Farm Animals

Alpacas are gentle, sweet, curious animals that are easy to raise. The fleece from alpacas is very desirable among the garment industry and can usually be sold for a good profit. Alpacas fleece is...

Dutch Belted Cattle are the only belted breed which trace back to the original "canvassed" cattle described in Austria and Switzerland. This breed was moved to the Netherlands shortly after the...

Ayrshire cows, also known as Dunlop or Cunninghame cows, are a breed of dairy cattle originating from Ayrshire, Scotland. Dunlops from the Cunninghame were bred with cattle from Holland to produce...

Brown Swiss cows are a breed of dairy cattle. They are the second-greatest milk producers in the world, and their milk makes excellent cheese. The Brown Swiss was bred in the harsh climate of the...

Miniature cattle, or minis, are great for smaller farms and those who consider the costs of raising traditional cattle to be too expensive. Miniature cattle are used for meat and milk just like...

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...

Rabbit breeding is an enjoyable past time and a good way to earn a few extra dollars. Breeding a champion rabbit takes skill, knowledge and an understanding of the qualities of a blue ribbon...

A chick brooder provides shelter for baby chicks and other baby birds, such as quail. The light over the top provides warmth for the inhabitants. While chick brooders are expensive to buy, you can...

This article will teach a person the basics on how to save a furry loved one, the family pet.

It will happen to anyone who breeds goats at some time. Either the mama doe goat dies in childbirth, or she refuses to nurse her kids. While it takes a lot in terms of commitment, the kid goat...

Feeding a mule without getting bitten keeps all your extremities intact. It takes a wise rancher to know how to avoid such a calamity. Many stories have been told of such pains of being bitten...

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...

In general, if a fawn has been found and a doe has not, the fawn is not an orphan. Mothers will leave their fawns all day to feed. They will not return while a human is in the area. This tactic...

Many factors influence the water requirements for livestock including level of activity, lactation, rate of weight gain, pregnancy, diet and environment temperature. Inadequate water supplies can...

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...

Fainting goats have a condition known as myotonia congenita that causes their muscles to contract in times of high stress. It can cause them to stiffen or fall over. Despite this condition,...

Pregnancy detection is integral for herd management in any livestock operation. The traditional method for determining pregnancy in cattle is rectal palpitation of the uterus. This requires skill...

Mules have long had a bad reputation as being lazy and stubborn, but we should respect these interesting half-horse/half-donkey creatures because they are smart, cautious and can't be forced to do...

There are different methods from removing the horns, or dehorning, a bull—the simplest being using a polled (without horns) bull as the sire when breeding your cattle. When this is not an option,...

Building a Duck pond is a great way to use a space that may not be suitable for flowers, vegetable gardens or lawns. Duck ponds are lots of fun and great places to observe wildlife in any season....

Pygmy goats, with their diminutive size and socialization, are ideal pet goats with relatively easy fencing options because they're so small. A pygmy goat can behave much like a pet dog as he...

Though a sturdy fence can keep many predators away from your chickens, protecting baby chicks requires extra precautions. Not only do chicks face the same dangers that their older flock mates...

Being raised on a commercial hog farm, I have castrated many baby pigs since the time I was 16 yrs old. If you'd like to be able to do this yourself with your litter of piglets, here's the...

Cattle herding dogs make wonderful companions on the farm. A well-trained cattle herding dog with a daily schedule and working activities can also make a great family pet. Cattle herding dogs are...

The Brahman breed of cattle is very adaptable to heat and flourishes in hot climates where other breeds fail to thrive. India's high temperatures developed the strong characteristics that sets the...

Originating from Scotland, Galloway cattle adapted to the damp harsh climate and developed characteristics that identify the breed today. The Galloway developed the ability to thrive on limited...

There is a great deal of interest in our food supply, from protecting its safety to promoting healthier eating. Some people have taken to raising chickens to ensure proper treatment and diet. If...

Buying a horse and buggy is a great addition to any farm. A horse and buggy can offer hours of fun and relaxation. It can also provide an added source of income when hired out for events like...

Most livestock can usually handle rainy, windy or cold temperatures. But if you live in a climate where snow falls and temperatures plummet in the winter, you need to provide your animals...

Keeping farm animals safe, warm and well fed during the winter is essential to their health and well being. There are certain special steps that must be taken to winterize farm animal pens. Here's...

Bloat is a serious condition that can quickly become very dangerous. Animals who suffer from bloat often have difficulty breathing and can die if left untreated. In order to learn how to identify...

If you want to raise farm animals but are not quite sure what to start with, try raising miniature cattle. They require less room than standard cattle and don't require special equipment or...

If you a horse lover looking for an interesting career opportunity, you might want to consider becoming a horse groom. A horse groom takes care of horses, not just grooming, but feeding and...

In order to beat factory farming, you'll need to make better food choices, become more socially aware, and scrutinize your spending habits that directly or indirectly support factory farming....

Factory farming involves exploiting animals for the sake of ensuring profits in the meat and dairy industries. Animals are not the only ones in jeopardy from factory farming. Humans also...

Shipping day-old poultry is possible. There are very specific guidelines regulating the shipment of poultry, though, and it's necessary to know what these are to ensure the proper shipping of your...

Mohair is a highly-prized fiber all over the world and is the fleece of the Angora goat. Angora goats originated in Asia Minor and are now raised everywhere. Easier to keep than sheep, the Angora...

The Rock Cornish Game Hen was fist bred in 1950 in an attempt to replace the guinea hen—due to a farm fire a large flock of guinea hens were lost. The Cornish Game Hen is a product of...

A Leghorn chicken is a noisy bird that is spirited in nature. It is smaller than many chickens, but it is still larger than a bantam. The Red Leghorn is a forager and they get much of the protein...

The Anconas chicken is a rare breed that originated near the Italian city of Anconas. It is a descendent from the early Leghorns and other earlier breeds. The Anconas has a mixed ancestry that has...

Meat chickens have their own distinctive look. They originated from "great grand parent' eggs from companies in the United States and the United Kingdom. These companies specialize in select...

If you need to vaccinate a Fainting Goat, you just have to remember not to startle it. Myotonia, or stiffening, in goats is caused by a genetic disorder. They exhibit this behavior for a few...

A miniature horse is just like its regular-sized relatives. Like a regularly-sized horse, the miniature horse requires regular grooming and care. Many of the grooming principles of normal horses...

Trimming a goat's horns is a task that requires some finesse and a little help. Goat horns are actually part of the goat's skull and have blood vessels within them, so you must take care not to...

Choosing a pasture grass that is safe for your pasture animals is a tricky proposition. Many grasses that would seem to be fine may actually cause your animals to get sick. Here is how to choose a...

When you live in the middle of nowhere, sometimes cow tipping is the only fun activity you can find. Even if you don’t actually tip a cow, you’ll remember how exciting the experience was for many...

Plowing is not an easy task especially if you're a novice. It really can be considered an art form. If you're new at it, you may want to hide behind a barn or garage and practice. Before you set...

Predators of all kinds(neighbors dogs,coyotes,hawks,etc) can easily damage and minimize your flock of hens and roosters,unless certain steps are taken to keep them safe.

Every Easter, hundreds of chicks are delivered in baskets to new parents who usually have no idea how to feed them. Feeding baby chicks is not that tough, but it does take a bit of patience.

If you are considering keeping chickens as pets, one of the concerns you should address is how to keep them safe from backyard predators, such as raccoons, birds of prey and dogs, while providing...