IsaanAussie

RBH,

I'm green with envy at the ease of your setup, but there is a method to my madness (hopefully). The compost system is generating a lot of interest and the start of sales.

I was very keen on building a biodigester but Thai neighbours and explosive potential, coupled with the corrosive gas fractions and storage issues turned me off it. Maybe later. But I can back up the potential for it. The content of the septic tanks in my system generate a lot of gas despite the low proportion of solids.

Isaanaussie

Say fellas,

My In-Laws use a 2 wheel Kobuta, I would love to get a small 4 wheel tractor for them, but used tractor prices in Thailand are crazy.

I have a couple here in the states,

but I thought I might try shipping a good Ford 8n.

I know the shipping costs for a 20' Container is around $1,800.

Then I could load it with other goodies. a few implements.

I believe there must be some type of duty tax.

Anyone know how much that maybe?

You will find the current duty rate by going to the Royal Thai Customs web site. Note: Most tractors are imported as CKD kits to minimise duty rates, check that out it may save some money. How far the tractor has to be dismantled I have no idea but I imagine it would need to have all the body work and wheels removed at least. Another thing to check out is the tractor valuation, Thai customs have been known to set their own values on things based on web search averages and all sort of strange things. Would probably pay you to get a recognised local customs agent who may know a more "efficient" way of minimising the overall cost.

Isaanaussie.

my pigs have no smell too...it's just the shittie manhole that's attracting all the flies, the big green colour type house flies...definitely will give the dish water detegent a try, Thanks Aussie and wateredge for the infos...

Good to have something that works reasonably at little cost. By the way RBH, I love your tag line quote. Just how appropriate is that here in Thailand dealing with the locals?

Isaanaussie

Watersedge,

As usual a gold mine of information.

As an offshoot, the residual soap doesnt hurt for washing down the pens or the pigs. I take a minimalist approach to water usage for this as the current capacity of the sty soak away system is limited. I have a high pressure washer which does a great job and uses less than 10 litres a minute for when the pens get dirty, and generally just use a gravity fed 3/4" hose (2-3 psi) for clean out following dry muck out with chopped straw.

So the pens are clean, the pigs are clean, there is no smell, but the flies are abundant due to the weather at the moment.

Isaanaussie

Hi all,

I found a formula for a bug spray amongst the clutter in the inbox. Simple two tablespoons of dish washing liquid in an average size spray bottle full of water. I didnt think it would work but with a fly problem in the pig sty not much to loose.

Give it a try, amazing results.

Isaanaussie

TT,

Thanks for the links, interesting stuff.

Yesterday I purchased a sewage pump for the 6 septic tanks in the pig sty. I have a large pond in front of the pig sty which is just begging to have duckweed added. No excuses left just a need for the time to do it, and of course a source of duckweed to start. On the list of to dos along with other things. I used to live near a wat in suphan buri that had a lot of duckweed ponds and was alive with fish.

One day.

Isaanaussie

Hey Jubby,

PTO driven chippers yes please, take a look at

www.libertychippers.com

At todays exchange rate around 60-70,000 baht for the 5 inch version, carbon steel blades and all. Lots of Chinese versions available for less but doubt the quality is as good.

Arh, dream on, her in doors would kill me. Actually no she wouldn't but she wouldn't stop yarping about it for ages, a fate worst then death.

Isaanaussie

IA

If we are talking about dreaming , this is the best small pto chipper/shredder money can buy and I already have the BCS tractor in the garage.

An incredible machine for the home garden.

Check it out. http://www.bcs-ameri...2e24bbe55b1b722

About $ 1500.00 in the US , made in Italy.

I keep telling myself not to buy it but after seeing all the crap available here I am not so sure.

Best

Soi Dog,

I know exactly what you mean. Not a matter of do you have the money, more a matter is that the best way to spend it. For me the need currently is to simply chop straw into lengths that I can handle once its in the compost combined with the pig manure. Man is it ever heavy if you try using it straight out of the bale. Now there is something that I wish I could convince myself to buy, a small round baler. Dream on.....

I have trialled growing sweet potatoes for pig feed and with my purchase I am hoping to kill two birds with one stone. Just started modified a mower blade to suit. My old iseki tractor needs a bit of TLC at the moment and I sure miss the rotary hoe at the moment.

Just not enough chamongs in a wan at the moment.

IA

Hey Jubby,

PTO driven chippers yes please, take a look at

www.libertychippers.com

At todays exchange rate around 60-70,000 baht for the 5 inch version, carbon steel blades and all. Lots of Chinese versions available for less but doubt the quality is as good.

Arh, dream on, her in doors would kill me. Actually no she wouldn't but she wouldn't stop yarping about it for ages, a fate worst then death.

Isaanaussie

Yesterday I bought a potato slicer. Which looks very similar to the vegetation cutter in the same set of youtube videos, flat loading chute feeding into a rotating blade mounted at right angles to the feed. I intend to replace the flat disc cutter with a bar blade similar to a lawn mower or slasher to cut straw. It came with a 1hp electric motor and cost a total of 7,000 baht. No good for wood chipping though. Hopefully I can use it for both purposes (sweet potatoes and straw) by interchanging the blades and motor pulley sizes.

They also had a vertical feed shredder with an 8" throat for 12,500 baht complete with 3 Hp motor and a 10" for about 18,000 complete with 5 HP motor.

Also had a small Honda shredder which I didnt ask the price on but have seen them around for about 30,000 baht (5HP petrol) and a massive trailer mounted tree eater which was 80,000 baht without the recommended 16HP Kubota engine.

Isaanaussie

About a month ago one of my gilts had an rectal prolapse that was repaired by a team of local vets. Well the day before yesterday it was time for her to check out of the single room and back into communal living with her siblings.

There was a lot of interest and a bit of pushing and shoving during that afternoon but basically I was pleased with the reintroduction. Yesterday morning a neighbour told the wife that there had been a bit of boxing in the sty overnight and I wondered what I would encounter when I went over after breakfast.

Well here was the gilt nearly floating around the rafters with fully inflated ears, man had she been beaten up. Bruised from backside to breakfast but not a single drop of blood anywhere. She was exhausted and laying on the floor with the rest apologising profusely by licking her ballooned ears.

In keeping with the topic, and recognising that "modern" standards call for group housing, I pose the following question. Does anyone know "a better way" to put an estranged pig, or new member into an existing group in an open pen without causing a boxing tournament? Or is it our lot in life to be the morning after cut man?

Isaanaussie

There is a company that manufacturers wood chippers and fertiliser making gear near Sisaket. Pretty agricultural but very robust, comes with a 3HP motor can handle 3-4" branches. About 35,000 baht from memory.

Isaanaussie.

Yesterday I had two of the pig sty septic tanks pumped out to check the sediment level after three months in operation, the theotherical desludging period. Each tank holds 1,500 litres and I was surprised to see the bottom 25% was full of sediments since most of the wastes are dry mucked out. Well when I do it at least. Anyway as soon as the truck arrived so did the "takers" a couple of farmers who wanted the tanker to dump the load on their land.

It was also pleasing that there was no sediment in the second chamber of the tank despite the fast throughput. I believe the retention time in the septic tank is about three to five days at a minimum. After 3 months the scum blanket on top of the waste was about 5cm thick. This was easily removed as it was bound together by small pieces of straw used in the pens that had worked through the filters.

Although it only costs 200 baht per tank, there are 6 tanks and justifying a sludge pump is getting easier. But try as I might I havent been able to find one.

Anyone got any ideas on which type of pump available around Isaan would be capable of lifting the slurry, where is it, and a rough idea of cost?

Ideally I want to pump the water out first then pump the solid fractions on a sand filter/drier bed to drain it for use in fertiliser in combination with the compost.

Oh yeah, now definitely a huge fan of EM. Practically no smell from the septic system at all.

I have also been playing with the wash water volume to establish an upper limit for the soakaway system. It appears I will need about 100 metres of drains.

Isaanaussie.

Might I suggest that an ape is just an ape?

IA

I have seen a simple application here. A huge fish pond on which is grow that tiny leafed water plant. The pond is fertilised with pig wastes and the plants harvested daily and feed to the pigs. The cat fish are enormous.

That is zero energy dependant other than some plain hard work.

IA

WE,

This is a great idea, be it for basic ingredients or for pelleted feeds. For that matter to move any farm related product between members and markets.

I see only one obstacle and that is the transport.

Perhaps each member should find a local private truck owner, not a bomb but a truck in reasonable condition which he can use in the network. If member A needs a product by the load, he sends his truck to get it, as you would, as you probably do. However for partial loads between members and markets there would need to be a logistics management tool to route plan deliveries and hopefully return loads. That presents a major obstacle which unless solved means lots of unladen trucks for half the journey, and that introduces significant cost.

Another option would be to use a commercial freight company given that enough members had the need along any route "circuit".

Typical opportunity would be to combine rice harvests and ship to Bangkok merchants. If you grow 15 - 20 tonne, then OK, but if you have less the BKK guys aren't interested, but with 2 or 3 others joined together, no problem to get the tonnage. When I looked last, the price available was roughly twice the local merchants rate.

Most of the private truckers prefer to travel at night to avoid the obvious daytime additional costs and stoppages. This would work in favour of transporting produce like vegetables.

Anyway for what it is worth, get the transport in place and the idea is great.

Well after many days my tenacious little gilt piglet finally circumed to the obvious. After hand feeding her for ten days, I admit to shedding a tear when I buried her. Some time ago I was accused of being to close to the children, OK, guilty as charged.

Isaanaussie

Couldn't you have eaten it ?

I suppose I could have, but you know something? The thought didn't even occur to me at the time.

Isaanaussie

Yeah know that feeling, what was the access into the pig sty is strictly 4WD now. Not helped by a bunch of pigs who decided to turn a slight puddle into a massive wallow. Oh well, there is a will so there must be a way. Actually our rain has been reasonable but still not enough to have all the paddies covered in water so transplanting rice is slow with a lot of tops without roots being pulled. Such is life.

RBH and Fruity,

Agree completely. Actually I sat on the floor of the nursery pen with the piglet last night, I didnt lay down. RBH, what your neighbour told you is very true. In those few hours it was a bonding session with the litter of piglets.

Isaanaussie

Well after many days my tenacious little gilt piglet finally circumed to the obvious. After hand feeding her for ten days, I admit to shedding a tear when I buried her. Some time ago I was accused of being to close to the children, OK, guilty as charged.

Isaanaussie

Has anyone given these strawberry plants a try? Particularly in the Northeast? I am interested in giving it a shot later in the year and need to develop a small plot if I can source plants.

Isaanaussie

Samlula,

There is a German trailer manufacturer in Bangkok and an Australian one in Chok Chai that I know. Both build quality products but at a high price as major components are imported. I also have a contact with trailer component makers in Australia through which the important bits can be imported directly. I have a catalogue for their products somewhere in the pile of paper I have been collecting. If you have a design and can weld a bit, why not build it yourself? Happy to give you a hand if you are near me or prepared to travel. Also somewhere in the collection of design stuff I have data on a tandem tipper that could be modified to your requirement it was fitted with a hydraulic ram which could be run from a rear tapping on the tractor.

On the local front there is a Thai guy who has build a lot of gear for TV members who are very happy with his work. Check the posts on farm machinery in particular forage harvesters. If you are not particular about suspension or gross weight there are any number of local ag machinery companys and fabricators in most locations, take a drive around your area.

On a lighter note, with tongue in cheek, if you were a Thai, you would probably just use a pickup truck until it's back broke. Then you could tow it with the tractor.

Isaanaussie

Isaanaussie,

Thanks for the info, i have made several flat bed trailers for DC60's, but attempting to build a tipper is beyond my specs. i seem to have major problem's finding "Thick" steel, I find all the steel here in Thailand is very, very thin and of poor quality, the thickest box section i have found / ordered was 3mm, even it was not good, tried welding with both stick and Co2. I reckon i would rather pay the extra cash and get a proper import one if possible. If you can find the tel numbers of the Aus company near Chok Chai and send it to me that would be great, i will be passing by that way next weekend.

Thanks

My pleasure. Attached is the last contact information I have for Carry More. Note the Chok Chau address is the only one they were using when I last spoke to them. There was a guy called David Long that I spoke to direct number 0899877063.

Carry_More_Trailer Addresses.pdf

Since you have built units before, then prehaps you vould consider buying the chassis and tipper unit and fitting the rest yourself. Check this link

http://www.agriaffai...artisanale.html

At about 80,000 baht plus freight and import duties it would be a good deal.

Isaanaussie

Samlula,

There is a German trailer manufacturer in Bangkok and an Australian one in Chok Chai that I know. Both build quality products but at a high price as major components are imported. I also have a contact with trailer component makers in Australia through which the important bits can be imported directly. I have a catalogue for their products somewhere in the pile of paper I have been collecting. If you have a design and can weld a bit, why not build it yourself? Happy to give you a hand if you are near me or prepared to travel. Also somewhere in the collection of design stuff I have data on a tandem tipper that could be modified to your requirement it was fitted with a hydraulic ram which could be run from a rear tapping on the tractor.

On the local front there is a Thai guy who has build a lot of gear for TV members who are very happy with his work. Check the posts on farm machinery in particular forage harvesters. If you are not particular about suspension or gross weight there are any number of local ag machinery companys and fabricators in most locations, take a drive around your area.

On a lighter note, with tongue in cheek, if you were a Thai, you would probably just use a pickup truck until it's back broke. Then you could tow it with the tractor.

Isaanaussie

NIce post and good information, i am not planning on this big of a scale at first, just want ease into it if possible, and for me will have to learn as i go and read good reads as this one, thought i would get my feet wet with 1 male and 4 or 5 female, will get the set-up and shelters done and go from there,,should be good for my soil on the other 20 rai,,thanks again

Good Luck CJ,

There are some experienced pig farmers on the forum from whom I have learnt a lot. I am sure that you will get any advice you need as well.

I have just started producing pig manure and chopped straw compost over the last few months. It makes great soil conditioner and good compost worm food as well.

Isaanaussie

Hi Leebie

Srisaket is quite a fair sized city with the usual supermarkets and I suspect you will be able to get things locally. If not Surin is not that far and as its were I live, I know of many locations

in town for furniture. IQ Moderntrade is a very large DIY/Home-mart type of place thats quite good. We also have both Concept and Index stores selling furniture plus loads of different places for 'white' good.

Feel free to PM me, if I can be of further help.

p.s. I don't come from above the Thames BTW.

thx dave we will look at surin, i think we can drive that way from bkk i think it too late some things have been purchased allready by my wife sister,hope fully nothing for our rooms.not sure what tha fasination is with blue....but we got plenty of it !

Leebie,

I am in Sisaket as well. I manufacture furniture but from your post not within the price range you want. As a guide if you are looking for the basic stuff then Bic C, Tescos and the like sell assembly yourself stuff very cheaply. Personally I think Index and the like stuff is much the same chipboard junk but over priced. The one thing your will have to hunt for is a decent mattress. Most Thai mattresses are as hard as a rock and even harder if you turn them over. I bought a foam mattress some eight years ago and it has been and still is very comfortable, it cost 1,600 baht. A decent mattress (inner spring) will cost your about 10,000 baht.

If your travelling via Surin then fine. If you want want a day trip from Sisaket then try Ubon. Many large furniture stores etc and only 60 odd Kms away. Try Big C in Sisaket for the cupboards etc...

Isaanaussie

Have a question for you pig farmers. Is there nutritional value in lamyai for combining into a pig ration for porkers? Would imagine it is possible but I can find nothing as far as feed value on most fruits. We used to feed the excess/spoiled fruit and veggies to hogs along with grain, but we were not into raising pigs except for personal consumption, out of the smoke house. Not scientific or calculated feed regime at all. Some of the fruit prices can hit rock bottom (10 baht kilo or less) at times and I was wondering if they could be incorporated at this price?

Interesting point. Most fruits have considerable sugar content hence would be an energy source. As to protein content I dont know, but I'll bet that the pigs would love it.

From a more practical point of view at 10 baht it would not be cheaper than the finished cost of commercial maintenance diets. It would also create more work in preparation and cleanup. Imagine slaving over a wheel barrow load of fruit salad then inviting in the local kids for a food fight. An exaggeration I know but pig's table manners in this climate would bring a massive fly problem at the very least.

However I like to give my pigs a treat every now and then.

you're meaning to say that you're adding chicken manure with other ingredients to produce feed for pigs !?!!!

Am I doing it at the moment? No. Is it being done? Yes.