Tag: Animal learning

This seems like a recipe for disaster. I don’t think one of the players really understands the rules. (Click on the play arrow to activate video.) 

Back in 2014, there was a lot of buzz about how a bacteria found in soil may help reduce depression. But that’s not the only thing dirt might be good for. Additional research shows that same bacteria might even make us smarter. Let’s start with depression.  Based on results in lung cancer patients, who said […]

It’s high in protein – capable of adding 2.2 pounds of gain per day – and spreads 10 to 18 feet a season, AND cows love it. You should too!

This works for any animal – so whatever you’re raising, check it out! In 2004, I taught a small group of heifers to eat Canada thistle, leafy spurge and spotted knapweed. I was inspired by two decades of research on how animals choose what to eat, and by ranchers’ (perfectly reasonable) refusal to incorporate goats […]

Yes, I’d like to download this ebook $7.75 Purchase article Use discount code OPEBOOKS for 25% off your annual subscription and get access to this ebook, all the bonus content and access to our library of over 2,500 articles.

Join us on June 21-22, 2019 at Mountain Glen Farm to learn about the South Poll Grass Cattle breed,  get inspired by world renown Joel Salatin and his farming aficionado son Daniel Salatin of Polyface Farm, take a pasture walk with grazing guru Greg Judy, feast upon locally raised 100% grass-fed beef cooked to perfection […]

3 days of educational sessions all related to grass, grazing and animals.

Come work with 30 pastured alpacas to relieve them of their fleece! Saturday only. Hands-on and spectator events. Retail opportunities also.

Your livestock can eat a lot more of what’s in your pasture than you might think. The only thing that holds them back is their “culture” or what they’ve learned from their mom and herd mates. Here’s the background and what you can do to make a difference.

Cattle can damage streams and surrounding vegetation (riparian areas) by over-grazing riparian vegetation, breaking down banks, decreasing water quality, which can reduce fish populations and wildlife numbers. Suggested solutions to this problem have traditionally ranged from the cost prohibitive – constructing fences along waterways – to the extreme – removing livestock completely from rangelands. Using […]

We all have a story about an animal on our place that was more than just livestock, but was a part of the family. Here’s the story of Petey the lead steer and how much he brought to the Ashford farm.

Not only will this help you understand if you should provide cafeteria minerals to your herd, but it will also give you some new insights into how creatures choose what to eat.

We are used to thinking about forage type, nutrition and quantity as we raise our animals, but we overlook what animals might be learning from Mom and herd mates. Since what a young animal learns about food has life-long consequences, knowing more about this process can help us be more successful managers.