What Is Cattle Ranching

The wild yak's woolly undercoat insulates its thick skin beneath locks of outer hair that's two feet long. Only a few hundred animals are left in the wild, representative of the large population that once freely roamed the Himalayas.

Courtesy Kimberly F. Courtesy Adam B. Cows have so much to offer our farms, and we love them for that! That's why for Cow Appreciation Day, we asked you to share your photos of you and your cows.

Cows are a quintessential element of the rural landscape, and during calving season , we're overjoyed by the addition of babies grazing alongside their mothers. As we continue our celebration of Baby Animal Month on HobbyFarms.com, we hope these photos...

The National Center for Appropriate Technology recommends exploring these breeds: Angus (commercial breed) Red Angus (commercial breed) Hereford (commercial breed) Shorthorn (commercial breed) Devon (heritage breed) Dexter (heritage breed) American Low-Line...

“If you know your cow, it's probably OK to drink its raw milk,” Estes says, as you know its health conditions, what vaccinations it's received and the cleanliness of the equipment used during milking.

Farmers don't have as much to worry about as when calves are born in the inevitable cold, wet and variable weather that is frequently encountered in March and April. Market Prices Fall-bred calves can frequently be sold at higher prices the next summer...

Early spring and late fall are the best times to castrate farm animals; this avoids fly season and extreme temperatures. During the procedures, out walked Grandma, a solemn elderly woman in a bright-red sweater carrying a plastic bucket filled with water.

Also consider the average amount of rainfall your area receives, as this could affect forage density, especially in summer. Also, if you don't own a tractor with a front-end loader, you'll probably need square bales.

Bud box systems are simple and economical, and they work well for cattle. A Simple Cattle Corral This easy-to-construct facility is for five to 10 cows. Animals usually move more easily through a facility if they don't' have to push up one-way backstops...

Beef producers treat or manage these conditions and others brought on by high-carbohydrate, low-fiber diets with antibiotics and other medications, but as long as the animal is fed a grain-based diet, its health will be at risk.

Tags cattle farming , cow farming Steers are castrated male cattle. Drug Use Use of artificial hormones in cows used for dairy production and cows for meat is a concern to animal-welfare advocates and to human-health professionals.

As was true of free-range livestock in earlier days, the cattle ranged widely and received little care; they were expected to make their own way. “Both breeds have been and continue on a parallel course.

At Pine Crest Dairy in Custer, Montana, Jack and Maggie Howley don't vaccinate at birth but wait until the calves are several months old, administering medicines as indicated. At Livin Dream Ranch in Polson, Montana, Beatrice Jensen vaccinates newborn...

A simple rule of thumb is to increase the amount of feed 1 percent for every degree of coldness below the appropriate lower critical temperature. Again, your local extension office will be able to assist with this process, as will your local feed supplier.

Cattle can eat a lot of food in a hurry and then belch it back up for thorough chewing. The rumen functions best and the animal is healthiest when fiber is in the diet. When feeding hay, make sure there's no mold, sharp seed heads (foxtail, cheat grass,...

Feeding a mix of minerals free-choice will allow the cattle to get a balanced ration. Grass has the highest protein content just before the seed heads develop, while the plant is putting all of its energy into the stalk.

Before buying a cow, calf or steer, find a mentor to advise you. A pet cow can be artificially inseminated, so you needn't ever own (or visit) a bull. The soft, woolly undercoat curried from molting Galloway and Highland cattle is a fiber artist's joy.

Protein should be about 12 percent of the diet, and your forage may contain a good portion of that. (For more about BCS, read “ Why Body Condition Score Your Cows? About 60 days prior to calving, a dairy cow that is being milked should be dried off.

Many dairies can greatly reduce their cases of milk fever through proper nutrition . Eventually you get a feel for the correct speed at which to administer treatment. Upon further inspection at this stage, a cow with milk fever will usually have cold...

Typically, the membrane enclosing the calf breaks in the birthing process, freeing the nose. “I like dehorning paste in the first couple weeks of life, applied over the horn bud,” Howley says.

A calf that is too cold to get up and nurse will die. Most mama cows will do their best to keep their offspring safe and well, but ultimately, the task of ensuring a successful calving season falls to their human caregivers.

An array of tools is at your disposal for keeping tabs on your cattle's well-being, from assessments that measure how your animals move to how clean they are. Assess the nutritional status and needs of your beef or dairy cattle with body condition scoring...

First, get some animal husbandry books and talk to your veterinarian so you know what to expect. Produce fresh milk for home use and dairy projects by introducing a dairy cow to your farm.

Belfairs are registrable with the American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry , where the Foundation stock is limited to 42 inches tall or shorter at three years of age; cows 42 to 46 inches tall are classified as mid-sized.

Let's face it—not many people look around and say, “Hey, I have too much free time on my hands, so I think I'll buy a milk cow.” According to McMinn, “It's so much less daunting to consider a cow if you only have to milk once a day … .

Miniatures with standard-size counterparts such as Jerseys, Lowline Angus and Herefords usually are. Miniature Zebus resemble Brahmans with notable twists: Mini Zebus' upright ears don't match the Brahman's trademark floppy ones, and Miniature Zebu cows...

From impacting your animal's metabolism (and therefore production), cost of treatment and death, disease and parasite issues can be very expensive. Follow a Proper Workflow Your biosecurity program needs to prevent the spread of diseases within your herd...