dairy goats
Fire Evacuation Procedures for Your Livestock
The year 2013 was an informative and challenging year for Half Creek Farm in Bickleton, Washington. In late July and early August, we got our first “opportunity” to give farm fire evacuation procedures a try.
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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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Try Perennial Peanut Grass Hay as a Healthy Alternative Forage
You might never have heard of perennial peanut grass hay, but it’s one of the best-kept forage secrets of the southeastern United States. It’s also an excellent forage for livestock, including pigs, horses, dairy goats, sheep and rabbits.
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How to Build a Goat Barn Using a Prefab Shed
Add to Favorites Goat barns are essential if you raise goats, regardless of what sort of climate you reside in. When I was big into dairy goats, my family had …
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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
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 for sale, and cleaning the barn lend a known rhythm to daily life.
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Humanely Trapping Raccoons, Foxes, Skunks and More
Add to Favorites By Ronnie Ashmore, West Virginia – A family farm, homestead, or just your little backyard herd are all susceptible to predation. There are many four-legged animals just sneaking …
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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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Homestead Hints — Control Ants
Add to Favorites By Lil Roberts, California This is the time of year when the ants decide it might be great to come in the building to see what they can …
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10 Homesteading Blogs That Inspire and Educate
Add to Favorites Are you on the hunt for helpful homesteading blogs? You’re in luck. The Countryside Network features some of the most influential homesteading bloggers today. You’ll hear from these knowledgeable bloggers (and …
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Building Simple Homesteading Partnerships
Add to Favorites Establishing simple homesteading partnerships can start with a casual conversation. I caught up with Bryce as he loaded a pair of speed skis into his beat-up pickup truck. …
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How to Make Homemade Granola
Add to Favorites Running out of homemade granola during blueberry season is a capital offense at our house. One of the reasons we tend to run out is that homemade …
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Sheep Breeds That Pay Their Way
Add to Favorites By Alan Harman – Karen Valley’s flock of 21 sheep, consisting of two sheep breeds (Shetland and colored Cormo cross ewes), tend to stay close to home …
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Raising Sheep For Profit: Milking Sheep Offer a Small Farm Alternative
Add to Favorites By J.D. Belanger – Question: Like most homesteaders who weren’t originally interested in raising sheep for profit, I’d love to find a way to earn some money …
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Foods You Should (And Can) Produce Yourself And Why
Add to Favorites By Gail Damerow New outbreaks of illnesses and even deaths (an estimated 9,000 annually) due to food poisoning are constantly reported in the news. Most of these outbreaks …
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