This is the final excerpt in this series. Authors Whit Hibbard and Dr. Lynn Locatelli conclude that investing in training for anyone handling and moving livestock is cheaper and more effective in the long run than trying to create and install expensive handling equipment that doesn't necessarily do the job.
You don't need to spend your hard earned cash on fancy facilities. Here Whit Hibbard and Dr. Lynn Locatelli continue their analysis highlighting why inexpensive, easy to use BudBoxes make more sense than high dollar facilities.
Do you think you need a new cattle handling facility? Are you trying to figure out what will work best for you? Here’s an analysis of the Grandin system and how it matches animal behavior in action.
1. Grandin, T. (1989). Behavioral principles of livestock handling. Professional Animal Scientist, 5(2), 1-11.
2. Grandin, T. (1990). Design of loading facilities and holding pens....
Rick Machen and Ron Gill of Texas A&M share 5 basic principles of cattle behavior and turn them into ten handling pointers to help you become a better low-stress cattle handler.
Meg Grzeskiewicz is back with a two part series on genetics and forage for raising great beef. Here's Part I - Animal Genetics and Management. (Meg's own legless cattle will be born this coming June!)
Plenty of graziers have forested lands that they may graze to some degree. But there are other ways that you can get more out of those spaces. Here's one idea.
Even if you're not working with irrigation, this article has some great tips for transitioning to intensive grazing, stockpiling pasture, and considering the downsides. This is the first in a series from Dave Scott so stay tuned!
In response to reader requests for information on raising pasture pigs, here is an interview with Karma Glos of Kingbird Farm in Berkshire, NY. These four, beautifully done videos on pastured pigs were created as part of the Cornell Small Farms Video Mentor series as a resource to small and beginning farmers. We love how Karma takes us from farrowing to processing highlighting the things that make life better for the pigs, and easier and more profitable for the farmer.
Each year the Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards recognizing achievement in voluntary conservation in eight participating states: California, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Winners receive a trophy and a check for $10,000. This is the time of year when nominations are being taken and winners are being announced. We thought you'd enjoy hearing about some of them.
You can turn your weeds into alfalfa quality forage by spending about 8 hours over 10 days training your livestock to eat them. Here are the basics on how it works.
