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Tag: Hay

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September 2, 2022 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

If You Are Starting Your Own Cattle Operation, We Offer Top-Quality Equipment for Your Needs!

If you are beginning a cattle operation, you will want to learn how to safely do so. These large creatures can be dangerous if they aren’t handled properly. Here are some tips to help.

Choosing Your Cattle Breed

If you are a beginner at raising cattle, you will need to determine which breed will be best for your operation. Here is a brief description of some of the most common cattle.

Holstein: These rather large cows come in around 1,500 pounds when mature. Commonly used as dairy cows, they potentially produce over 17,000 pounds of milk and more than 600 pounds of butterfat each year.

Jersey: These big-eyed beauties produce milk high in butterfat while weighing in around 1,000 pounds. While small compared to their Holstein counterparts, they are happy grazers that thrive even in the heat.

Guernsey: Coming in at about 1,200 pounds when mature, this breed supplies you with high-butterfat milk even though they tend to consume less feed than some of their bigger cousins.

Handling Tips

-Don’t try to handle agitated cattle, if possible, wait for about half an hour for them to calm down. They can be safely handled when they feel calm and secure.

-Your cattle’s eyes are on the sides of their head so they cannot see behind them. Don’t spook them by approaching them suddenly or yelling at them, as they just might accidentally swing around and trample what’s in their path.

-Maintain cattle-friendly facilities that will keep your cattle safely locked up with gates and pins closed, and we can help with that!

Water for Hydration

Whatever breed you end up choosing, make sure they get the amount of water they need to continue eating enough, staying hydrated and maintaining optimal body function. The amount depends on their production cycle and age. In the summer, cows and bulls can require up to 20 gallons of water a day while a lactating cow easily consumes more. Cattle grazing on lush grass requires less water, while cattle munching on dry feed (or hay) will need more. It is recommended that your cattle have access to a constant source of clean water.

If you are in the market for cattle handling equipment, chances are we have it! Feel free to check out our catalog. Give us a call at 800-949-9997 or email us with your questions!
August 2, 2022 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Acquiring the Right Livestock Handling Equipment for Your Cattle Operation Is Vital for Success!

Are you raising beef cattle to produce meat or to breed? Raising purebred cattle or as commercial stock, dividing your cattle breeds into maternal (moderately sized cows) or terminal (sires that are bigger) and used to produce meat means getting the right equipment to help you succeed whatever the scope of your goals.

Equipment Needs

Running your livestock operation means you’ll need the right equipment to help maintain your animals profitably. Basic equipment includes feeders, water tubs (or watering systems), health care equipment and cattle handling equipment for safety. Here is a rundown of what you might need:

Access to feeders: Feeders keep your cattle from eating off the ground to both deter parasite infections and from wasting feed that can fall onto the ground. Feeders can accommodate hay and grain or just hay or just grain. The size of the feeder may depend on whether your cattle have free-choice access to their feeders all during the day. Feeders can also just be simple troughs that contain your cattle’s supplemental protein, energy, or minerals for grazing.

Access to water: Water is a vital nutrient for your cows as it directly affects their feed consumption. If your animals only have access to poor-quality water (or insufficient amounts of water) this can lower their feed intake and decrease their performance. Whether you are using buckets, troughs or automatic watering systems the main consideration is to ensure their water is fresh, clean, and available whenever they need it.

Health maintenance: Preventing disease involves tagging, vaccinating, dehorning, castrating and deworming so having the proper equipment to perform these is important.

Handling equipment: This equipment allows you to more effectively handle your cattle day-to-day. Whether you are gathering your animals into a group pen, herding them into a chute to hold them for routine health care or sorting or using gates to contain your cattle while producers perform their tasks.

If you are looking for equipment for your cattle operation, you have come to the right place! Our D-S Livestock Handling Equipment sales team in Frostburg, Maryland, has helped many producers such as yourself and is ready to help you get the tools you need to succeed! Just call 800-949-9997 or go online to view our Products.

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May 4, 2022 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

4 Basic Essentials of Livestock Handling Equipment To Help Your Goat Operation Thrive

Have you started running a goat operation? If so, you’ll need dependable, quality livestock gear to help your animals and your business thrive. Our D-S Livestock equipment company has been helping goat farmers and livestock producers raise goats for many years now. There are some basic, essential equipment items you should have if you are new to a livestock operation. Our experienced team offers options for running a successful goat operation.

1 – Quality Feeders

Keeping goats healthy means feeding them quality food with easy-to-access equipment. Perusing the market you’ll typically come across bale feeders, hay baskets and troughs to supply the basics. Our livestock team recommends using a combination feeder that allows you to provide your goats with both the hay and grain they need in just one piece of equipment. Depending on the weather in your location, keeping rain and moisture out of your goats feed may also be a factor. We have feeders that provide protection from the elements wherever your feeders are located.

2 – Handling Systems

The choice of handling systems ranges from basic to complex, and choosing the right one for your operation can make the day-to-day tasks run more efficiently. Our handling systems offer components that make sorting, deworming, inspecting and tagging your goats simple, easy and safe (for your handlers and goats alike).

3 – Weighing Equipment

Regularly weighing your goats supports your business by helping you track the health of each individual goat. Knowing the weight of each goat allows you to more accurately calculate the dosage of any medication they need, keep food rations balanced and be able to track weight gain to make adjustments as needed.

4 – Work Tables

Having a work table is vital for your goat operation. Without it handling, flipping and keeping your goat standing still can be a challenge. Our D-S livestock business offers work tables and station options to help you keep your goats and your workers safe. Work tables keep your goat upright and secure so it can be safely flipped with minimal hassle.

We welcome you to browse our website or order a catalog so you can see the livestock equipment you might need in one handy place. Your animal’s safety and your operation thriving is our goal! We invite you to give us a call today at [phone] and get the equipment you need!
November 10, 2021 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Winter Feeding Stations Help Maintain Your Cattle, Sheep and Goat’s Healthy Weight for Optimal Health

With winter’s lower temperatures you will likely need to maintain higher nutrient requirements for your livestock operation. As the temps plummet your animals will require more calories just to keep themselves warm and maintain their body weight (or grow it). Cattle, sheep and goats can graze in pastures to get their energy from digesting complex carbohydrates in the grass, but if it is nearly gone, you’ll want to supplement their feed.

Winter feeding stations are an excellent way to supplement their grazing while they continue to feed on pastures during those wet and cold winter months getting their essential vitamins and minerals. They’ll also need protein which feeding stations can provide. Offering your animals protein from pellets or high-quality alfalfa hay can give them what they need to stay healthy and strong while helping their bodies stay warm in the season’s cold temperatures.

Winter feeding stations also mean you don’t have to worry about vegetation and soil erosion or the increase in the concentration of manure in certain areas that would pollute soil surface and groundwater with phosphorus and nitrogen. Our D-S Livestock Equipment, located in Frostburg, Maryland, has an established history of supplying high-quality livestock equipment all over the world.

We offer quality feeders, loading and hauling equipment, open-air panels and doors, show equipment, work tables and stations. Additionally, we take your equipment to the next level by ensuring it is also hot-dipped and galvanized (which is not common in our industry). This means we take the worry out of your equipment so it doesn’t rust or require painting.

Our feeders reduce your animal’s stress during harsh winter weather conditions to meet their nutritional requirements. We offer Outside Creeper Feeders that keep rain and sleet off their feed, while our 4-foot and 8-foot adjustable grain feeders give young and old sheep and goats the feed they need to thrive in the cold. Contact our facility in Frostburg, Maryland, to learn more or to order equipment. Call 800-949-9997 today!
October 21, 2021 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

As Winter Looms Ahead, Now Is a Good Time To Prepare Your Lambs and Goats for the Winter Lambing and Kidding Season

With fall in full swing, winter is right behind it bringing with it the chilly winter weather. For owners of livestock such as goats and sheep, now is the time to plan ahead and prepare for lambing and kidding season. This is important for your animal’s safety and your own operation’s production goals.

Making sure your livestock maintains productive breeding so mating and birthing can continue on schedule means making sure your animals have easy access to nutritious feed so they can be healthy. For lambing/kidding season (typically September and October) means giving birth five months down the road. Providing the necessary feed to your animals gives the lambs and kids the nutrients they need to ensure survival. Access to good feed lessens potential health problems to ensure they not only survive but thrive. Lambs and goats require the proper facilities to support winter kidding:

  • Good feed
  • Fresh hay
  • Pens with dry
  • Access to animal health care and vaccinations

With the right equipment, you’ll be able to oversee your animals’ health, including checking your does regularly, providing vaccines, seeing that they aren’t plagued by lice or worms and are safely sustained throughout the winter weather. Warm facilities and access to feed help keep them warm by boosting their metabolism for optimal body heat.

Our D-S Livestock and Equipment facility offers you handling equipment to help you care for your livestock and ensure optimal productivity. Our inventory and storage allow us to ship your equipment wherever you are located. For your convenience, we also offer in-house financing. We also offer hot-dipped galvanized sheep and goat handling equipment including feeders, lambing creeping and kidding creeping equipment, loading and hauling equipment, weighing equipment and so much more.

If you are currently in the market for updating your livestock handling equipment, we welcome you to check out our D-S Livestock Equipment operation in Frostburg, MD. To speak to a representative, you can call 800-949-9997 today or request a catalog online.
March 24, 2021 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Spring Is a Great Time To Get Your Kidding and Lambing Equipment

When it comes to running a sheep operation, people can lamb on pasture in the spring, or earlier if you lamb in a barn, often depending on your livestock situation. Some operations have several lambing seasons in a given year, especially if their market demands support it.

Whether your operation involves sheep or goats, DS-Livestock and Equipment are here for your livestock needs so you can successfully maintain your production goals. You want to be able to utilize the best times to mate your livestock and for them to reproduce in good health. Supplying your animals with the nutritious feed their metabolism needs to survive and thrive is key to your operation’s success.

Our high-quality, hot-dipped galvanized sheep and goat handling equipment are both reliable and affordable. We have been helping livestock operations maintain their facilities with quality products. We offer your animals equipment to hold their feed, clean water, fresh hay and dry pens with bedding and access to necessary health care. You’ll need access to your animal’s hoofs, administer vaccines and check for lice and worms especially as the weather warms.

Our team at D-S Livestock and Equipment here in Frostburg, Maryland invites you to check out all of our livestock handling equipment so you can maximize your production and revenue. Keeping your livestock investment healthy and thriving helps to ensure your bottom line. No matter where your operation is located, here in the United States or on another continent, we can ship your equipment around the world while also offering in-house financing, per your needs, including the following:

-Feeders
-Handling systems and their components
-Lambing and kidding creeping
-Loading and hauling equipment
-Open bar panels and doors
-Show equipment
-Solid panels and doors
-Weighing equipment
-Work tables and stations

For more information, we invite you to reach out to our team at 800-949-9997 today. We are happy to send you a catalog showing all of our sheep, goat and cattle livestock handling equipment, in Frostburg, MD. We look forward to meeting all of your livestock handling equipment needs for the years to come!
October 20, 2020 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

It’s Time To Get Your Lambs and Goats Ready for the Winter Lambing and Kidding Season

Winter season is around the corner and farmers who work with goats and sheep need to make sure that lambing and kidding season progresses properly to reach anticipated production goals. Successful breeding means taking advantage of the best times to mate and give birth so that the animals have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

Lambing/kidding season includes the months of September/October where they will give birth five months later. At this stage, your animals need to have the necessary support to ensure the survival of the lambs and kids. This includes preventing the animals’ exposure to health problems and access to optimal feed.

If you are a commercial producer, having the right kind of facilities to support winter kidding is essential. Providing proper feed, clean water, hay that is fresh and pens that are dry with bedding and providing needed health care. Checking the does once a month or more before kidding means checking hoofs, providing vaccines and making sure there are no lice and worms. And finally, making sure the does and kids are protected from the harsh winter weather effects, depending on your climate.

You’ll likely need to provide extra care for these animals during the winter to protect them from the cold and keep them warm. Sufficient feed will stoke their metabolism for needed body heat. Your successful livestock operation depends on your animal’s thriving under your care.

At D-S Livestock and Equipment, we have all the handling equipment you may need to care for your animals and keep them healthy for maximum productivity. We ship around the world and offer in-house financing as needed. We offer high-quality, hot-dipped galvanized sheep and goat handling equipment:

  • Feeders
  • Lambing Creeping & Kidding Creeping
  • Loading & Hauling
  • Open Bar Panels & Doors
  • Solid Panels & Doors
  • Handling Systems
  • Handling Systems Components
  • Show Equipment
  • Weighing
  • Work Tables & Stations

If you need sheep, goat or cattle livestock handling equipment, give our D-S Livestock Equipment operation in Frostburg, MD a call at 800-949-9997 or request a catalog.
December 2, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Keep your Winter Herd Comfortable

Winter is finally gripping most of the country in its cold grasp, which means it’s time to get serious about ensuring your cattle herd makes it through the winter comfortably. Whether you’re new to cattle or this is your 20th year on the range, we have a few tips that we believe will help you.

Watering is just as important

Even in the winter, with the abundance of snow and ice, having enough water at a decent temperature (we recommend 37 degrees Fahrenheit and up) is critical. Cattle can’t just eat snow and ice all day, as they have the same problem humans do when consuming that much frozen water – it lowers core body temperature.

Enough roughage

A great way to keep your herd warm is to ensure there’s enough roughage, in addition to whatever winter diet you have them on, to help warm them up. Hay is great because the digestion process of it causes more body heat, keeping your herd warm and lowering any heating costs you may incur if you’re housing your herd in a barn.

It also gives your herd more energy, meaning their meat stays firmer and healthier until slaughtering time.

Keep them dry

It’s also critical to keep your herd dry. Wet animals get cold as easily as wet humans, and if they stay wet and cold too long you can risk losing the animal.

In light of that, we recommend double-checking all housing structures to ensure there are no leaks, so your herd stays dry all winter long.
If you have any other questions regarding your herd’s winter health, call us today at [phone] for more information.
October 5, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

Winterize your Ranch

The whole country is getting a bit colder, which means it’s time to start getting things ready to winterize your ranch. Here at [practice_name] we have the expertise and products to help you do just that.

Let’s take a few minutes to look at some tips that’ll help your winterization go more smoothly.

Get your feed ready

The most important thing when winterizing your ranch is ensuring that all your feed is ready. If you grow your own hay, make sure it’s out of the fields and in the barn. You’ll also want to remember not to keep your feed too close to your stock, and have a clear path to delivering it to your stock even if a winter storm dumps five feet of snow on the ground.

Prep for Calving

If you calve during the winter, you don’t want to be searching for calving supplies when it’s freezing. Make sure all your calving supplies are in line for when your cows start to calve.

Winterizing your ranch takes a lot of work, and these are just two tips that’ll help you make sure you’re ready for what’s shaping up to be a long, cold winter. If you need to any other advice about ranch winterization, please call us today at [phone] to see what we can do to help.
July 5, 2016 BY
IN Livestock Equipment News

1 Secret for a Great Beef Diet

How often have you heard that you need to feed your beef cows a high-quality diet? Probably quite often. But there’s a misconception in the agriculture world: you don’t need to feed your beef herds the same quality diet as you would a dairy herd.

A lot of beef ranchers swear by feeding their herd alfalfa; however, alfalfa can create a few problems for your herd and its overall health.

Beef cattle need protein, but not nearly as much as dairy cows do. For beef cows, it’s recommended you feed them a diet that’s 11-12% protein. The problem with alfalfa is that it’s incredibly high in protein. Alfalfa hay that’s too rich can cause health problems for young calves who are still drinking momma’s alfalfa-rich milk.

Grass hay is a great way to ensure that your beef herd gets the protein it needs – but not too much. However, if you buy alfalfa hay for other reasons than just your beef herd, then it’s recommended that you supplement your dry pastures with second-cut alfalfa, on an every-other-day basis.

Ensuring the health of your beef herd isn’t the easiest task in ranching, but it’s definitely one of the most important. If you have any questions, or need equipment to help feed your herd, don’t hesitate to call us here at [practice_name] today. Our number is [phone].

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