Jump Start Your Cattle Farming Lifestyle With Highly Recommended Cattle Equipment

Your cattle farming venture is more than just a business, it is a lifestyle. Unlike other businesses, your work doesn't just revolve in going to some office or some manufacturing plant. In a ranch, you do have paperwork, and you do run a production, but everyday, there are dozens of chores for you to work on - fence mending, feeding, vehicle maintenance, grazing management. The list goes on.

That is why your operation should be as efficient as possible. This way, you can be more productive, and you will find more time for yourself, your friends and your family. Cattle equipment makes your operations run efficiently. A tractor can help you drive a trailer that carries feeds, eliminating the need to drag around bins and all. An auger add-on to your tractor can help you with chores that require digging such as fence post repairs and mending. Another add-on can help you churn up soil in your land so that grass can grow again.

Here are the usual cattle equipment groups that most cattle farmers have on their farm. Note that most of these equipment are those you cannot do away with, others have cheaper alternatives - those than you have to assemble or build yourself. You can look up detailed information in cattle equipment vendor sites, cattle farming review sites and how-to sites.

Cattle Handling Equipment

These are the equipment necessary when moving, weighing and inspecting cattle. The cattle equipment under this list are calf tables, cattle headgates, squeeze chutes, loading chutes and cattle handling accessories such as weighing scales, head chains, and squeeze chute adaptors.

Corral Systems

Corral systems are smaller enclosures that you might want to use for animals whenever you do not want them moving around. These are commonly used for horses but they can be used for cattle as well. Corral systems are either permanent or portable. Its price depends on the number of cattle it can hold, as well as the additional features. Some corral systems have adjustable alley sections, arena panels, a smaller holding pen, adjustable alley gates and alley frames that can connect directly to a squeeze chute.

Cattle Feeders

These are the equipment needed for cattle feeding. They are a must in feedlot settings and are highly recommended for ranchers raising grass-fed cattle. In feedlots it is where cattle are entirely fed; for pasture cattle, it is also needed for giving supplements. The standard plant protein supplement needed is around 11%. These cattle equipment can be creep feeders, bale feeders, bull mineral feeders or bunk feeders.

Waterers and Water Tanks

Large livestock need large amounts of water. Surely, everyone agrees that cattle are huge (or at least, they were supposed to be). That's why you are going to need water tanks. Waterers are cattle equipment with trough bowls. Material ranges from galvanized iron to Rubbermaid to concrete waterers.

Your cattle equipment can help you in raising the herd and keeping the property. In cattle ranches, the best way to do a chore is with the right equipment.

Steps for a Livestock Farmer to Get Started In Raising Rabbits and Chickens for Meat

There are lots of advantages in raising livestock for meat. Two main advantages is that you can supply your family with fresh quality meat and you can make some extra money in selling your products. But what ever your reason maybe to raising livestock the bottom line is that you have to know how to care for your livestock.

Two types of livestock that are easy to raise and produce delicious meat are rabbits and chickens. Their meat is high in demand and can being you lots of profits.

Rabbits:

When raising rabbits for meat the first thing to be considered is the breed. Rabbit breeds that are good for producing meat are Californians and New Zealands. A lot of farmers also crossbreed these two to produce quality rabbits that grow quicker and are more vigorous. The New Zealand breed takes 8 weeks to be fully grown whilst the Californians are in demand because of their boned body structures.

In order for rabbits to produce quality meat depends on the quality of feed. Rabbits in general eat all sorts of food but in order of them to produce great tasting meat they have to be feed pellets and alfalfa hay. But make sure you don't over feed them because it can add to their body fat.

It is important to breed rabbits at the right time if you are raising them for meat. For medium rabbits the right time is between 5 to 6 months and large rabbits should be bred when they are 8 months. The rabbits should be healthy as well with the female rabbit taken to the male cage when its time to breeding.

When the doe rabbit is about to give birth you should make sure they are placed in a comfortable place. The babies should be fed a mixture of karo syrup, skim milk, bone meal, and egg yolks.

Chickens:

Chickens can be raised for various reasons. They can be raised for their droppings with make good manure, they can be raised for eggs and they can be raised for meat production.

Raising chickens for meat or eggs has a lot of advantages. One of them is that they contain nutrients. The eggs contain carbohydrates, vitamins, essential fats and proteins which help in the prevention of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. Chicken meat on the other hand is white which means it doesn't contain cholesterol.

Raising chickens for meat has more advantages than raising them for eggs since they mature faster meaning you will spend less in feeding them. Another reason is that with the current economic situation producing your own chicken meat can help you save a lot of money in buying meat at the same time sell it for some extra money since its high in demand.

To make sure your chickens produce quality products you have to feed them well. You can buy chicken food from your local farmers store or you can give them your leftover foods which can save you a lot of money. Make sure you also build them some shelter and fence the surroundings to protect the chickens.

Small Chicken Coop - Start With A Small Chicken Coop And Earn Big!

As you walk through the floors at your local grocery store, you notice that many of the consumers are buying chickens. This gets you thinking that it might be best to start a business with a small chicken coop. You think to yourself that you have the backyard with adequate space and this is something that you really want to do. Then why not try it.

Business in poultry and livestock is one of those businesses that would give you return of investment in a short span of time. You can easily study the tricks of the trade once you get your hands on those books and manuals about poultry and livestock. You can get many products from chickens. This is because all chickens lay eggs and have edible meat. You can also utilize their feathers for ornamental purposes. As they say, you cannot go wrong with starting a poultry business. If you fail, it is your own fault.

A small chicken coop is one of the best ways of how you can start your poultry business since it will offer you many advantages as a first time businessperson in this industry. Since you are still a novice in this trade, it would be better if you test it out first. See first whether you have luck in this kind of business; train yourself first before going full blast. Start small and surely.

A small chicken coop has the advantage in terms of space. It will not take up too much of your yard space. If you do not have the luxury of a big backyard then this is best for you. In addition, since it is small, you can opt to construct your own chicken coop with the help of a few reference books and research. You can do it on your own instead of hiring carpenters to do it for you. Just make sure you have a reliable source for the plans and designs that you will follow. You will save more this way, since it will be cheaper to construct.

Chickens can be a handful at times so there would be times that you would have to transfer them to another location. A small chicken coop gives you the option to make it mobile. Transfer its location whenever necessary.

You do not risk too much money, time, and effort in engaging in this kind of business. Your capital investment is lower and when you think you are not earning enough, you do not lose much or you may just break even. You do not have to worry how to dispose of the chicken coops that you presently have. On the other hand, if your poultry business takes off and proves to be a lucrative business, your chicken coop can still undergo expansion.

How Do You Start Your Own Successful Cattle Farm As A Complete Beginner?

Cattle farming is now considered as a multi-billion dollar industry because the demand for cattle produce is ever growing. The United States imports a lot of its meat since local farmer don't produce enough to supply the whole nation. This means there is enough room for everyone to cash in. No matter which country you live in the world you can get started in raising cows as long as there is grass and water.

Since people now know that they can raise their own cows the search for information on cattle farming is on the raise as well. You can find information about raising cattle from local livestock farming classes, magazines, auctions and online articles like this one.

So how do you get started in cattle farming?

Before you get started with raising cattle you should first decide on how much money are you willing to invest for this business venture. Just like any other business venture raising cows requires to you spend some money first. The money you spend will depend on cattle farming operations and livestock markets.

In order to raise cattle you will have to have some land for your cows to sleep and graze on. Then you have to choose the type of breed you want to raise. Cows can be raised for the production of milk, the production of meat and the production of leather. After you have made up your mind on what you want to produce from your livestock farm you will have to buy your cattle and also the farming equipment.

You will then have to buy feed for your cows. Your cattle have to get a lot of nutrients in order to produce quality milk and meat. You can feed you cows fresh grass which is recommended or cattle feed that can be bought from your local livestock store. Make sure that your livestock also get enough water everyday to help them digest the food.

Another important thing is shelter for your cattle. Cows can withstand hot and cold weather but sometimes it can get too hot or cold that cattle should need a place to shelter themselves. Your cattle shelter should be surrounded by a protective fence so predators can't attack and eat your cows.

There's no doubt that when raising cattle you will dirty yourself at some time especially when you still setting up your farm, but in the long run it will be worth it.

Inspiration for Unique Chicken Coop Designs

As any chicken owner will tell you, a few hours of watching a brood is like having a crash course in Sociology. Each hen exhibiting her own unique personality by the way she interacts with other hens in the coop or as decided by hierarchy. An afternoon of "chicken watching" and you'll immediately be able to identify who's the Queen Bee (or Hen to be exact), the loner, little Miss Congeniality, the cautious, and even the clueless type, just as you would in your high school yearbook.

And just as the chickens have their individual characteristics, so should their chicken coop designs. Although this is much more of an extension of the owner's personality, it's also an expression of how much one values their pets by providing them a safe and unique chicken haven.

But before you build your own, here are some things to consider when building chicken coops:

Space. How big your backyard, farm, or rooftop space is can easily determine how and what kind of coop you're going to build. For smaller spaces, a vertical style coop would be a better fit rather than a horizontal one that takes up a lot of real estate.

Insulation. Depending on your area, your chicken coop might be too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. Extreme weather can have effect on your hen's health and their ability to lay eggs, so make sure that their coop is properly insulated.

Ventilation. Aside from proper air circulation inside the coop, ventilation is also a factor in keeping the coop's cleanliness.

Here now, finally, are a few inspiration for unique chicken coop designs.

Farm Girl Chic

Take inspiration from the shabby chic style movement and use vintage-looking pieces when building your coop. For starters, you can whitewash the outside of the coop to give it that rustic feel. Next, you can add small details like using galvanized containers to serve as their feeding station, a place to store their feeds, or even a place to nest. An alternative to galvanized containers could be wooden crates, which would create individual spaces for the chickens. You can also add an old wooden ladder inside the coop to serve as a place for them to roost and doubles as a focal piece.

Simple and Sleek

Whether you want to call it Zen or modern, you can also incorporate this design concept when building your coop. Go for linear lines to create a sense of symmetry in the overall design. Also go for materials that express simplicity in an elegant way such as dark-colored wood with hardware details for the structure.

Coops Gone Green

Chicken coop designs can also transcend aesthetic requirements and foray into the functional. If you're a city dweller, you can give your chicken coop a green roof so that it doubles as a plant box. You can plant herbs which you can then add to the eggs your hens produce and make a tasty omellete. Nothing goes to waste too because you can make use of the chicken's waste products as fertilizer and the leftover water from their feeding stations to grow the plants.

Raising Cattle For Meat - 5 Critical Factors To Remember When You Start Beef Cattle Farming

The process of raising cattle for meat is fairly easy. It goes like this: Find a means to own a calf, feed it appropriately, and finally, have it slaughtered at a suitable time. It may sound a bit cruel, but that should not be too much of a concern, since loving the animal is not the main goal in this business. However, some people might find it hard to do this due to sentimental reasons, and if that is the case, then this is not the kind of business for them. Although, however simple the process may seem, there are a few factors that should be kept in mind.

Raising Cattle for Meat: 5 Important Details to Keep in Mind

1. Is the cattle for meat or dairy production?

There are quite a few significant differences between the two. Depending on the purpose of the cattle, one must choose wisely when picking out the cows. Cattle that are raised for milk are usually bred for producing quantum amounts of milk; however, they gain weight a lot slower. In other words, they are not ideal to provide a good amount of meat. Not to mention that their meat will be of poorer quality.

2. Choose the Gender Wisely

The obvious difference between a female and a male is that the former will be able to produce more calves for production. However, a male bovine is a bit quicker in terms of growth. In raising cattle for meat, it is recommended to care for male bovines instead, because the profits gained from selling their meat will allow the owner to purchase more calves, more frequently than producing females. Also, the meat of male calves will make a good veal production.

3. Dehorn the Cattle

Removing the horns of cattle is a must lest an unfortunate mishap occurs. If dehorning the cattle is not an option, there is a variety of cattle without horns, which are known as polled.

4. How to Feed Them

In raising cattle for meat, it is best to take them away from their mother after a week or after they have tasted the milk of their mother. After a while, the caretaker will have to teach the cattle how to drink milk on their own (preferably from a bucket). The best way to do this is to dip your fingers in the milk and let the calf suck the milk off the fingers as if it were a teat. The calf will soon learn to drink from the bucket due to its desire for milk.

5. Proper Accommodation

Place the calves in a dry and well-ventilated area with sufficient hay and milk substitute. When raising cattle for meat, they will eventually need to learn how to walk. With the appropriate accommodation and nutrients, they will be able to gradually learn with ease.

That's about everything necessary in raising cattle for meat. Sounds simple enough, right? Just a little hard work and patience, you will soon have a freezer full of high quality meats.