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
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
I kinda want to go back to the beginning. We are getting several new Dexter owners and several people asking questions. So I will post some articles on getting started. These articles aren’t necessarily directed to Dexter cattle in particular, but the basics are the same.
First of all, you do need to decide what you are wanting to do with your Dexters. Since they are a dual purpose breed, you need to decide the most important thing you are wanting out of these cattle. I’m not saying this has to be forever, but you do need to decide what your main goal is for raising these cattle. Then you can go from there later on. Secondly, you need to decide what your property will hold. This is VERY important. In this you need to decide which direction your farm is going, grass fed, mostly grass fed with some grain, or grain fed. It may seem overwhelming at first, but just take one thing at a time. You can change your mind as you go and see what works for your farm and what doesn’t. Don’t get overwhelmed!!
Next a good water source will be needed. Either by running lines, running hoses, putting in automatic waterers. Cows need a good grass source and good clean water. Some people let their cows use their ponds. That is fine as long as the pond doesn’t have a run off. Cows can also damage a pond by pushing in the dirt as they stand in it and filling it back up. Unless you have a deep pond.
Another thing that I have found to be very important is to have ample equipment for holding them. You need a good chute. It doesn’t always have to be a fancy set up. If you can afford one that is great, but you need a good head chute. You can make an alley way to it with panels or fencing. A good head chute is vital to being able to inspect or service your cattle.
A good mentor is very very helpful!!! Find someone who has raised cattle, particularly Dexters and learn everything you can from them. Our website will be very helpful in that area. You can find other Dexter owners. We also have lots of information that is helpful, in several different areas.
Reducing the need for feed means fewer methane emissions, which is attractive to companies like McDonald’s
McDonald’s and Syngenta Team Up. Read More »
Beef
Hybrid products that combine actual meat with veggies or pea protein could become a thing
Hybird Meat May Gain Ground! Read More »
Beef
Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2
I’m going to write about the second part of this series of keeping cows in the winter. The first one was about making sure they have adequate water. I’m going to talk about shelter in the winter. This will once again depend on where you are in this great United States. We have such diverse weather conditions.
I think that this could end up being a great debate, but I’m not wanting that. I know some people think that the cows need a 5 Star barn and others think a few trees are plenty. I’m just going to do a basic all around article on what the cows should have. Then you can go from there and do what you feel is necessary.
Starting with the milder states, you still should have at least a covering for them to get out of the sun in the summer and wind in the winter. If you live in the colder states you will at least need a wind block. It is also good for you to have at least a 3 sided building. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to be something that they can get in out of the wind and rain/snow. Now if you have had cows very long you will know that they will just stand outside in the weather. They have grown coats for the weather that you have in your area.
You will notice cows standing out in the winter weather and have their backs covered in snow. That is a good sign. That means that they are well insulated!! Dexters in particular were created to weather more difficult situations.
Each person knows what they want for their herd. This is just some basic advice on what to have. Happy Winter!!!
Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2 – By Shelley HatField Of Whippoorwill Pines Farm Read More »
Beef
Written by Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm
I’m going to talk about 6 things needed to help your cows get through the winter. I’m sure that there are more than 6 things but these are what I think are most important. The first thing that you need is fresh water!! Where you are in the United States will determine how hard this will be over the winter. Some places are warm enough that they just have to make sure it stays full. But in some places it almost freezes before you get back to the house. But fresh water is so important in the health of your cows. It has been said that cows need 1 to 2 gallons of water per 100pd of body weight. I know some think that maybe they can lick the snow or lick the ice. But licking the ice would take so much time to get what they need. It would also take up body energy that they need to keep warm. Cows that don’t have enough water supply can get dehydrated and are susceptible to colic and other issues. It is just best to keep fresh water out to them daily.
Not having water can hinder so many areas in a cow. Whether in summer or winter, water is so important to the health of your cow. People usually think about water problems for the summer time, but making sure they have water is also very important for winter. It affects their digestive system. It keeps their body temp regulated. It affects milk production. Water or lack of it can affect the overall health of your herd.
There are a couple of different tank heaters that you can use. One is a floating one that has a cage around it. I used those for several years, but ran into problems with them. My cows would get bored and chew on the cord as it hung over the tank. I used a pvc pipe to try to help. It worked as long as they left it alone. There is also a tank heater that goes in the drain hole at the bottom. This is the one that I’m using now. I can run the cord out the bottom and around so they can’t reach it. I will warn you that tank heaters can run up your electricity. But unless you have waterers run to your pastures, it is tank heaters or break the ice!! I’ve tried all the tricks that people have come up with and I haven’t found any that work for me.
Whatever method you decide, tank heaters or breaking ice all day, lets just make sure that we are keeping fresh water to our herds this winter!!
Things necessary to get your cows through the winter – Part 1 Read More »
Beef Farm Management Herd Health
Bone broth elevates dishes with rich flavor and nutritional value
https://miniature-cattle.com/documents/bone-broth-collagen_mercola.pdf
Bone Broth: Nature’s Collagen Supplement Submitted By Donna Grace Read More »
Beef Homesteading
Resources you need to successfully start your own food or farm business.
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Beef Farm Management Milking & Dairy Selling
Bone broth elevates dishes with rich flavor and nutritional value – Submitted by Donna Grace
https://www.primaledgehealth.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-bone-broth
The Ultimate Guide to Bone Broth Read More »
Beef Homesteading
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Beef
Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? The answer is absolutely not! But you will need to be a little more prepared than farms who have several acres. You will need to have sturdier fences for one thing. Farms with several hundred acres have room for the cows to roam so they aren’t as likely to get out. I’m not saying they don’t ever get out on large farms but it is not as often. Smaller farms, the cows don’t have the room to roam. You need to make sure that your outer perimeter fencing is strong and tight. That can be barbed wire, woven wire, or the combination of both. This will keep you and your neighbors in good standing….lol
Land is the second thing that I want to talk about. With Dexters it doesn’t take as much as with “full sized” cows. It is 1.5-2 acres per TWO cow/calf pair of Dexters. But that doesn’t mean that you can stick them on any ole grass and they will grow well. You have to maintain your pastures. That is what I’m in the process of doing myself. I’m working to get my pastures into regenerative grazing. Which will help with how well my pastures stay.
Thirdly, you will need hay, which is something that all cattle farmers need usually. Unless you are in some states that you can grow it year round. But you need to make sure that you have good healthy hay. That is important for the health of your cows. You don’t want them to get sick.
One last thing, keeping your animal healthy is an overall, big or little farm, thing you need to do. I think as a small farm it is easier to keep a watch on things than a big farm. You have a more intimate relationship with your Dexters when you don’t have 100s to keep an eye on.
I am a small farm with not alot of acres, that is why I chose the Dexters at first. But as time as went on, they are so much more that good for small farms. But that is for another time.
So in conclusion, you don’t need acres and acres of land to raise beef cattle. You just need to make sure what you have is the best that it can be.
Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? By Shelley Hatfield- WP Farm Read More »
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