If you keep your own flock of laying hens, it can be very difficult to throw that beautiful orange egg yolk down the drain. After all, you know that one of your own chickens worked hard to produce that yolk, and you might even know which hen produced it! Besides, that vibrant homegrown egg yolk…… Continue reading Eat Your Egg Yolks
Tag: Nutrition
Our Vitamin Guide—Updated!
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…… Continue reading Our Vitamin Guide—Updated!
Pros and Cons of Feeding Pets Raw Diets
When people began turning to raw diets to improve their health, perhaps it was only natural that they started to wonder if raw foods might benefit their pets, as well. Today, raw diets for dogs and cats have a dedicated following. Success stories abound. So are these diets all they are cracked up to be,…… Continue reading Pros and Cons of Feeding Pets Raw Diets
What is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)?
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is critical to life. It is part of the process of photosynthesis, and it keeps animals alive.
What is TDN?
TDN is short for total digestible nutrients. Many writers have criticized the term as being somewhat confusing, since TDN does not measure all types of nutrients, but rather the energy contained in a given feed. TDN estimates are used for swine and horses but are most common in the ruminant world. Other methods of evaluating…… Continue reading What is TDN?
How Does Rumination Work?
You undoubtedly know that cattle, sheep, and goats are considered ruminants, that they have multiple stomachs, and that they chew their cuds as part of the digestive process. Well, that’s just the simplified version of what is actually going on. Rumination is an incredibly sophisticated process. Here’s a little more information: The animal swallows a…… Continue reading How Does Rumination Work?
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats
Are you considering getting a dairy goat? Before you get started, you might want to read this handy guide from Storey Publishing. Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats by Jerry Belanger and Sara Thomson Bredesen covers all the basics: Breeds. Purchasing goats. Housing. Fencing. Feeding. Grooming. Health. Breeding. Milking. Keeping records. Along the way, you…… Continue reading Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats
Carnitine
Carnitine is another nutrient that was not considered a vitamin until recently. However, it has been proven to support vital functions, particularly the metabolism. Carnitine has a regulatory effect on the metabolism because it is involved in fatty acid transport. It takes long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria (the “power plants” of the cells) to…… Continue reading Carnitine
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is best known for aiding in the synthesis of the proteins necessary for blood clotting. However, research suggests that this vitamin is much more versatile than was once thought. Vitamin K is involved in the synthesis of other proteins, as well. Scientists do not yet know the role that many of these proteins…… Continue reading Vitamin K
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Vitamin E (tocopherol) is best known for its immune-boosting function. It serves as an antioxidant, working with selenium to eliminate free radicals. It also helps to repair damage to the body, and ensures the health of the white blood cells. Because of this important role, and its function as a structural component of various membranes,…… Continue reading Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
