My inspiration for this week’s article collection was, “What is it that we all want right now?” If you’re a grazier, the answer is food, shade, and water, whether it’s for your animals or yourself. So I’ve got three articles covering those bases. I knew I couldn’t ignore the fact that most everyone would say, “Money – a little more money would be really helpful right about now.”
Once you’re got those basic needs covered, you have time and energy to devote to other endeavors. To figure out what those might be, why not a Vision Quest? Finally,
Enjoy!
Get More Forage Fast!
I searched the archives for “more feed,” looking for the quickest way to add more forage to your pastures. Here’s the answer: eat those weeds. After a decade of teaching livestock to eat weeds, I know that they’re very nutritious, which makes them very palatable. So why not go for it?
I’ve written lots of OP articles about how to teach your livestock to eat weeds. In this collection of articles, I’ve laid out all the steps, and illustrated them with video. You’ll even see how cattle can help you with leafy spurge, horsenettle, and multi-flora rose. There’s also a link to a downloadable link for an ebook set with all the background, a list of 142 weeds describing whether they are edible or not, and a quick start “recipe.”
Don’t overlook young animals’ water needs
Making sure they have what they need is money in the bank. Want ideas on getting water to animals? Browse our collection of articles on water here.
Make Sure Young Animals Have Plenty of Water to Promote Rumen Growth and Weight Gain
Get Your Shade Going
The hotter it gets, the less productive animals become. Here’s what’s going on and a variety of good options for giving them relief from the heat.
Shade Options for Grazing Cattle – Natural, Permanent and DIY Portable
Improve Your Business by Writing Yourself a Check
Sounds crazy, but it’s a great tool for expanding your thinking. Check it out! (No pun intended.)
Sunk-Cost and Status Quo Bias – Getting Over These Hurdles to Success
A Vision Quest
That check you wrote yourself might have you thinking about what you’d like to do with your life. That’s where a Vision Quest comes in, like this one being offered as an online workshop by Jenn Colby on May 30. John Marble (an OP author) and I both participated in her last one, and we’re going to be at this one too because of the real, immediate difference it made for each of us. As an example, John wanted to be able to travel more without worrying about his livestock back home. A week after the Vision Quest, he’d figured out how to partner with another local rancher to give him the time he needs. Every time we chat now he tells me something he’s doing, and then adds “Thanks to Jenn!”
“It’s like my brain sees the pictures and suddenly, without me even trying, it comes up with ways to get these things done. Again, Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t such a rapid change, that’s for sure.”
You can read more about my experience here. Or click here to learn more about the workshop and register. I look forward to seeing you there!
