Livestock

Maintaining and herding cattle can be a high stress profession, often calling for a variety of stock to be maintained and kept. Purchasing certain kinds of cattle at certain times can make or break an…

Many veterinarians and horse nutritionists believe that excess sugar in horse forage, such as hay, may cause health risks for horses. Exposure to the sugar may disrupt normal digestion and lead to…

Animal byproducts are the nonmeat, leftover parts of different types of mammals after processing for human consumption contained in dog food as a source of protein. Dogs require protein in their diet…

Whether you are a hobby farmer or a commercial beef producer, it always comes in handy to know how to build your own cattle handling equipment. One of the benefits of building your own equipment is…

Fodder is often an integral part in the diet of farm animals. Trees, shrubs and leftover crops, such as corn stalks, are all used in feeding cattle, goats and horses. Edible plants native to the area…

Feeder and stocker steers are terms used for cattle in certain growth stages and beef production steps. These terms also apply to heifers that will not join the cow herd because of undesirable…

When it comes to feeding your animals, you want the most nutritionally balanced hay you can find for their diets. Though you may not feed your animals one specific hay, finding out the value of the…

Small in size but big on personality, rabbits can make great pets. A spacious cage allows a rabbit to feel protected, but ideally your rabbit should be able to move freely around a bigger space,…

Hay is the main staple of almost all livestock diets. From cattle to horses, goats to sheep, most of the animals raised by ranchers eat a diet consisting mainly of forage --- in this case, hay. As…

Round bales are the staple diet of most ranch animals. From cattle to horses, goats to sheep, round bales are the most efficient way to keep food in front of your livestock. Knowing what kind of round…

Farming techniques are constantly changing and improving. The result is often less work for the farmer and increased cost efficiency for the farm. Livestock benefit as well, experiencing less…

In areas where the temperature can drop below freezing, the water tank for watering livestock can freeze. A livestock owner can either go out on the freezing days to thaw out the water tank or can…

A horse needs a gallon of clear drinking water per 100 lbs. of body weight. An automatic horse waterer ensures that the horse can drink when thirsty and that the water is not soiled by the elements or…

Farm livestock are domesticated animals that are raised as food, for their fiber or for labor. Common livestock include cattle, sheep and chickens. Cattle may be used for meat and milk, sheep can be…

Farm animals are kept warm in winter naturally by fur, but are also dependent on humans for protection. Pay extra attention to the health of your cattle, which are easily susceptible to diseases by…

Goats are one of the most wasteful creatures when it comes to feeding --- they seem to waste more than they eat if you do not have appropriate feeders to stop them from standing or jumping into their…

Automatic horse water systems replenish the level in the tank as the water is consumed or evaporates. This guarantees adequate water supplies for horses or other livestock under any condition.…

Dog houses can be made from many different materials and some can be more expensive than others. If you are looking for a durable and affordable dog house that is still safe for your furry friend you…

When tractor tires crack or get holes in them, they are no longer useful on the tractor. Most farmers pile them up in a location in the barn or send them to a place that will recycle them. Why…

The Wrangler System was developed to weigh large animals such as cows, pigs and horses. It is an economical system that is good for use on uneven surfaces and in rough environments. The Wrangler…

Every horse owner's worst fear is a horse contracting colic. Use a plastic barrel to make a hay feeder so that you can reduce the risk of colic by keeping the horse from ingesting dirt or sand while…

Farm animals are not tidy eaters. When eating hay, they tend to spread it far and wide, trampling and soiling a significant percentage of what's offered with no thought for their owner's pocketbook.…

Betaine is used by the cattle industry to increase weight and meat quality in beef cattle. It is derived from several natural sources, most notably sugar beets. Betaine is typically fed to cattle as a…

Open range laws in California were created in the 1800s. The laws require small property owners and farmers to be responsible for building fences to keep grazing cattle and other livestock off their…

Houston, Texas, is the fourth largest city in the United States. Like countless other cities, Houston has established specific rules for owning pets, livestock and wildlife. Animal-related matters for…

According to Texas Instruments, the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is widespread in the livestock industry. The Association for Automatic Identification & Mobility reports that RFID is…

There are many expensive digital livestock scales available on the market that require time-consuming assembly. Many of these scales are poorly made and can easily break over time. In a few easy…

Two types of liver fluke plague grazing livestock: Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola magna. Deer are the natural hosts of Fasciola magna and snails are the parasite's intermediate hosts. Fasciola…

Humans have been cultivating comfrey for centuries. A Latin word meaning "grow together," comfrey is valued for use as a medicinal herb for humans, although it can also be fed to a variety of…

The "Angus Journal" says a portable salt and mineral feeder can be built from a 55-gallon drum. The plans call for cutting the barrel in half length-wise and mounting one or both halves on skids so…

Livestock producers commonly use trimethylglycine, or TMG, as a supplement to increase carcass weight of beef cattle. Producers gain higher profits on beef cattle that build muscle mass quickly.…

Fila Brasileiro, or Brazilian mastiff, is a large, muscular dog descended from English mastiffs. They are dedicated dogs that are commonly used as guard dogs because they are quick to defend and…

Corn crops yield great quantities of energy-rich feed that can keep cattle and livestock well-fed, healthy and fat. The processing of corn crop for animal feed--called silage--results in a feed…

Colorado law provides every property owner with the legal right but no obligation to fence property. The state's fencing statute dates to the early 1880s and is referred to as "open range." The laws…

Every state has specific laws regarding what constitutes a livestock fence and fulfils the stockman's responsibility for keeping the animals properly contained. California law designates some counties…

Keeping a water trough clean for your livestock and horses is more important than just making sure they have clean water. Livestock who have to drink dirty water may drink less water and as a result,…

Lice can infest cattle year-round. However, infestations peak from December through March due to several factors, including low Vitamin A levels, decreased sunlight and crowding of herds. Controlling…

Watering troughs are a very important aspect to keeping livestock. For horses, cows, goats, pigs, sheep and any other live animal out in a pasture situation, it's absolutely vital that there be a…

Owning livestock can be very satisfying, but it can also be frustrating. You must feed and care for the animals and make sure they're fenced in properly. One of the most common problems with having a…

Hay racks work well for many types of livestock: steer, goats, horses, llamas and sheep. They keep the hay together in one area, prevent animals from consuming sand or stone with their hay and reduce…

Cattle and horses like few things more than a fresh hay bale, but their excitement can led to waste as hay gets pushed and trampled underfoot. Using a hay ring is an affordable way to limit hay loss…

A reliable water supply for livestock is crucial to the health and well-being of the herd or flock. Keeping water from freezing in northern climates presents a challenge. Many commercial stock water…

A refugium is an aquarium habitat that shares water with a main tank but is inaccessible to the animals in the main tank. It is usually a separate tank hooked up to the same filtration and circulation…

Nothing is more important to the diet of livestock than an abundant supply of water. According to Greg Lardy, beef cattle specialist, and Charles Stoltenow, extension veterinarian at North Dakota…

Animal identification systems have been implemented as either a voluntary or mandatory program in many countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and members of the European Union. In…

Using a hay rack will save you money. It keeps the hay cleaner and available for consumption by your livestock, rather than trampled into the ground and unusable. Hay racks come in different sizes and…

Any time the temperature drops below freezing, your livestock tanks will likely get a buildup of ice. Sometimes this buildup becomes so heavy the animals in your pastures are unable to break through…

There are several situations where you may wish to have a beef carcass inspected and rated as "Prime," the highest-quality beef. You may be selling your homegrown beef, or maybe you own an eatery and…

Hay racks are structures used to feed hay to livestock. They are usually constructed on wheels or sled runners, which allows the rack to be removed from the pasture or feed yard and be taken to the…

Lowline beef cattle originated in Australia under controlled conditions. They are the smallest recognized breed of purebred cattle today. The lowline breeds were created from a special breeding…

A growing trend is for consumers to shop for organic food. Beef farmers can take advantage of this by raising certified organic beef on their farms. To be certified as organic, the farm must be…

The decision to raise livestock for profit should not be taken lightly; it is a 24/7 job that requires much energy, dedication, and funds to cover not only animal acquisition but also feed and…

Salmonella bacteria characteristically infect the gut or intestines of livestock such as cattle, swine or poultry. Once infected, the animal may or may not show clinical signs of sickness. Symptoms of…

Liver flukes are microscopic parasites often found in the livers of livestock, according to the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. These creatures are ingested, after which they burrow into…

Various types of lice may infect your farm livestock, and typically become a problem during the winter when livestock are slow moving and grouped together in pens or barns. Not only do lice bite and…

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 animals…

Polytape fencing with fiberglass poles provide an affordable, temporary fencing option that will contain many species of livestock. Polytape fences provide a psychological barrier rather than a…

Livestock scales are an invaluable tool for farmers and ranchers across the globe. The worth of most market animals is based off their weight and how much they will sell for on the meat market, so…

Livestock enjoy rubbing and scratching themselves on wood fence and fence posts, therefore, you must install a wood fence properly to prevent livestock from breaking it. A morning of brisk scratching…

Although the U.S. is tightening regulations for using animal byproducts in cattle feed, critics contend there are too many opportunities for error. The culprit appears to be diseased organs and other…

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.

As long as livestock remains an integral part of agricultural society, there will always be the demand for animal feed on a large scale. With a large variety of livestock, from cows to chickens to…

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a voluntary program under development to protect livestock during major animal disease outbreaks. It also seeks to uphold consumer confidence in a…

Although widely known as a fiber crop, the seed from cotton has been used as a feed ingredient in farm animal diets for over 150 years, providing a natural source of protein, fiber and energy.

Hoof and mouth disease (often called foot and mouth disease) is a highly contagious, fast-spreading virus that affects any animal that has cloven hoofs. The hoofs and mouth blister and peel, and the…

The USDA has many mandatory regulations when it comes to importing exotic animals. These regulations prevent the spread of disease, such as the bird flu, and limit the types and amounts of animals…

Every person who owns livestock has to know how to safely transport the livestock from one point to another. There are several reasons that livestock might need to be transferred; you might be hauling…

Raising exotic livestock can be exciting and challenging. The cost can be incredibly high depending on the particular animal and the state or region in which you live. Before investing in exotic…

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 doesn't…

If you are new to an area, or new to owning livestock, you may find yourself needing to buy feed and/or medication for your animals, but unsure of where or how to go about doing it.

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 protection…