The pig may be the most judged and misunderstood animal on the farm. They are loved for their bacon and hated for their mess. Their hams are served for Easter lunch, but no one wants to have a pig on the farm. If you’ve seen the movies “Babe” or “Charlotte’s Web,” you know how charming a piglet can be. I am here to tell you that owning your own piggies probably won’t disappoint you. They are hearty, simple to raise and produce an extreme amount of meat in an amazingly short amount of time.
Most calves need only need 2–3 bottles a day. You won’t have to worry about middle-of-the-night feedings or early-morning waking; bottle calves eat during the day and sleep at night. They will need only two bottles a day if they are healthy, and the weather is nice. If it’s particularly cold or your calf isn’t gaining weight, three bottles will do.
Waste not, want not. Right? If only that were true of our caprine counterparts. Goats are browsing animals, and while they won’t eat everything, contrary to popular belief, they will eat a lot of things if placed in front of them—certainly a nibble or two. If you had to identify plants on your farm or homestead that were potentially harmful to your hooved friends, could you?
Successful goat owners understand it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to keep goats happy and healthy. While it is common knowledge to provide them with plenty of shade and lots of fresh clean water, often owners can overlook the need to address a less obvious, but stinky, hazard to their goats’ health and overall well-being.
Winter is in full swing and most beef producers are busy keeping hay in front of their cows, providing supplemental feed, and checking newborn calves. During this busy time it is easy to be caught up in the hectic daily routine, but do not lose sight of the big picture. For spring-calving herds, winter feeding coincides with the last third of gestation and early lactation. Sensible decisions now can have a significant impact on the health of newborn calves, the amount of milk produced by their mother, and how soon the cow breeds back after calving.
Think of winter supplementation as a bridge-building project that lasts until spring brings an abundant supply of green grass. As with any project, a well-laid plan is a welcomed tool, if not an absolute necessity. In this bridge, the nutrition required for brood cows to produce at an adequate level represents our destination.
Among the most stressful events in a calf’s life are weaning, transport, and relocation. Appetite is often suppressed during these periods of stress but will rebound in subsequent days. That’s why stressed calves often do not have a “normal” level of intake. Regardless of the cause, intake depression requires special considerations when starting calves on feed.
Horse breeding requires a significant investment of time, effort, and money. To get the best return on your investment, it’s important to provide your broodmares and foals with high quality nutrition. Paying careful attention to your feeding program will ensure that your youngsters get started off on the right hoof.
Nitrate poisoning occurs when animals consume hay containing high levels of free nitrates. Under drought conditions, both sorghum X sudangrass hybrids and pearl millet have the potential to accumulate high levels of nitrates, especially if they have been fertilized with nitrogen.
As we supplement cattle throughout the winter season, producers should understand how nutritional needs are core to economical production. Nutrient requirements will vary as to whether your goal is for your cattle to maintain or gain weight. Everything starts with forage, both quantity and quality.