Livestock

This month we’ve been looking at record keeping and it’s place in our operations. So I asked John Marble to weigh in and share why he keeps almost no records at all. He’ll start with some thoughts about the value of collecting animal data. He’ll talk about other kinds of data in future issues. I […]

Since the last article, lambing has commenced for us at Markway Ranch. While it is an exciting time in the year of the sheep, I wish I could say lambing is all sunshine and roses. As with anything in life there are ups and downs, good days, and days we wish would have gone more […]

It’s the time of year we eagerly anticipate, as winter moves into hibernation and spring awakens. The greening of the grass, the song of spring peepers, gobbling turkeys, mushroom hunting, fish biting and warmer days are all blessings we look forward to. In the year of the sheep, a new beginning is soon to arrive […]

Let me introduce myself. I am Jeremia Markway, a rancher from central Missouri. I know… when most people think of ranching, they think of vast spreads out west with lots of sky, country, some cattle and maybe a few horses. Call it a ranch or farm, we don’t do any row cropping or hay baling. […]

Our March article on calving on grass talked about the monetary, health and stress reduction benefits of ranchers discovered. Here’s another way to improve birthing season that ensures more sleep, and less stress. Feed your pregnant stock every evening, right around dusk. They’ll spend the night ruminating and wait to give birth until morning. That’s […]

Graziers who still think that “Spring” calving starts in late February and early March think they have good, logical reasons. They probably cite economics, and the old “this is the way we’ve always done it.” And I’m not entirely unsympathetic. After all, I used to kid my goat herd in February in the middle of […]

Part of planning for the grazing season is getting a good handle on how much forage you’ll need for your livestock. This, along with your forage estimate, tells you how many animals you can sustainably raise. It also helps you plan paddock sizes, when to move animals and what your rotation will look like over […]

While these videos and information focus on care of newborn calves, it’s helpful no matter what livestock you’re raising. As an example, the old method I was taught for getting a newborn kid goat to breath by holding it upside down – well, turns out that’s actually harmful. It would be much better to do […]

Researchers in Norway had questions: Do personality traits, especially sociability, influence feeding behaviors of dairy calves? And, how do personality traits in combination with different weaning methods affect weight gains? The answers to their questions could help producers choose the best weaning methods for their dairy stock. In a natural setting, cows and nursing calves […]

Where is your herd (or flock) spending this winter? Right about now, with snow, ice, mud and manure building up, you may be wishing you had a different option than the one you’re using. Here’s a solution you can start considering and maybe planning for next year!

It was about nine in the evening when the phone rang. I looked at Sandy, almost wanting to ignore the call. It glanced out the window, and even in the dark, I could see it was raining hard. “You better answer it,” Sandy said. I picked up the phone and said, “Hello, this is Doctor […]

I adore eggs, the way they look with their different shades of white, off-white, tan, brown, green, and blue, their smooth shell, their sensual shape. I love to eat eggs, the quick and easy package of calories, protein, and nutrients they provide and the myriad of ways they can be cooked. In fact, I just […]

Forrest Pritchard has been through several versions of raising pigs on pasture. Here he shares versions 1.0 – 3.0 with the benefits and drawbacks he found along the way.

The other day I was talking to a friend who was trying to figure out how to get her kid to quit yelling in the house. One idea was to tell him that if he yelled he would lose Gamebox time. But then, if he started out the day yelling, and he lost his game […]

As we head into the Holiday season, some of you may be asking “I wonder if I should raise turkeys?” Here’s some food for thought to help you ruminate on the idea. That way, you’ll be ready next June to mid-July when it’s time to start growing them for next year’s Holiday Season. Look before […]