The average American farmer is still getting older, and his net farm income is still declining. But the number of young farmers is increasing, the value of their production is above average, and the number of farms consisting of nine acres or less …
Choosing a Breed of Cattle
We are excited to announce the release of a new book—Choosing a Breed of Cattle: 5 Needs and 40 Breeds for Selecting Cattle That Fit Your Purpose by Michelle Lindsey! When you start by assessing the five needs of every future cattle owner, choosing …
Adding Value to Milk
Looking for ways to expand your small-farm dairy business? Milk offers many opportunities for diversifying your product offerings! Here are some common ways to add value to farm-fresh milk. Cream Cream is not one of the more popular value-added …
What are Animal Units?
When extension centers and other information sources discuss stocking rates, they usually make their recommendations in acres per animal (or animals per acre, depending on the climate and the type of animal). For instance, you might read a factsheet …
Beef Tenderness and the Shear Force Test
Tenderness is critical to the meat-eating experience—nobody enjoys sinking their teeth into a tough steak. A tried-and-true method of testing beef tenderness is the plain old taste test. These days, however, there are ways to objectively measure the …
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Pros and Cons of Deep-Litter Bedding
While allowing livestock of all types to enjoy the freedom and nutrition of pasture is ideal, there are times when animals may need to be temporarily confined. For instance, you might be raising chicks in a brooder, or you might need to isolate an …
