If I had a dollar for every time I said, “I’ll remember that later” I’d be a millionaire. But, the times I actually do remember are really rare! If you’re like me, and you need a little help creating better permanent records here is a great podcast to listen to:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livestock-walaau/id1580454679?i=1000611070012
Financial Record Keeping Read More »
Farm Management
I really enjoyed listening to this Chute Side podcast with Dr. Ryan Rathmann on the definitions and nuances of line breeding vs. inbreeding. As a beef producer he favors cross breeding, but I got a lot of good take-aways for my registered/purebred Dexter breeding program. He talks about the benefits line breeding can add to your herd, such as uniformity in offspring. He also talks about challenges and down sides to line breeding, and how to avoid.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chute-side/id1468813469?i=1000474332264
Line Breeding vs. Inbreeding Read More »
Farm Management
A good read on the current cattle market trends. Understand the market so you can adjust your sales prices and purchases for maximum yield.
Cattle Worth More than Diamonds Read More »
Farm Management
Mobile butchering, also called on-farm butchering definitely has its share of challenges. But, there are a few who are making it work, and excelling in this field! Farmers and producers are looking for options that minimize stress to the animal and cut out long transportation times to a butcher shop. Have you used a mobile butcher unit? Would you be willing to pay for a more costly service if it brought the benefits of an on-farm butchering?
Ever wonder if you’re missing out on some great cuts because they’re not as common, or you don’t know how to prepare and cook them? Check out this video and you might learn about a steak cut you haven’t heard of, or gain a new tip on cooking and prepping a tried and true favorite.
Favorite Steak Cuts Read More »
Beef
St. Patricks Day is coming up, and what better way to celebrate the day than with some home cooked, Dexter corned beef! The link below is to a recipe I’ve been using for several years with great success. Corning is a traditional way of curing beef meat. It does take time, so you want to give yourself 5-7 days. This recipe does not use curing (also called pink) salt so it is nitrate free. You can add beets if you’d like the traditional color, or leave them out for just as tasty (though less colorful) corned beef.
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/how-to-make-corned-beef/
Corned Beef Recipe Read More »
Beef
Dexters are a perfect size for beef home butchery. Here is a great primer on home butchering, complete with a list of tools and helpful suggestions.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/food-drink/a-primer-on-butchering-at-home/
Butchering at Home Read More »
Selling
The article below has great tips on keeping helpful information about your livestock. Learn to run your farm, ranch or homestead more efficiently by keeping track various numbers year to year. Measure production in your breeding stock, milk cattle, and beef cattle.
If you raise livestock, chances are you’ve dealt with mud. Every year is different, some more challenging than others when it comes to managing livestock and mud. Here is a great DIY video on building a heavy use pad for feeding or high-traffic areas on your farm or homestead.
By Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm
Part #4 of this series is MUD, ugh!!! I’m thinking that most of us have dealt with mud at one point or another. Some of us deal with mud more than others. Right now we are dealing with a lot of mud around my place. You have to really watch foot rot and thrush when you are dealing with mud. Also you have to make sure they aren’t standing in mud because that makes it hard for them to stay warm. Even if it is only their legs that are caked in mud. If you don’t have much room for them to move around, you might want to add gravel and/or wood chips to help with the mud. Another way to help them stay off mud is to do rotational grazing in the winter. This lessens the chances that your pastures will turn to mud. The cows will be moving all the time and won’t be staying in one area. I hope these little articles are helping you all!! Happy Winter!!
Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #4 Read More »
Beef