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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!

Pasteurized vs. Raw Milk

Ever since the 1930s, commercially sold milk has been pasteurized in order to increase shelf life, making it much easier to sell on a large scale for dairy farmers.

However, there’s always been a debate as to whether or not pasteurized milk is as good for you as raw milk. After all, our ancestors drank raw milk. If it was good enough for them, why isn’t it good enough for us now?

Let’s take a look at the differences between pasteurized and raw milk.

Pasteurized Milk

According to the Food and Drug Administration, raw milk contains dangerous bacteria such as E.coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. These are known to cause serious diseases, however as was mentioned previously, up until the 1900s, people drank unpasteurized milk frequently. Granted, their immune systems were different than ours today, but this still begs the question on whether or not pasteurization is necessary.

Raw Milk

According to raw milk proponents, the pasteurization process destroys almost all the nutritious value in cow’s milk. The beneficial bacteria, natural enzymes, and calcium in cow’s milk are all affected during the pasteurization process, making it less effective than it would be if consumed raw.

There’s a lot of research available on this subject, and you undoubtedly have your own opinion on the matter. If you have any questions about pasteurization, don’t hesitate to reach out to us 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.

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.

Your Healthy Herd

Whether you have one cow or two hundred, you want to keep them healthy and happy. By doing so, you can enjoy high quality milk and meat when the time comes-but what can you do to keep your herd healthy?

The first thing you need to worry about is nutrition. Remember, you will not get quality goods from you cattle if you don’t care for their nutrition. If you’re worried about malnutrition, we recommend testing your soil and feed to see exactly what minerals and proteins your herd is getting. If you find a deficiency, adding salt mixes—either orally or by injection—will help. Also, separate your heifers from older cows, especially during the winter. Because heifers are still growing, they need the extra nutrition doing so can provide.

Also, please establish and follow a regular schedule for vaccines. Many think that producing natural, organic meat means avoiding vaccines, but this is inaccurate. In fact, vaccines help to eliminate a need for antibiotics which, some claim, could taint the meat. Also, vaccines can help stave off diseases that could damage your herd.

If you have any other question please give [practice_name] a call at [phone]. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you have.

How to Keep Your Herd Healthy

Whether you have one cow or two hundred, you want to keep them healthy and happy. By doing so, you can enjoy high quality milk and meat when the time comes–but what can you do to keep your herd healthy?

The first thing you need to worry about is nutrition. Remember, you will not get quality goods from your cattle if you don’t care for their nutrition. If you’re worried about malnutrition, we recommend testing your soil and feed to see exactly what minerals and proteins your herd is getting. If you find a deficiency, adding salt mixes—either orally or by injection—will help. Also, separate your heifers from older cows, especially during the winter. Because heifers are still growing, they need the extra nutrition doing so can provide.

Also, please establish and follow a regular schedule for vaccines. Many think that producing natural, organic meat means avoiding vaccines, but this is inaccurate. In fact, vaccines help to eliminate a need for antibiotics which, some claim, could taint the meat. Also, vaccines can help stave off diseases that could damage your herd.

If you have any other question, please give [practice_name] a call at [phone]. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you have.

Raising Goats in Summer

If you’re considering raising an animal, goats are generally a good choice. Most farm animals, such as cows, chickens, sheep, or turkeys, are useful but few are as versatile as goats. As you probably know, goats can be used to produce milk, cheese, cashmere, meat, and can even be used as a pack animal.

However, if you intend to raise goats, there are a few important things you should understand. For instance, did you know that your goats will require specialized care during summer months. You see, goats are very vulnerable to heat stroke, which can affect their performance. In other words, if your goats are subject to heat stroke, their reproduction, dairy, and meat quality could suffer.

Goats are typically warmer than humans, usually having a temperature between 101.5 and 105. Still, we recommend cooling your goats on a hot day. You can do so by spraying our animal with a hose, though we recommend starting at the legs. You should also make sure your goats have sufficient shelter. This means you should have something with shade and good air flow. Typically, a tree or barn will work well.

Finally, you should know how to recognize the signs of dehydration, which can quickly lead to heat stroke. The first thing you can watch for is your animal’s breathing. Goats don’t sweat, however if they are breathing hard, they may be in danger.  Similarly, you should be able to pinch your goats skin. If the skin is slow to return to its original position, your animal could be dehydrated.

If you’re interested in learning more, please contact [practice_name] at [phone]. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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.

A Few Facts on Cattle

If you are thinking of raising cows—or have just started to raise cows—there are many things you need to know. Today, we’re happy to discuss a few things you should know about your cattle.

  1. Cattle are social animals that make friends. In fact, most cattle chose to spend the majority of their time with two to four chosen cattle. They also tend to dislike some cattle, holding grudges for years. They also enjoy sleeping near their own families.
  2. If you are attempting to breed cattle, it is important to note that a cow’s gestation lasts for nine months.
  3. You’ve probably heard that cows are enraged by the color red. In fact, that isn’t true. Cows are red-green colorblind.
  4. Please don’t lead your cow upstairs if you have to follow the same steps down. While cattle are able to move upstairs, they can’t walk downstairs. Their knees simply don’t allow for that motion.
  5. When cows are treated well, they tend to produce more milk.
  6. A cow can live for twenty years or longer. However, most dairy cows do not live that long, and cows raised specifically for meat typically live until they are close to two years old.

If you are interested in learning more about your cattle please feel free to contact us. We’ll happily answer any questions you have.

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