CAROL'S COWS Ferndale, Washington

Fullblood Lowline Angus.


Short, stout, efficient beef suitable for small acreage ranchettes and "micro-farms."
Genetics selected for efficiency and temperment.
UTILIZING THE BEST AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION BLOODLINES AVAILABLE
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The Veterinarian

One of the most important people on your team is your veterinarian. Find a good large animal veterinary clinic in your area. A consultation with a local veterinarian is well worth the cost. This health care professional will recommend a parasite, vaccination and nutritional program suitable for your local conditions. And also suitable for the purpose of the animals you are rearing. For instance, the program for the breeding age and pregnant females will be different from that for the market steers.

Nutrition

The most important "food" is, of course, water. It takes a lot of water to process all the forage your bovine eats. And if a cow is pregnant or nursing a calf, she will need more. So always have plenty of clean fresh water available for your cattle.

Plant fiber in the form of fresh, green forage whenever possible. Good quality stored forage (HAY) when there is none fresh. It is nearly impossible for me to suggest a per animal per day amount of hay to feed. Variables include size and age of animal, weather conditions, quality and palatability of the hay, other available foodstuffs. My idea is to have a tiny bit left over just as I am arriving with the next meal. That way I am reasonably sure that the lowest guy on the pecking order has had a chance to eat his fill.
Salt and minerals free choice. Blocks are easy to use. Loose is fine if you have a safe dry place to serve it to them. Their tastebuds will tell them how much to eat.
If your forage is poor quality supplements are a good idea. Such as during winter, drought, or over-grazed conditions. There are protein blocks available at you local farm store. They are very tasty! The animals love them. These have molasses and protein and vitamins and minerals included. Yummy!

Housing

Cattle have been roaming the grasslands for hundreds of years without humans to build shelters for them. But, the wild bovine is able to roam for miles on seasonal migrations to find suitable environments. Ours are fenced in with limited choices. So we must give them choices. A simple three-sided shed will give shelter from severe weather and shade from hot sun. A nice woodlot is sometimes enough. Common sense applies here. Don't expect them to happy sleeping in mud or freezing their ears off or passing out in triple digit heat with not a speck of shade and only hot, stale water to drink. I like my animals to be comfortable and happy. As their "keeper" it is my responsibility to give them a decent quality of life.

Vaccinations

I vaccinate because the world is crowded and well-travelled. Who knows what disease might be transported on a person, pet, vehicle or wild creature. It just makes sense. Vaccinations are cheap insurance. They do not compromise natural or organic status of the animal.

Parasite Control

Here we must compensate for our providing a less than natural lifestyle for the cattle. Rotating pastures helps very much to control internal parasites. But most of us cannot simulate the vast migratory routes of the wild herds. So we need to have an effective parasite control program. Both internal and external. Flies and other biting insects are a big nuisance in warm summer climates. Biting and sucking lice can hide in the thick winter coats of the cattle when it is cold. A good online source of products is Jeffers. Some products are easy to pour a measured amount along the back of the animal. Others come in a block that they will lick on for a few days. Some products can be dusted or sprayed onto the animals. Others can be applied to an object that the cattle rub against to scratch themselves. Again your veterinarian can recommend products. Take care to observe withdrawl periods. If you are striving for totally organic meat, there are products that qualify for this also.

Other Sources of Information

University Cooperative Extension offices can be very helpful. Go online to find your State Agricultural University or look in your phonebook for the local Extension Office. Here in Washington it is WSU. We have an excellent network of Extension Offices that offer classes and informational brochures to the public.
Farm stores usually have a collection of "how to" books on animal care. And of course the Public Library probably has some good books.
If you see some well cared for cows in your neighbor's field, perhaps you could stop by and ask for some advice after properly admiring the critters! I bet the herdsman will be happy to tell you how he manages to keep such fine animals.

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