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February 12, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

A Few Tips for Loading Cattle

If you’re interested in raising, selling, or showing cattle, you may eventually need to load your animals into a trailer. If you’ve never done this before—and even if you have—this can be a difficult task. To help you make the process smoother, we’re happy to offer you a few ideas on safely transporting your cattle.

The first thing you should do is inspect your vehicle. For instance, you’ll want to make sure your trailer and your truck hitch together properly. You’ll also want to place shavings on the ground to prevent your cattle from slipping. This will also give them a place to lie down. You should also be sure your vehicle is running well.

If you’re picking up cattle, you should ask your owners to avoid giving the animals food. If your cattle are hungry enough, you may be able to use food to lure them into your trailer.  However, you should make sure they have enough water, even while they’re in the trailer. Hang a bucket and fill it with water. We recommend hanging it high enough for your cattle to drink from, but not low enough for them to poop in.

Finally, when your animals are in the trailer, please separate your bulls from each other. If you don’t, they could fight and hurt themselves or damage your trailer. Similarly, bulls should be separated from calves and cows. However, once your cattle are loaded, you should test your trailer’s weight distribution to make sure your ride is smooth. Finally, when you’re driving, please remember to avoid stopping suddenly and sharp turns.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact [practice_name] at [phone]. We’re excited to hear from you.
February 5, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Showing Your Cattle

Are you planning to raise cattle? If you are, do you ever plan on showing them—and do you know how? If not, you aren’t alone. In fact, some people decide to hire a professional when it comes to grooming while other decide to do it themselves.

If you decide to do the work yourself, there are several products available to you. For example, there are items specifically designed for the legs, the tail, the body, and products that can be used on multiple body parts. Similarly, there are products designed for different colored cattle. In essence, you can find materials to meet any of grooming needs.

This is important because regardless of whether you decide to groom the animals yourself or choose to hire a professional, the main goal is to emphasize the animal’s strong points. This means you’ll have to learn what buyers could be looking for.

For example, if you’re selling cattle for breeding, you should try to keep the cattle looking soft and feminine. However, while it’s important to emphasize strengths, you should also hide flaws. To achieve the best results, we recommend cooling any adhesives you use if you are working in hot or humid areas. In these situations, your adhesive could gel and give you poor results. Also, please remember to not cut your animal’s hair too short—if you do it will be more difficult to cover flaws.

If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to contact [practice_name] at [phone]. We’re excited to hear from you soon.

January 27, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Preparing for Shearing

Did you know that most sheep grow wool continuously? This means that most sheep will need to be sheared at least once a year. While shearing isn’t necessarily easy work, anyone can do it. Still, at times it is more beneficial and cost effective to hire a professional. Today, our team at [practice_name] is happy to give you a few tips on how you can prepare your sheep a professional to shear.

Of course, before you shear your animals, there are a few steps that should be taken. For example, please ensure that your sheep will be dry before they are sheared. Similarly, your sheep shouldn’t have full stomachs come shearing time. Full stomachs will make your animals uncomfortable and make the experience more difficult. In fact, it may be best to avoid feeding your animals at all on shearing day. You should also prepare an area. If the day will be warm, we recommend a shaded, dry space. Similarly, you may want to have an extension cord ready in advance.

Finally, we recommend keeping other distractions away. For example, if you have small children, dogs, or other animals in the area, your sheep could be distracted, making the process more difficult.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us at [phone] soon. We look forward to hearing from you.
January 18, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

The Right Scale

Do you raise animals? Do you plan to? If you are going to raise an animal, there are several things to consider. For example, will you need a scale? And if so, what kind of scale?

To answer questions like these, there are quite a few things you need to consider. Maybe the most important thing you’ll need to think about is what type of animal—or animals—you’ll be weighing on your scale. Clearly, some scales are designed for larger animals than others are.

You’ll also need to think about where you’ll be weighing your livestock. For example, would it be easier for you to weigh your animal from home, or will you need to take the scale with you? Fortunately, scales can be permanent or portable. Portable scales can be extremely versatile because they can be placed on a variety of surfaces—including uneven ones.

However, there’s more to consider since modern scales do much more than simply weigh your animals. In fact, today’s scales can store your animal’s weight. In fact, some scales can record the weight of each animal in your letting you track your animals individually.

Similarly, the technology in livestock scales will offer time and data entry saving options, making tracking and storing information more precise. In fact, some scales even have wireless Bluetooth so information can be sent directly to your computer.

If you are interested in learning more, please call [practice_name] at [phone]. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 
December 7, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

The Minerals Sheep Need

Did you know that there are a few vitamins and minerals that your sheep will need to remain healthy? In fact, to avoid health problems, your sheep need sixteen different minerals. While some of these minerals can be found in what your sheep usually eat, other should be given to them in the form of supplements.

Sheep particularly need salt, calcium, and phosphorus to be healthy. Without salt, your animals will produce less milk, drink less water, and not grow as well. Furthermore, if sheep don’t have enough salt, they are more likely to eat poisonous plants. Your sheep also need calcium and phosphorous to avoid major health problems.

Again, it is extremely important to give your sheep the minerals they need. Without them, your sheep could give birth to weak lambs, be depressed, have metabolic problems, and have poor fertility. Conversely, if your sheep get too much of any mineral they may experience a variety of other problems. Fortunately, there are a variety of mineral mixes that are combined with your sheep in mind. Depending on the mix you choose, you may need to add salt on your own or need to stop your sheep from finding salt. We recommend asking your provider more specific information.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We’re excited to hear from you.
December 4, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

How to Raise Sheep and Goats Together

Are you thinking of raising goats or sheep? Are you struggling to decide which animal you should raise? Have you ever considered raising both simultaneously? Did you know that was an option? In reality you can raise sheep and goats at the same time—though there are a few things you should be aware of first.

The most important thing you should know is that even though sheep and goats seem to have quite a few similarities, there are many important differences. For instance, both animals require different minerals. The most important difference is that while goats need the mineral copper, it is fatal for sheep. To avoid feeding problems, we recommend keeping sheep and goats separate for feedings.  Similarly, both animals forage, though goats, which will normally eat anything, will browse for specific foods, sheep look for grass and clovers.

Another similarity is that both goats and sheep are sociable animals. This means that they can compete with each other for a spot in a herd. This can be dangerous since most goats have horns and sheep do not. This means that goats have a chance of injuring sheep seriously. In order to avoid this problem, you may want to consider removing your goats’ horns.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can care for your goats and sheep simultaneously, or about how to raise either of these animals individually, please feel free to contact us.  We will gladly answer any questions you may have.
November 20, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Popular Sheep Breeds

Are you thinking of raising sheep? Do you wonder what breed would be best for you?

Naturally, the first thing you need to consider is why you’re raising sheep? Are you hoping for milk? Are you trying to make a profit by selling wool or meat? Of course, most sheep can be used for both purposes, but some breeds may be better suited to specific goals.

For instance, many sheep are popular because they produce high-quality wool.  Merino sheep are particularly useful and in-demand world-wide. Their wool can be used to create warm accessories, such as clothing. Lincoln sheep are also popular for its fine, beautiful wool, which is mostly used in weaving and designing.

If you are more interested in selling sheep for meat, we recommend considering the Dorset sheep and the Dorper sheep. The Dorset sheep is also useful because it produces milk very well. Dorper sheep are also a popular choice because of their ability to adjust to a variety of climates. You may also consider a Hamsphire sheep and a Suffolk sheep. Incidentally, Suffolk sheep are frequently considered the best meat-type breed.

Again, if you are interested in dairy sheep, a Dorset sheep might be right for you. However, a highly productive sheep—also known for its high-quality milk—is the East Friesian. These sheep can produce more than a thousand pounds of milk in about half a year.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We will gladly answer any questions you have.
November 13, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Water for Your Sheep

As you know, any animal needs water to survive. But, if you’re raising sheep, you may rarely see your animals drinking—in fact, you may not see them drink at all. Do you ever wonder why that is, how you should give them water, or how much water your sheep actually need?

Of course, you should provide fresh, clean water for your sheep. Sheep prefer drinking from a still source of water, rather than from flowing water. We recommend using buckets or other forms of automatics waterers. Also, please rinse out the container that holds your sheep’s water regularly.  Your sheep will prefer water that has no ice in it in the winter, and water that is in shade during the summer.  Finally, to maintain control of your water supply, we recommend fencing off water from nearby streams and other natural water sources.

Typically, your sheep will need between something between a half gallon and three gallons of water a day. The amount of water they need a day is influence by how heavy the animal is, whether or not they are lactating, what they are being raised for, and environmental conditions. Similarly, if they don’t seem to drink, it is most likely because they get most of the water they need through forage. We recommend having a clean, fresh supply available at all times.

If you would like to learn more or have any questions about sheep care, please feel free to contact us. We are excited to hear from you.
November 3, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

A Few Tips on Sheep Care

Are you thinking about raising sheep? Naturally, if you understand how sheep behave, you’ll have a more productive, enjoyable experience. To help you get started, we’re happy to discuss a few things you should know.

One of the most important things you should know is that sheep are instinctual, not stupid. In fact, in terms of intelligence, sheep rank just slightly lower than pigs. However, if you want to raise sheep safely and effectively, you should use their instincts to your benefit.

For instance, sheep will run from things that scare them. Similarly, sheep prefer to travel, sleep, and eat in groups. In fact, if you scare them, they will usually run to the rest of the flock. This is why dogs work well. The sheep will see the dog as a threat, group together, and run from it. Hence, by controlling the dog, you can also control your flock.

Even though sheep enjoy being near other sheep, they will keep distance between themselves and potential threats. When they become more familiar with you, this distance may decrease. This is because they begin to perceive you as a friend rather than a threat. However, please do not pet or push a ram—especially on the head. The ram may see this as a challenge and become aggressive.

If you have more questions, please feel free to contact us soon. We look forward to hearing from you.
October 23, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

A Beginner’s Guide to Goat Care

Are you considering caring for goats? If so, we’re happy to give you a few ideas on how you can care for your goat’s nutritional needs.

Goats need a different amount of water depending on the season. This means you should make sure your goat constantly has access to an adequate supply of fresh water. We recommend using a heavy container to prevent your goat from knocking the water over. Similarly, a water system can help you avoid these problems, and can help you cope with below-zero temperatures.

Your goat will also need hay or pasture to ensure that they get enough good. If you plan on having your goat graze only, you should have a combination of grasses and clovers.  Typically, goats will need eight hours of grazing time every day, but it is important to ensure that they do not overgraze. Also, make sure your goat does not eat wet food, because this may cause them to bloat. If you do not have a large enough pasture, you may supplement their diet with hay, such as timothy. Unlike some animals, you should only give alfalfa to goats that are pregnant or ill.

Finally, it is important to give your goats loose minerals or mineral blocks. These minerals are important for goats. In fact, without them, your goat’s body will not function correctly. The minerals they need include salt and selenium, which they should have constant access to. You may also need to give your goat magnesium.

If you would like to learn more about the food and minerals goats need or about how you can ensure their water supply is adequate, please feel free to contact us today. We are eager to hear from you.

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