Wanting to start raising your own meat? Now you need to know how long it’s going to take! You can do quick projects of 2 months or less, all summer projects taking around 4 months and longer than 1 year projects. It really depends upon what you want to raise! Raising your own meat can…
Feeding your goats can be confusing! How much hay should you be feeding your goats? Can they eat all they want or is there a healthy limit? The answers depend upon your goat! A goat can not eat too much hay. Given the choice, a goat will eat what it needs. Being new to goats,…
Thinking of getting a few goats? Now, you’re wondering what they need to eat and how much it will cost you to keep them for the year. Since costs vary with age, growth and type of goat, we’ve got some figuring to do! Keeping a full size goat on a maintenance ration will cost $100-147.60…
Looking to get some animals for your small farm, but don’t want to be stuck at home to take care of them? Good news, here are some low maintenance farm animals that will be great for the on the go family that enjoys keeping a few animals around. Low maintenance farm animals are: Let me…
Raising your own meat goats for the freezer? Nice! Homegrown and nutrient dense, that’s a winning combination! Now that you’ve put all this time and work in growing out your goat, you’ll want to be sure to butcher it at the right time. How do you tell? Your goat is ready to butcher when it…
Goats are fun and full of character! It’s no wonder they are surging in popularity as people look to bring animals into their lives and their backyards! Do you have enough space in your backyard for a few goats? To raise goats you need (at a minimum) 15 sq. ft. under roof and 25 sq….
Wow, you’re so close to the best beef you’ve ever had! And the best part is, you raised it yourself! Your steer is growing well and you’ve noticed he’s looking pretty big lately. Now it crosses your mind “how do I know when this guy is ready to put in the freezer?” Your steer is…
When you’ve got cattle, you’re going to have manure! How much will each cow produce and what are you planning on doing with it? A 1,000 pound cow will produce 60 pounds of manure per day. Manure in the barn should be captured in bedding, like straw or sawdust and then composted. You have a…
Getting your first few cattle is an exciting time! Now you can start putting together a plan, starting with price. What are your options to get started raising cattle and how much should you plan on spending? Generally speaking, bred cows and bred heifers cost $1,200 each and the bull $2,000. Cost varies with region,…
Congratulations, you’ve decided to get some cattle! Now, how are you going to care for those beautiful bovines to make sure they (and you) have a successful start? Your cattle will need grass, winter forage, fencing, handling and watering systems. The daily care of your herd will depend upon the season of the year and…