Animal Health – Homestead on the Range

Grazing Management by Species: Poultry

Poultry are not true grazing animals, but they will consume some grass in their diet. Furthermore, poultry play an important role in pasture ecology.

Factors Affecting Grassfed Beef Flavor

Grassfed beef is often criticized for its unusual flavor. And yet some grassfed steaks take center stage at high-end restaurants. What makes the difference?

Grazing Management by Species: Goats

Goats are true browsers, meaning they prefer to eat foliage above their shoulder height. This makes them great foragers of shrubs and small trees.

Purple Threeawn

Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea) primarily occupies disturbed sites as an early successional species, preparing the ground for native wildflowers to move in.

Switchgrass

Switchgrass is one of the dominant plant species of the tallgrass prairie, and it alone accounts for much of the natural soil-building that occurs on native prairies.

Grazing Management by Species: Sheep

While sheep consume grass as 60% of their diet, they more than any other type of livestock will also eat forbs (non-woody flowering plants, commonly known as “weeds”).

Sandbur

The sandbur (Cenchrus longispinus) is common through the United States, where it is mostly considered a noxious weed. It may occur in any part of Kansas.

Virginia Wild Rye

Virginia wild rye (Elymus virginicus) presents a somewhat variable appearance. To identify it quickly, look for a bunchgrass that resembles wheat or rye.

What Really Ended the Cattle Drives?

The end of the cattle drive era was brought about by cattle that better met the needs of the market, plus a rail network that connected ranches with population centers.