About the Author
Heather Smith Thomas
Articles by Heather Smith Thomas
Minimizing Heat Stress in Cattle
Minimizing heat stress in cattle can make the difference between life and death in your herd. Hot weather, especially if it’s humid, can be hard on cattle, and they may be at risk for heatstroke.
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Basic Hoof Care for the Horse Owner
“No foot, no horse” is an old saying that is still true. A sound and healthy hoof is crucial to the health and function of the horse. Regular hoof care is one of the most important aspects of keeping a horse.
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The Best Fly Protection for Horses
Biting flies can be a tremendous irritation to horses so finding the best fly protection for horses is essential. There are several methods of fly control on your farm and ways to protect horses from flies that come from other areas.
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How to Take Care of a Newborn Calf
Add to Favorites Knowing how to take care of a newborn calf BEFORE calving season starts is crucial to his or her survival. After a calf is born, especially if …
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Dealing with Diphtheria in Calves
Diphtheria in calves is generally more serious — and more noticeable — than in adult cattle. Diphtheria is an upper respiratory disease and is an infection and/ or inflammation of the vocal folds of the larynx (voice box) at the back of the throat.
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Tips on Properly Giving Cattle Injections
Cattle injections are often necessary — vaccines, antibiotics, injectable vitamins, scours, etc. These should always be administered properly to be effective, minimize residues in the meat if the animal will be butchered later, minimize injection site lesions, and reduce the risks for adverse reactions.
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Feeding Dairy Calves
The most important thing for feeding dairy calves is to get colostrum as soon as possible into a newborn calf. After that, the calf needs adequate milk or milk replacer until weaning age.
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Preventing Cold Stress in Cattle
Cold stress in cattle adversely affects cattle health and well-being. Stressed animals are more vulnerable to illness.
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The Best Cattle Waterers for Winter
In some climates, keeping stock water ice-free can be frustrating during colder months. Tank heaters work well if a person has access to electricity, but some pastures are far from a power source.
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Best Beef Cattle Breeds
Every beef cattle breed has pluses and minuses, and what might be a plus for one farmer could be a drawback in another situation. For instance, a breed that does well in a hot climate may not do well in a cold one, and vice versa.
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Preventing and Treating Cattle Scours in Calves
The most common illness in young calves is cattle scours (diarrhea). There are many causes, including intestinal infection because of bacteria, viruses, or protozoa.
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Starting an Orchard for Profit at Skipley Farm
About 10 years ago, Gil Schieber decided that starting an orchard for profit was something he wanted to try. He started his home orchard on seven and a half acres near Snohomish, Washington, 30 miles north of Seattle.
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Selecting Hay for Cattle
During winter, drought or any other times that animals do not have adequate pasture, hay is the mainstay of diet for cattle.
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Miniature Cattle May be a Good Fit for a Small Farm
Many families on a small farm enjoy having livestock but don’t have a lot of land for pasture. With only one or two acres, you might be able to keep one standard-size milk cow or a couple of calves to grow for beef.
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Fenceline Weaning: Low-Stress Weaning Method
Fenceline weaning is perhaps one of the less-stressful methods of separating cows from their calves. Weaning time has traditionally been traumatic for calves and mama cows and also the people weaning the calves.
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