on these websites to substantiate that .

The directory could be as wide as the Korat Telephone Directory listings. That would include a two way communication process, and take a considerable amount of continuous work to keep the directory updated. It would need to involve the experience of established "expats".

To that end KEC should establish its own website.

An organisation without records is not being organised. KEC needs records, a committee and a democratic process.

We cannot isolate ourselves from Thai society but that does not mean we have to try to change it.

I believe the local Government would appreciate dialogue and that the best way to do this is through "Community Contribution" (such as supporting Aids orphans)

I call on the ad hoc committee, who kindly offered me the Presidency, through this TV, because this is where it all started, to reconsider the direction of the Club before I can accept their appointment.

Wilko et al

Many thanks for your advice, which I will take.

I have taken the point and will try to afford to keep my top of the range Skoda with A/C,cruise control, leather upholstery 1.9 TDI 110bhp diesel hatchback. It is 15 months old and my second Skoda which I simply enjoy driving in the UK

That is unless you know someone who will give it a good home?