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Tag: cows

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December 5, 2022 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Raising Quality Beef To Receive the Greatest Return on Your Investment

If you are looking to raise cattle that can provide high-quality beef for your customers, we have some tips (and livestock equipment) that can give you food for thought. For the best return on your investment, you want your cows to be healthy and happy so they can produce the tastiest beef and milk possible. Here are some tips to help your cows thrive:

1-Quality nutrition: To avoid malnutrition, make sure your soil and feed provide the minerals and proteins your herd needs. Adding salt mixes via mouth or injection can make up for a deficiency. Separating the heifers from the older cows, particularly in the winter can help provide much-needed extra nutrients for your growing heifers.

2-Vaccine protection: A regular vaccine schedule helps prevent diseases while also lessening the need for antibiotics that could be passed on to the meat.

-Pasture feeding: Giving your cows access to pastures for silage and hay helps them produce the most natural and best-tasting beef.

-Legume hay: This hay that is grown for your herd and then cut is essential for their best health. Grown correctly, this hay comes with an ample supply of protein for your cows, having higher concentrations of protein than regular grass hay. Alfalfa is great legume hay and while it is pricier than feeding your cows strictly on pastures, it’s well worth it if you are wanting to supply the best beef for your customers.

NOTE: When it comes to hay, avoid feeding your beef cattle alfalfa that is dairy quality. Its richness is more than your beef cattle require and is one of the costlier options for hay.

At D-S Livestock Equipment located in Frostburg, Maryland, we are pleased to be one of the only providers of hot-dipped galvanized livestock equipment. What does this mean for you? There is no paint and no rust, while also being priced affordably. This means you will be purchasing high-quality equipment, cost-effectively. Whether your cattle operation is in the U.S. or across the world, we can help. Check out our products or call 800-949-9997 for assistance. We also offer financing to help you get the equipment you need now rather than later!
January 5, 2017 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Livestock Show Equipment

With winter gripping most of the nation, the southern states are proudly hosting quite a few livestock shows. If you’re looking to thin the herd a bit before heading into spring, you’ll want to sell what livestock you can at these shows.

However, even your best stock – from sheep to cattle – can benefit from great show equipment. That’s why our team at [practice_name] is here to help you out. Let’s look at a few of the options we offer to help you show off your stock in the best manner possible.

Stands

From sheep to cattle, we have stands that’ll help present any of your stock better to potential buyers. Especially if you’re selling smaller cattle for their growth potential (especially any Angus you may have in your herd), these stands are guaranteed to show off your stock in a great way and stand up to the abuse of the show circuit.

Hay baskets

When you’re off on the show circuit, you don’t want your stock eating feed that you don’t know for a fact is the type you’d give them at home. For that reason, you should look at our hay baskets and see how they’ll provide great, durable transportation of feed from show to show so you don’t have to worry about feed while on the road.

If you have any other questions about show equipment, or your livestock in general, call us today at [phone].
December 14, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Feeding Cows in Winter

When winter comes, so does the arrival of higher feed bills for your beef herd. This is due, obviously, to the needs of cows to have proper nutrition during the winter and early spring so they can have enough energy and strength for calving.

So what are some of the best strategies for properly feeding your cows, yet not spending too much in feed costs, during the winter?

Let’s look at that question.

It’s a challenge

No part of this process is easy, which is why it takes a special type of person – such as yourself – to raise beef cattle.
The easiest answer to the question is that you need to provide the correct quantity and quality of feed at the proper time during the winter and early spring.

That last part is key – the quality. If you can store high-quality feed for winter use, you’ll have a much easier time ensuring that your herd is healthy and strong come calving time.

Monitor condition

The other best thing you can do is consistently monitor the body condition of your herd. This will tell you, more than anything, how they’re handling the winter and what feed adjustments you need to make.

If you have any other questions, or need new equipment to help feed your herd during winter, 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.
May 25, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

What to Know About Goat’s Milk

Goat’s milk is becoming an increasingly popular part of modern-day diets. But is it healthy? And what makes it so different from cow’s milk?

Goat’s milk is actually the closest in structure for human milk than anything else in the animal kingdom. This means it’s easier for humans to digest – and even works against milk allergies. According to a recent study, 93% of infants who were allergic to cow’s milk were able to drink goat’s milk without any problems.

Goat’s milk is also a bit healthier than cow’s milk, because it contains less lactose, or milk sugars.

So yes, goat’s milk is definitely a healthy option, and if you’re allergic to cow’s milk, it might be a great alternative to supplement your diet.

However, goat’s milk does have an unusual taste. Certain breeds of goats produce milk that isn’t the best-tasting. And, since goats are smaller animals than cows, they produce less milk. If you’re thinking about getting goats to have your own source of milk, instead of trying to find it for sale at an organic food store, you’ll need to make sure you get enough goats to meet your milk needs. You’ll also want to try milk from several different breeds of goats to find the one you like best.

If you’re interested in owning goats to have your own milk, you can contact us here at [practice_name] and we’ll get you set up with the equipment you need to safely raise your goats.
September 16, 2015 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Water for Your Cattle

Obviously, your cattle need water, but did you know that it’s extremely important for your cattle to get enough water? In fact, if your cattle don’t have enough water, they won’t eat, and as their feed intake decreases, the animal will become dehydrated and their body functions may fail.  In fact, water plays a factor in all of your cattle’s physiological processes. If you are interested in learning more about how to water you cattle properly, please read on.

The amount of water your cattle will need will vary depending on several circumstances, including age, production cycle, and age. For example, many cows and bulls may need up to 20 gallons of water every day during summer months. If your cow is lactating, it will require more water than dry cows. Food also plays a factor. If cattle eat lush grass, they should only need less water, while cattle that graze on dry feed or hay require more water than average. Also, if it is hot, your cattle will need more water. We recommend giving your cattle a constant supply of water.

Aside from quantity, water quality is also very important. Granted, cattle do not necessarily need water that would be considered safe for humans to drink, but there are a few factors you should keep in mind. The water’s salinity (or salt that is dissolved in the water), hardness, pH level, and minerals such as sulfate and nitrate have an impact.

If you are interested in learning more about the amount or quality of water you should provide to your cattle, please feel free to contact us. We will gladly answer any questions you may have.
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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