Farm Animals

Hay feeders are used to prevent waste and improve the efficiency of hay fed to livestock. Hay feeders can be commercially acquired or built by livestock owners who have the proper tools and shop...

Round hay bales are the common method for feeding livestock and horses in many areas. If hay is simply placed on the ground without any feeder, a percentage of the feed will be wasted when the...

Horses are large animals and many of them are very athletic. This means they need to get plenty to eat in order to maintain their weight and to provide their bodies with energy so they can do...

Homemade goat feeders, for hay and grain, can be made with a few basic tools and supplies. In putting up your feeders, keep in mind your goats' basic behaviors and likes and dislikes. The type of...

As ruminants (animals with four stomachs that chew a cud and primarily consume a plant-based diet), goats require a daily intake of roughage in the form of hay, especially during the winter when...

Designing the proper hay feeder for your animals can save some serious headaches down the road. If your design does not take into account what animals will be eating from the feeder, you can end...

Loading hay onto a trailer and having it not topple over is a learned skill. With practice this task can become effortless and quickly done. Square bales of hay tend to take more practice to load...

Fescue foot, or fescue toxicity, is a non-contagious condition that develops in cattle eating tall fescue, a cool-season perennial grass. Fescue foot occurs most frequently in cattle in the fall...

Large bales of hay, whether round or square, are much more cost effective to feed livestock. Large bales can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to feeding them out because they are heavy and...

Cattle health and profitability are dependent upon achieving and maintaining proper body weights. Weight loss or slow gain can indicate health problems such as pests and parasites, or the need for...

Hay and straw are similar in appearance, but serve different purposes. Hay is a feed, while straw is a byproduct. While both can be used for bedding, straw is more suitable.

The moisture content of stored hay can affect the quality of the livestock feed and how well it can be stored. High-moisture hay is prone to forming mold, which leads to an overall loss of feed...

Oat hay is extremely nutritious and primarily consumed by horses and other animals. The Kentucky College of Agriculture says oat hay is especially recommended for older horses because it is high...

Regardless of what kind of goat you own, your animal needs nutrients every day to stay alive; most goat owners provide these nutrients in the form of fresh grass, hay and grain. Trying to predict...

The quality of nutrition from hay depends upon the amount of foliage in the hay. The more leaves present in the hay the higher the nutrient content.

Donkeys are a type of equine and are cousins to horses. They are affectionate and fairly easy to care for, although they can be quite strong-willed and stubborn. With proper health care and...

Livestock such as cattle and cows are a valuable commodity around the world. Whether you raise cows for beef or as pets what to feed a cow is information for all owners of cows.

Donkeys are members of the equine family along with horses, zebras and mules. You can feed them a diet similar to horses but in lower quantity and consisting of low-protein grasses. Donkeys...

Goats will eat just about anything, but owners want to ensure they are getting a balanced diet. With hay prices rising, farmers and researchers seek out less costly alternatives that still provide...

Nesting boxes provide a quiet, comfortable place for your chickens to lay eggs. They should be lined with bedding so hens will enjoy using them, they will stay clean, and eggs are protected from...

The ultimate cause of overfed farm animals can always be traced back to the humans responsible for the animals. Overfed and overweight or obese livestock are not happy animals and, in most cases,...

Often large loads of hay are delivered with little help from the buyer, but many times only a load or two is needed and paying the high fees to have it delivered isn't necessary. It's possible to...

Horses are wonderful animals that require a fair amount of work. Whether raising work horses or race horses or just pleasure horses, there are some basic rules to keeping the animals. These are...

When adopting a rabbit for the first time it is very important to make sure you are feeding him the proper food. This will keep your rabbit healthy and happy for a long time.

It is said goats eat anything, but really your goats do well with kitchen leftovers and hay. Learn to raise dairy goats with proper feed from an organic farmer in this free dairy farming video.

Pregnant dairy goats should lead a cushy life with lots of leafy greens, rich hay, and grain supplements. Learn to raise pregnant dairy goats from an organic farmer in this free dairy farming video.

A temporary round pen acts as a barrier while training a young horse. The presence of an enclosure can make the horse feel more secure, and it also keeps the horse from running away. Hay bales are...

Caring for farm animals is fairly easy for those who choose to live the lifestyle.

Horses lose weight for a number of reasons and, to correct the condition, you must address the specific problem. Among the most common causes of low weight in horses, are ill-fitting teeth and...

If you are involved in livestock agriculture, you know the importance of feeding good, quality hay to your animals. One device that will help you keep your hay fresh for feeding is the hay rack....

Pygmy goats are one of the few animals classified as livestock that can be great pets, too. Their small stature, gregarious nature and smart-as-a-whip intelligence means they're fun for everyone...

Barns are imperative for storing agricultural machinery, housing farm animals or storing hay and other grains for livestock. When you design a barn, keep in mind the intended end use, your budget...

It's amazing that a mother cow knows exactly what to do when her calf is born. Sometimes the mother cow shuns the calf, they become separated in large herds or the mother dies, leaving a calf...

Alpacas mostly eat hay, but learn more about the alpaca diet with expert tips in this free animal care video.

Alpaca feeders are important for keeping the hay off of the ground. Learn how to pick out and use alpaca feeders in this free animal care video.

Alpacas will mainly eat grass hay. Learn more about the alpaca diet with expert tips in this free pet care video.

Having a goat for a pet is becoming more and more common. Goats are still considered farm animals, but goats are not just for farms anymore. Having a goat as a pet can be a fun experience, as long...

Small livestock, like chickens, rabbits and goats, are great animals to have, but they do require special feeding. The process of feeding small livestock can be a time-consuming one, but it...

Selecting good quality hay for your farm animals is very important for their health and overall production. Choosing bad hay can sicken animals. If they eat extremely bad hay, it can even kill...

Alpine goats are some of the best animals to have on a farm. Not only are they easy to care for, but they also have positive characteristics that you will enjoy. Knowing how to care for alpine...

Goats are blessed with many beautiful aspects, one being the simplicity of their care. Goats don’t require daily walks, and you don’t have to clean their litter box. The only thing...

Miniature, or pygmy, goats can be kept as pets, milking goats, browsers, or show animals. Pygmy goats are suitable for almost any climate. They are well suited to be part of a herd or housed with...

Hay is a staple food for livestock during the winter months. Learning how to bale hay requires patience. With today's big hay balers, it's a much easier task. However, the farmer is still...

For horse and cow owners, hay can be the biggest expense incurred through the winter. Hay is the main food source for most cows and horses in the winter because there is no grass. There are many...

Raising pigs can be a profitable business. What you need to know are conditions and costs. Make sure that the temperature doesn't rise above 70 degrees for them, or drop below 60. The approximate...

Most people think of cows as a food source. Unless you've raised a cow, you probably don't know they are intelligent animals and easy to develop a fondness for, and that they become sensitive to...

Keeping a pet sheep can be a rewarding experience and a great tool for teaching children responsibility and respect for animals. Sheep kept as pets should be females or neutered males. They should...

Even though goats are often depicted as virtual garbage disposals through cartoons or other sources, it is important to provide them with a nutritious diet. The fainting goat breed historically...

Fainting goats are also known as nervous goats, stiff-leg goats, Myotonic Goats, wooden-leg goats and Tennessee Scare Goats. Why? Because, when startled, the goat's legs stiffen and it falls over,...

Donkeys are usually mistaken for being an ill-tempered animal although its temperament is determined by the owner's treatment. A lot of care, foresight and knowledge are required in grooming this...