About the Author
Heather Smith Thomas
Articles by Heather Smith Thomas
Wintering Calves with Their Mothers
Some people think wintering calves with their mother won’t grow well on forage, but they actually do quite well.
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Pulling a Stock Trailer
Preparing your truck and trailer for a trip, practice pulling a stock trailer, drive in traffic, and being safe for you, others, and your livestock.
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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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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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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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Safe Ways to Restrain a Horse
A well-trained horse might stand still because they trust the horseman, whereas a high-strung, untrained, or spoiled horse might vigorously protest or try to get away —and some type of restraint is necessary to hold them still.
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Low-Stress Calf Weaning
Weaning time is stressful for cattle. Many people have found better ways to wean than putting calves in a corral and taking the cows away.
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Care of Older Horses
Health and body condition should be monitored since certain issues need to be recognized and addressed when caring for older horses.
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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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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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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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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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