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Tag: calves

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November 3, 2022 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Getting Your Goats, Sheep and Cattle Ready for the Colder Winter Weather

If you are new to livestock handling equipment, you will want to know about the basic essentials that will help you make your livestock operation run smoothly and efficiently. Our team here at D-S Livestock Equipment, is ready to give you a run-down of the basic equipment you will need to be successful and protect your livestock investment.

Livestock Feeder

Sheep, goats and cattle need to be fed well and consistently so they can thrive, especially in the colder winter months. While there are a variety of feeders available on the market, bale feeders, hay baskets, troughs, etc., we can recommend a combination feeder, so you can feed your animals both hay and grain with just one item of equipment. And whether you are dealing with rain or snow, our feeders help protect your animals from the harsh elements.

-Handling Systems: There are various handling systems ranging from basic to complex, so choosing the right one for your needs is important. Our equipment has parts that can let you sort, deworm, inspect or tag your animal without harming them (or you).

-Livestock Weighing Equipment: Weighing helps you monitor your animal’s health so you can calculate the correct medication dosage, and food rations, as well as monitor their weight gains.

-Livestock Work Tables: A work table and station options can make your job easier when you need to handle, flip or keep your animal motionless.

Winter Protection Tips

There are a few other items that can help protect your animals. If you have newborn calves dealing with winter weather, you can look for specially designed hats to keep their ears warm, while goats and lambs can be warmed with a fleece or sweater on the chilliest nights. Extra bedding can help insulate your animals from the freezing ground. And of course, this time of year extra food can raise their body temperatures.

Whatever your needs may be, our DF-Livestock team in Frostburg, MD, has the equipment to help you keep your animals safe and your business function more smoothly. We invite you to give us a call at [phone] if you have any questions! We are here to support your operation!
February 15, 2017 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Getting Cattle ready for Calving

Calving season isn’t for a few more months but it’s never too early to start making sure everything is ready for the arrival of the new calves to your ranch.

Calving is one of the most important times of the year for cattlemen. Making sure your cows get through it and stay healthy is important for your herd – and your bottom line. So to help everything go as smoothly as possible, we recommend looking over the following tips as you work to prepare for calving.

Have the area ready

A big part of successful calving is ensuring that you have a clean, dry area ready for your cows to give birth. If your pasture isn’t clean and dry, then the cows need to calve in a barn with a thick layer of straw. This ensures the calf will stay warm and dry, and both the calf and mother cow will recover quickly.

Keep them warm

If your cows give birth when it’s cold, that’s not always the worst situation. However, if they give birth when it’s both cold and wet, you’ll need to warm them up immediately. Cold, wet calves don’t have the energy to get up and nurse, which all but seals their fate as a dead calf.

If you need more tips on the calving season, call us today at [phone].
October 14, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Prep your Cows for Winter

Winter is coming quickly, which means you’re running out of time to ensure that your cattle are ready for the coldest season of the year. Failing to do so can cause some serious health problems for your herd, including robbing them of body fat to keep them warm.

Let’s look at what the experts here at [practice_name] recommend you do to get your cows ready for winter.

Take care of pregnant cows

If you have any cows that are pregnant going into the winter season, you’ll need to have all your calving supplies in order. We have the supplies to help with that particular process. You’ll also need to ensure that any calves born during the winter are properly vaccinated, as well as the mother. Otherwise, serious health issues could arise.

Sorting

You should sort your cattle into groups, based on their size and age, and feed them accordingly. This ensures that your feed lasts all winter and that all of your stock is getting the nutrition they need to make it through the winter.

You may also want to think about sorting your cattle based on nutrient needs. For example, your younger cows need extra feed to help them become sexually mature, and they need special attention if they’re two-year calves.

If you have any other questions about taking care of your stock during the winter months, don’t’ hesitate to call us today at [phone] for more information.
September 8, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

How to Raise Calves in Cold Weather

With summer nearly over and fall quickly arriving, you’re probably thinking about getting your ranch ready for the snow. Part of that preparation comes in the form of ensuring that your calves are ready to endure a cold winter.

So let’s take a look at a few tips for correctly raising calves in colder weather.

Use the right bedding

Dr. Noah Litherland is quoted on ProgressiveDairy.com as saying that wheat straw is, “The preferred bedding substrate for calves in winter.”

Wheat straw works because it absorbs water, meaning that your new calves are going to be drier when sleeping on wheat straw than on other materials.

Consistency in the feeding schedule

Calves are quite like human babies in some circumstances, and feeding time is one of those. You need to make sure that you’re keeping their feeding time consistent, even if it is 10 below outside. This consistency will ensure as many calves as possible make it through the winter.

Well-ventilated barns

Even though it’s cold outside when the snow’s flying, you need to make sure that your calves’ barn is well-ventilated. This makes sure there’s fresh air and a removal of toxins and noxious gasses.

If you have any other questions about raising calves in colder weather as winter approaches, please don’t hesitate to call us today at [phone].
August 20, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Protect Your Cattle from Flies

Keeping cattle healthy and strong can be a difficult task for any rancher. And as many will tell you, flies are an increasingly difficult problem to manage around your herd. Flies can cause a range of health problems for cattle, including pink eye, over-biting and various diseases. Today our team is going to give your some helpful tips you can consider using to help protect your cattle from flies.

1. Using fly tags

Fly tags contain a high concentration of insecticide and are extremely helpful in controlling fly populations. These tags should be placed when you notice each cow has a significant amount of flies surrounding it, typically around 200 flies. An ideal time to place the tags is when you are leading the cattle through the chutes as well as give any vaccinations to calves.

Remember to remove the tags every 3-5 months, to ensure they are working properly and reduce the amount of insecticide that the cattle are exposed to.

2. Dust bags/cattle rubs

Dust bags or rubs, are an economical approach to controlling face and horn flies. It’s important to place the dust bag or cattle rub in a place where your cattle can see it, making sure it’s charged constantly with insecticide.

3. Sprays

This method can be effective for ranchers who have cattle grazing in small areas throughout the year. If your cattle graze in a larger area, this may be a more time consuming method of fly prevention.

No matter what method you use, it’s important you have a system that helps control and manage your herd effectively. To learn more about gates, chutes or systems, please contact our office today at [phone]!

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