I have been toying with the idea of introducing cows to our smallholding, but the thought of upgrading all our fences is a little daunting, to say the least. From what I’ve experienced of cows, they perceive fences primarily as scratching posts and then as items requiring mass destruction. So, that left me wondering: what …
Cow health
Can cows eat clover forage? Or not?! Moo! That’s the sound of a cow eating. Cows are grazing animals and love grazing on grass, but can your farm cows safely eat clover forage? Clover is a prized forage crop for livestock because it is so high in protein and minerals. While cattle may enjoy nibbling …
All creatures who are born eventually die. There is no exception to the rule. The only variation lies in the time each species gets to walk on Earth. But – what about cows? How long do cows live naturally? Is there a difference between how long dairy cows live and beef cows? We’re about to …
If someone asked you, what do cows eat? Your reaction would probably be to sneer and say, well, grass, of course! Everyone knows cows eat grass, but farmers and homesteaders raising cattle for meat, milk, or both know that a cow’s diet is more complicated than that. We’re about to explore what types of snacks, treats, and food cows …
Having spent most of my life in the city, I learned on the fly when I moved to my homestead. I managed well with a few horses and a couple of chickens, but I was shockingly unprepared for bottle feeding and calf milk replacer! Luckily, I learned quickly. I have bottle-reared several calves successfully since. …
As winter kicks in through the US, cows need extra nutrition! An extra feeding boost helps to you’re your cows warm and fight off the health problems associated with the inclement weather and drop in temperature. In most parts of the northern hemisphere, there’s little grazing available at this time of year, which means buying …
For humans, an apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor away. But for cows, tackling a fruitarian diet isn’t quite so straightforward. Can cows eat apples? Do they enjoy them, and are apples good for them? We’ll go into all the details in this article! During fall, any homesteader with both apple trees …
It’s a beautiful spring day but, rather than enjoying the fresh new grass, your cows are all swishing their tails and stamping their feet. Why? Because they’re surrounded by flies. Not only are flies annoying, but a heavy infestation can also cause all manner of unpleasant side effects for your bovine buddies. Biting flies not …