“Slow is fast”, this is the phrase my dad says at least once or twice every time we work cattle. There are some things you just can’t rush, and cattle are one of them. While we have found our Dexters are easy to move and work with, here are some tips to become more proficient in handling cattle.
It’s hay season, which is always a hectic time of year in our area. You may not be ready to think about hay or winter, but you can usually get the best deals buying it right out of the field – and now is the time to do that!
Here is an article on tips for hay buying and making, with details on each animal’s nutritional needs.
How systems-based research can help inform our farming practices, from creating more regenerative systems to helping with water retention in drought affected areas:
Working with Nature Read More »
Farm Management
Are cows that eat willow better for the planet? A Queens University research project aims to find out if Willow can make farming more carbon neutral.
One aspect of Agroforestry uses trees as forage for livestock, and is gaining in popularity. Willow contain anti-parasitic compounds, they can be a great buffer around water sources, and have other great benefit to livestock and pasture. Do you graze Willow trees, or would you give it a try?
https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/10/12/willow-as-a-feed-for-livestock-pioneering-research/
Willow for Grazing Read More »
Farm Management
A great podcast by Working Cows, interviewing Bart Carmichael and Pat Guptill of “Principled Land Managers.” Bart and Pat talk about the importance of vision and principles in farming. Practices are flexible can change based on the land, animals and resources available, but having solid principles can set you up for success no matter where you go and/or what you do.
Chasing Fads will Leave You Behind Read More »
Farm Management
Keeping records is an important aspect of running a successful livestock business. It is even more imperative if you are raising pedigreed and registered animals. But, how do you know what details will be helpful and what details will just add more work to your already full plate? This article is a practical guide to the who, what, why and how of record keeping. And remember, “it’s practically impossible to manage what you do not measure.”
https://www.farmbrite.com/post/the-beginner-s-guide-to-keeping-livestock-records
Basics of Record Keeping Read More »
Farm Management
Below is a great article for those getting in to beef production on a small scale. Thinking through resources, knowledge, budget, production, marketing, as well as talent and interest level. There is a great quote from the last point: “You are much more likely to be successful if you are interested in and passionate about what you are doing.”
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/top-ten-considerations-small-scale-beef-production
Small-scale beef production Read More »
Beef