Homestead on the Range

Abundant Living in Flyover Country

Cattle

Why Are Dairy Bulls More Dangerous Than Beef Bulls?

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It’s a commonly accepted fact—just check out our cattle breed guide or any other resource that allows for a comparison of beef and dairy breed temperaments. While no bull is entirely safe, dairy bulls are just downright dangerous. Here are some of the reasons why. Genetics Because as a general rule dairy farming is intensive […]

Grazing Systems Planning Guide

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Is the thought of planning a rotational or management-intensive grazing system daunting to you? If you are new to the concept, you will probably appreciate this free guide from the University of Minnesota Extension Service—Grazing Systems Planning Guide. The Grazing Systems Planning Guide is directed at beginners. It walks graziers through the planning process sequentially. […]

What Are Milk Components?

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Milk components are a common topic related to dairy cattle. For example, when researching dairy breeds, one fact you will notice is that Jersey cows have more components in their milk than Holsteins do. So what are the components of milk? There are three main categories: Fat. Protein. Other solids. Fat When a cow’s rumen […]

British and Continental Cattle Breeds

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There are many way to categorize cattle breeds—beef and dairy, standard and miniature, commercial and heritage, Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus. One classification that is frequently used to describe beef breeds is British versus Continental. The names are rather self-explanatory. British breeds come from the United Kingdom, while Continental breeds come from Continental […]

Kansas Ag Connection

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Looking for a good way to keep up with daily agriculture-related headlines? Give Kansas Ag Connection a try! Subscribers to On the Range, our weekly country living update (read more), may already be familiar with this site as a source for some of our headlines. There’s a reason for that. Kansas Ag Connection is a […]

How a Milking Machine Works

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While many small farmers still love to hand-milk their cows, commercial dairying usually employs the milking machine. The modern milking machine looks complex, but the principle on which it operates is actually quite simple. The machine pulls a vacuum on the teats of the cow, causing the milk to flow. Here’s how it works: The […]