Call us Weekdays 9-5(800) 949-9997
Shipping World Wide
Serving the Livestock Industry Since 1982

Livestock Handling Tips

Running a ranch and owning cattle is a lot of responsibility. Whether you’ve been doing it for three years or thirty, there’s always more to learn about the business – and about caring for your stock.

Our team at [practice_name] here in [city], [state], put this list together of some tips to help you better handle and manage your livestock. Whether you’re getting them ready for a show or for slaughter, these tips can help you better handle your herds.

Remember their blind spots

Cattle will generally respond well to directions and arm signals, but they have to see them first in order for the signals to be effective. It’s easy to forget, at times, that a cow’s blind spot is directly behind them. Try staying at a 45-degree angle off your cattle when directing them. You’ll find they’re much more responsive when you do this.

Better working walls

When you have to move cattle from one paddock to another, into a truck, or through chutes, you know how important it is to have all the working alleys and chutes sized correctly. However, we recommend making sure that your alleys are at least 18 inches wide for calves and 30 inches for adults. This helps make sure they move in the direction you want and prevents them from trying to turn around.

If you have any other questions, or need some equipment to better handle your stock, call us today at [phone].

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].

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.

The Winning Diet of A Show-Worthy Sheep

Raising sheep that are show-worthy isn’t the easiest task. It requires special attention to the sheep that you think can make it big on the show circuit.

Luckily, we have a few tips (and more than enough equipment) to help you raise show-worthy sheep. Let’s take a look at a few basic tips for raising show-worthy sheep.

Energy is important
A big part of a winning sheep’s diet is high-energy food sources. Things like carbohydrates, fat, and excess protein in your sheep’s diet will give it more energy, which helps you raise the best-looking, award-winning sheep.

Protein
This is frequently the most expensive part of a sheep’s diet, but if you want to win any of the livestock sheep shows, you’ll need to make sure your sheep get the protein they need. The most common protein supplement for sheep is soybean meal. Our feeders here at [practice_name] are protected from rain and have a 36-inch long trough. It can hold 300 pounds’ worth of grains to feed your sheep.

Salt
Another important aspect of a show-winning sheep’s diet is salt. Salt is an important mineral for regulating the functions in the bodies of sheep, and help maintain the sheep’s skeleton. Low salt totals can result in rickets or a delicate skeleton. Neither of those issues will provide you a show-winning sheep.

Raising a show-winning sheep takes hard work, but with the help of your products here at [practice_name] we’ll help you raise the wining sheep you want.

Should You Raise Goats?

Are you trying to become more self-sufficient? For many people, a major part of the American dream involves being able to provide for those you love without need of outside assistance. If this is your ream raising livestock may help you reach it.

If you’re interested in raising livestock, goats may be a good place to start. They provide meat and milk that can help us sustain an independent life style. In fact, did you know that a female got, on average, can produce about 900 quarts of milk a year? However, if you are interested in raising goats for milk, there are a few things you should know. For instance, in order to have a productive milk farm, your goats will need to breed consistently.

You can also raise goats for their meat, though some breeds produce better meat than others. However, raising meat goats tends to be easier than raising dairy goats. Still, you plan on goats for meat, you’ll need to be aware that they will need to eat constantly if you’re hoping to have the highest profit.

If you are considering raising any type of goat and have any questions, please feel free to call [practice_name] at [phone]. Our knowledgeable team will be glad to address your concerns and answer your questions. We look forward to your call.

A Beginner’s Guide to Cattle Care

Are you thinking about raising cattle? Do you know where you should start? While the best way to learn how to deal with cattle is to work with then, there are a few places you can look to find a good start. We recommend speaking with someone experienced, reading livestock journals, and selecting the principles that can help you get started.  But to help you get started, we’re happy to offer you three important pieces of advice.

  1. Please make sure your cattle have a clean, plentiful water supply. Cows tend to drink about twelve gallons of water every day. During the winter, you may want to use a tank heater to prevent your water from freezing. Also, you may place copper sulfate in your water if you notice algae growing.
  2. Some people believe that is extremely important to build a shed or barn for their cattle, but all you really need is a windbreak. In reality, most cattle need no shelter at all. However, if you decide that a shelter is important, please make sure there are no drafts. If there are drafts, your shelter may hold moisture that can lead to health problems.
  3. Remember to provide your cattle with high-quality hay. Alfalfa is generally considered the best hay. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive. However, if you decide to use alfalfa, please mix in timothy or other types of grass to protect your cattle from bloating.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We are excited to hear from you soon!

Raising Sheep for Beginners: What You Should Know

Managing livestock can be quite the task, especially if you aren’t sure where to start or what you need to consider. If you are new to raising sheep, don’t worry. We are going to give you three essential things you can do to ensure you have a successful business and flock.

Feeding your flock a balanced diet

Like any other animal, your herd is going to need to be fed regularly. Sheep particularly have a larger stomach chamber, requiring a healthy and bountiful diet. Sheep that maintain a diet of dry hay and grain will need more water incorporated into their diet than those that don’t.

Generally you’ll want to feed your sheep grains and forbs. Forbs are similar to weeds that are covered in clover and alfalfa. If you’re on a budget, grass and shrubs are also a great option.

Shelter your sheep

Your adult sheep generally can cope with different types of weather, but having a place for them to take shelter, dry out and escape harsh winds or sun can give you healthy sheep for the future. Make sure your shelter has a soft bedding to absorb water or urine.

Take proper care of your sheep

Your sheep constantly need to be cared for. Make sure your herd is vaccinated regularly. Periodically trim the hooves of your sheep to prevent lameness.

When looking for the right equipment to run and manage your sheep, consider D-S Livestock Equipment. From feeders to handling systems, we have you covered. Give a call today at [phone]!

Your Guide to Livestock Equipment: Goats

If you are new to livestock equipment, you may need to know a thing or two about the essential equipment pieces to help make your goat business run properly. Here at D-S Livestock Equipment, we are prepared to give you an in-depth look at basic equipment pieces you will need to run a successful business.

Feeders

Like any other animal, it is important to feed your goats. There are several different types of feeders out on the market, from bale feeders, hay baskets, to troughs. Our recommendation would be a combination feeder, where you have the ability to feed your goats hay and grain in one equipment piece.

Located in an area that rains a lot? Not a problem, there are several feeders that offer protection from the outside elements.

Handling Systems

Handling systems can go from very basic to extremely complex. Depending on the size of your business, you will want to choose a system that is right for you. These systems contain components that will allow you to sort, deworm, inspect or tag your goats without harming the animal or you.

Weighing

Weighing your goats is important for your business because it helps record the health of each goat. When you know the weight of a goat, you have the ability to calculate medication dosage, balance food rations and monitor any weight gain.

Work Tables

Having work table is essential for your goat business. Many times it can be difficult to handle, flip and keep a livestock animal still. We provide work table and station options for you so you don’t have to worry about that. Most work tables will secure the animal upright, allowing the goat to be flipped without any complications.

So no matter what your decision is, it is important to always have the safety of you and your animals in mind. Please give a call at [phone] today! We will make sure you have the best for your business.

Search for products

Back to Top
Product has been added to your cart