Many a dog lover has watched a good Border Collie at work and gone home with a passion for herding. But if you haven’t grown up with working stockdogs, training one for the first time can seem daunting. While no book can replace experience as a way to master the nuances of handling livestock, with or without a dog, Stockdog Savvy by husband-and-wife team Jeanne … Continue reading Stockdog Savvy
Scurs are horny growths that give some livestock owners concern. When a scurred animal is young, it may look for all the world like it will grow up to have horns. Fortunately, this is not the case. Cattle, sheep, and goats can all develop scurs. In goats, however, scurs are actually true horns that have been damaged in a bad disbudding job. In cattle and … Continue reading What are Scurs?
The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) was developed to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock production, primarily to fend off antibiotic-resistant diseases in humans. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 2 million people in the United States are infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year. The concern is that extensive use of antibiotics in the food supply will increase the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria. The … Continue reading New Rules Take Medicated Livestock Feeds Off the Shelf
Just getting started? Whether you are still in the early planning stage or are trying to overcome your first obstacle, one of the best things you can do is to read extensively. Many others have walked the path before you. Why not smooth your own learning curve and take advantage of their experience? While there are many excellent books we could recommend (just check out … Continue reading Top 10 Books for Beginning Farmers
High Tech Many involved in agriculture, commercial or entrepreneurial, feel that technology will shape the future. The Internet continues to evolve into the driving force in agriculture. Cutting-edge agripreneurs rely on the Internet to market their produce, but even commodity markets are coming to accept this technology as the norm. Buying beef cattle through video auctions streamed online is a common practice nowadays. Likewise, QR … Continue reading The Changing Face of American Agriculture: Part 3
Are you ready for fall? Spend a little time watching the birds, caring for the animals, and stocking the pantry. Invest in a dog owner’s home veterinary handbook. Feed your backyard birds. Discover why people built round barns. Stock up for the winter. Learn about pH. Weigh the pros and cons of draft animals. Explore the K-State weather data library. Open up the breeding toolbox. … Continue reading Get Ready for September 2016
Even when the afternoons are too hot for outdoor work, you can still make the most of the time with research and planning. Spend some time studying business, marketing, nutrition, animal health, and more. Consider new ways to direct market your beef. Find out how reproduction and animal health are related. Discover 96 horse breeds of North America. Build a sustainable business. Learn what kobe … Continue reading Get Ready for August 2016
June is just around the corner. Take some time to sharpen your knowledge of farming, music, crafts, and history. Find out how glyphosate-resistant crops work. Brush up on your mandolin technique. Teach your kids how to knit on those rainy days. Discover the story of the Stetson hat. Make a strawberry shortcake. Collect five things every beginning charcoal artist needs. Consider what caused the Dust … Continue reading Get Ready for June 2016
We have updated our vitamin guide to include country pets, those special cats and dogs that share our lives and help us out around the farm. In addition to information on vitamins in livestock nutrition, you will now find details applicable specifically to pets: Natural sources of vitamins tailored to carnivores. Causes of vitamin deficiency unique to cats and dogs. Symptoms that pets are unlikely … Continue reading Our Vitamin Guide—Updated!
While no book can replace firsthand experience, sometimes a well-written book by a knowledgeable author can make the process of gaining experience a little easier. When it comes to your dog’s health, the Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook by Debra M. Eldredge, Liisa D. Carlson, Delbert G. Carlson, and James M. Giffin (the first three vets and the fourth an MD) is one of the … Continue reading Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook
