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Getting Started with Beef and Dairy Cattle by
Heather Smith Thomas, a lifelong cattle rancher and author of several previous books for more experienced farmers, offers a succinct layperson's guide to the basics of raising a small herd of cattle, whether for meat or dairy products. She outlines organic and natural farming methods and covers all the information needed to get started and be successful. Getting Started with Beef & Dairy Cattle encourages new and beginning farmers to start small and start right. Thomas explains the basics of selecting and raising a calf, along with feeding, shelter, and care guidelines. She covers breeding and calving, as well as tips for managing a herd through the seasons. There is basic health care information for preventing disease and addressing common ailments. For those raising beef cattle, Thomas offers guidelines for butchering; for those raising dairy cattle, there are step-by-step guidelines on milking.
Your Calf by
Cattle-raising expert Heather Smith Thomas offers all the information you need to care for your beef or dairy calf in the best possible way. In Your Calf, you'll find easy-to-follow instructions on choosing the right calf, feeding and housing it, keeping it healthy, handling and transporting it, showing it, and dealing with emergencies.
Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle by
Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle is the go-to reference for new and experienced cattle ranchers, providing expert advice on everything from breed selection, calving, feeding, and housing, to humane handling and slaughter practices. The 3rd edition, now with 125,000 copies in print contains new and expanded features: - Up-to-the-minute coverage of diseases and vaccination options - Complete information on raising grass-fed animals - How to identify and deal with toxic pasture plants Storey's Guide to Raising Series is the essential animal husbandry information from the trusted source. With a combined total of 1.7 million copies in print. Praise for the book: "I found your book to be the Bible for raising beef cattle, and will continue to refer to it while running our 160-head organic beef operation." - Jonathan, Plainfield, IN
The Ffa Guide to Raising Cattle by
Whether your goal is to raise one cow or to own a larger herd of dairy or beef cattle, the expert advice in this hands-on guidebook will tell you all you need to know. How to Raise Cattle guides readers through beef and dairy operations from beginning to end, sharing valuable information about facilities, enclosures, breeds, production systems, stocking guidelines, feeding, reproduction, nutrient management, husbandry, marketing, milk, and exit strategies. With more than 200 color photographs, the book covers conventional, sustainable, and organic farming practices to detail all aspects of cattle farming for anyone interested in raising their own herds. Easy-to-follow advice helps you to: Choose and buy the cattle suitable for you House and feed cattle Manage your herd and keep it healthy Breed your herd Deliver and raise calves Show cattle at fairs and club meets This comprehensive look at the life of a cattle rancher, reviewed and approved by Dr. Clint Rusk (Purdue University Associate Professor in the Youth Development and Agriculture Education Department), will give you the tools you need to succeed in a challenging but rewarding business. With step-by-step photos, worksheets, and a list of available resources, How to Raise Cattle will help you and your cattle enjoy health and prosperity.
The Cattle Health by
From the keeper of a family milk cow to the rancher overseeing a large beef herd, anyone who works with cattle has a vested interest in maintaining the animals' health. In most cases, the financial viability of a farm depends on the continued well-being of the farm animals. Large-animal veterinarians are in short supply and their bills can add up quickly, so it's often up to the farmer to provide routine health care. The Cattle Health Handbook is the essential medical reference for farmers and ranchers confronting day-to-day bovine health issues. Heather Smith Thomas, an expert on livestock with decades of first-hand experience, covers every routine situation -- and many not-so-common problems -- likely to arise on a cattle ranch or dairy farm. Three broad sections cover common diseases, ailments specific to certain body systems, and other ailments and injuries. Beginning with detailed information on how to detect signs of illness, the book progresses through the various causes of cattle health problems, describing symptoms and discussing prevention and treatment. Readers will find reassuring advice on handling bacterial and viral diseases; digestive and respiratory problems; eye, skin, foot, and mouth irritations; injuries and wounds; and much more. Thomas also helps farmers recognize when a situation calls for veterinary assistance. Case histories, real characters, and humorous anecdotes give the text a warm voice of authority. Primary income source or country hobby, cattle are unique; the people who care for them want their animals to be healthy and comfortable. For the first-time dairy farmer or the experienced cattle rancher, this reliable volume is a must-have resource.