cows
Belfair Miniature Cattle: A Small, All-Around Breed
Belfair miniature cattle are the first dual-purpose miniature cattle developed in America. Developed by Tracy Teed of Conway, Washington, Belfair cattle are 50% Jersey, from high test Jersey cows bred to a small 35” Dexter bull, developed for the small acreage farmer who wants a small family milk cow which will also produce a good beef calf for the locker.
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The Biology of the Rumen
Add to Favorites By John Hibma – Ruminants have a special function in our world’s complex ecosystem. They consume grasses grown in pastures and on rangeland along with fibrous shrubs and …
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The Joy of Raising Highland Cattle
Add to Favorites Story & Photos By Tom Fuller – Cattle have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and Highland cattle are by far …
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Dairy Sheep – Consider Icelandic Sheep
What struck me right away when my first Icelandic sheep lambed were the similarities that these sheep had with dairy goats. I had a commercial goat dairy in years past and these ewe lamb mothers had udders that would be respectable for a good milking dairy goat.
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Choosing Dairy Cow Breeds for Your Farm
Dairy cow breeds are numerous. How do we know the right breed for our farm or family situation?
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Straw Vs Hay: What’s the Difference?
Add to Favorites When it comes to straw vs hay for your backyard chickens and livestock, there are definite advantages to each. We raise horses and ducks on our small …
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Cattle Handling 101: Play it Safe
Add to Favorites By Heather Smith Thomas – Most accidents with cattle handling occur when people don’t understand cattle behavior and are in the wrong place at the wrong time, …
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Foot and Mouth Disease: What You Need to Know
Add to Favorites By John Hibma, Connecticut – Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects cloven-hoofed animals. All ruminants, including cows, meat and dairy goats, sheep, …
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Dairy Farming Project Advice from Dairy Farm Owners
Add to Favorites What makes a farmer decide to begin a dairy farming project? For some, it is a strong history. The early mornings milking the herd, processing the milk …
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Natural Pest Control for Gardens and Farmsteads
Add to Favorites By John Blum – An “ecosystem” can be very large or very small. The (ecological) system needed to support a colony of bacteria may be a pound of …
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It’s Time to Milk the Cows!
Add to Favorites What makes a farmer decide to begin a dairy farming project? For some, it is a strong history. The early mornings milking the herd, processing the milk …
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Holistic Management On A Pasture Dairy
Add to Favorites By Heather Smith Thomas Ron Holter is the fifth generation on a dairy farm near Jefferson, Maryland, in Middletown Valley. “The land was originally purchased in 1889 by my great-great-granddad,” he …
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Working Morgans on Working Farms
Add to Favorites By Helga Loncosky Small-scale farming, sustainable living and homesteading often come with different needs than conventional or large scale farming operations. Economy, ease and hardiness often help …
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Managing the Scourge of Scours
Add to Favorites Byline Dr. Kevin Hill, Merck Animal Health Getting calves off to a good start in the first few weeks of life can have a major impact on …
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Farm Poo Paper: Don’t Pooh Pooh It!
Add to Favorites Why on Earth would you make paper out of farm feces? Turns out there are a lot of reasons. Typically, with normal paper which comes from trees, …
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