Advice for Summer Livestock Care 8 Practical Keep your animals comfortable when the heat’s on.
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Sheep: The Basics 12 Raising With a little land and a bit of know-how, you can raise this relatively inexpensive livestock for food, fiber, and the ‘shear’ fun of it.
cover photograph: Thomas Fletcher/Image Finders
Farming in the Mountains of Great Britain 16 Hill Learn about a traditional British farming method and how
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to use it on your small farm.
Protect Your Flock From Predators Ten tips to prevent your flock from becoming a buffet for local wildlife and neighborhood dogs.
Why Ducks?
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Well-suited to the small homestead, the quack pack offers a versatile set of skills that serve multiple aspects on the family farm.
The Lowdown on Rotational Grazing
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The best pasture management mimics a natural migratoryherds-on-prairie ecosystem. Follow these rotational grazing guidelines for your pastured livestock.
Out With the New, In With the Old
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Consider grazing cattle on crops like turnips, just like our forefathers did years ago.
Fantastic Forage Soil quality and harvest cycles are two keys to healthier, more productive livestock.
Farrowing on Pasture Raise your pigs on pasture for a healthier litter and more nutritious meat.
Keeping Cattle on the Small Farm Try your hand at raising your own beef and milk.
Professional Rabbitry If you’ve considered making the leap from hobby to business, read this advice from a professional conservation breeder. www.Grit.com
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Started With Goats 54 Getting Whether you’re looking for chevon, chevre or some of
both, these tips for finding, choosing and raising goats will stand you in good stead.
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GRIT’S Guide to Goat Breeds
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Horn in on Goat Knowledge
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Build Trust With Your Horse
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All About Alpacas
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Solve Your Predator Problems With Livestock Guardians
We’ll help you get your goat, whether that’s for meat, milk or mohair. Well-known and little-known facts about one of America’s favorite farm animals. Forge a strong and lasting relationship with your horse for years of joy and service together. Learn everything you need to know to raise them successfully, including buying, feeding, breeding and more.
Readers share stories of how their brave homestead companions patrol pastures and keep predators at bay.
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Practical Pest Control
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Animal Defense Mechanisms
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Farm Fencing: Horse High, Chicken Tight and Bull Strong
Learn to make your own insect repellents for pets and livestock. Find out how your barnyard animals and wildlife fend for themselves.
With livestock fencing, there’s plenty to consider: woven wire or high-tensile, electric or nonelectric. Here’s how to make the best choice for your animals.
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Resources
People, places and things to help reach your goal of finding the right animals for your homestead.
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RAISING SHEEP: The Basics With a little land and a bit of know-how, you can raise this relatively inexpensive livestock for food, fiber, and the ‘shear’ fun of it.
If behavior is thought of as the way animals react to the environment, then senses are the tools they use to investigate the environment, and emotions are the outward manifestations of this reaction. Let’s talk about emotions. Sheep, like other mammals, are capable of displaying a full array of emotions, from anger to happiness to the most common emotion we humans see when dealing with animals: fear. Scientists have discovered that fear memories are stored in a primitive part of the brain, and these memories stay with an animal for long periods. For example, if an animal has a bad fright upon entering a barn, it will continue to fear entering that building. As much as fear reactions can be a pain in the neck for shepherds, remember that those reactions are genetically programmed in sheep to ensure their survival. Sheep are prey animals, and the speed at which they have a fear reaction is part of their defense against predators. And make no mistake about it: When sheep see you, they see a predator. With patience and training, however, you can win their trust.
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heep provide wool and delicious meat, milk and cheese, and they eat weeds other livestock species won’t touch. Plus, sheep are relatively inexpensive and reproduce quickly, so with minimal upfront cost, you can have a respectable flock in short order. Raising sheep is an especially good choice for small-property owners who don’t have the space to raise cattle but still want to produce their own meat. Five to seven ewes (female sheep) and their offspring can comfortably occupy the same amount of land as just one cow and calf, and sheep can graze just about anywhere: lawns, ditches, woodlots and mature orchards. Admittedly, there are some difficulties to raising sheep: They’re not as easily fenced as cattle (but they’re a lot easier than goats), and although they tend to be less susceptible to diseases than other types of livestock, they’re more susceptible to parasites. Sheep are also more vulnerable to predators. In some areas of the country, you won’t be able to find a veterinarian who handles sheep, or a professional shearer, so you’ll have to find someone to show you how to shear.
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A flock of Dorset sheep graze at Moon in the Pond Farm in southwest Massachusetts. Opposite: A Jacob ewe makes her lamb feel safe.
Sheep breeds
HOUSTON; GETTY IMAGES/DAVID SANGER; OPPOSITE: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CHRIS PRICE
By PAULA SIMMONS AND CAROL EKARIUS
Emotions and senses
There are nearly a hundred breeds of sheep in North America. Different breeds prosper in different climates and on different types of pasture, and each breed has certain strengths. Do you want to produce meat? Do you intend to spin your own wool, or market wool to handspinners? Would you prefer to stay out of the wool business – and shearing – altogether? Though their name suggests otherwise, hair sheep are raised for meat only, or for meat and milk. Sheep dairies and especially sheep’s-milk cheeses are increasing in popularity. Recent drops in wool prices have led to a boost in hair sheep popularity. They have coarse hair and an underlayer of wool, and they shed their hair each spring, eliminating the need for shearing. Some say these sheep produce tastier meat than wool breeds do. The hair sheep breeds in-
A well-managed pasture is the best source of feed for your sheep. It’s economical and provides them with the food nature intended them to eat: fresh grasses, legumes and assorted weeds and wood species.
clude Barbados Blackbelly, Dorper, Katahdin, Painted Desert, Royal White, St. Croix and Wiltshire Horn. Fine-wool breeds appeal to the wool producer, either for the handspinning market or to sell commercially. The word “fine” refers to the diameter of
the wool fiber. Fine-wools are generally more expensive, but the market may be difficult to develop if you live in an area with an existing market for conventional-grade fleeces. If you’re interested in producing fine wool, breeds to look for include WWW.GRIT.COM
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“Cattle can be relatively easy to keep. They don’t require lavish barns and expensive feed, as long as their basic needs for shelter and nutrition are met.”
Try your hand at raising your own beef and milk.
By CALLENE RAPP
O Climate
Cattle can be relatively easy to keep. They don’t require lavish barns and expensive feed, as long as their basic needs for shelter and nutrition are met. If you live in a climate that tends to be more extreme on either end of the weather spectrum, you’ll need to take this into consideration when choosing breed. Many breeds of cattle started out as “landraces,” or groups of animals that developed certain traits based on the geography and environment in which they lived and to which they adapted. The diversity found among cattle ensures that there are breeds for most every environment, and a breed known to thrive in the heat and humidity of the south may not perform as well in rugged, cooler northern climates.
Breeding
One major factor to consider is if you plan to raise calves each year. Will you want to keep a bull for natural breeding, or go with artificial insemi44 GRIT’S GUIDE TO RAISING FARM ANIMALS
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nation (AI)? Having a bull to service your cows is, at least in theory, easier. The bull knows when the cows come into heat, and he will take care of business with no input on your part. But for a small farm without a lot of acreage, having a bull may not be practical. If you want calves at a certain time every year, the bull will have to be kept separate until the appropriate breeding time. This requires good fencing and a well-behaved bull. Letting the bull run with the cow herd yearround is an option, but you lose control over calving times. Many breeds, especially some of the heritage breeds, are known for having males that are tractable and easy to handle. A good reputable breeder will go out of her way to help you chose a bull that will be as safe as possible, but any intact male deserves respect. Artificial insemination is not as tricky or complicated as it may seem, but it requires careful observation and planning. Your vet can work with you to plan and synchronize estrus in your herd.
LYNN STONE
ne of the most exciting things about living on your own farm is being able to have your own livestock. Taking pride in watching your animals grow up healthy and well cared for, and the satisfaction of producing your own milk, meat, wool or other necessities, are unique pleasures of farm life. Cattle can be one of the most rewarding livestock to have on the farm. If you are starting a new farmstead venture, or if you’ve been thinking of adding a few head of cattle to your existing farm, here are several things to keep in mind, along with five breeds worth considering.
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ability of breeding stock. If you want to keep only a couple of dairy goats, you probably don’t want a buck as well. Not only do you risk unplanned pregnancy by having a male around (imagine kidding in January and you’ll see the downside of this), but bucks are smelly and prone to behaving badly. If you raise dairy goats, their milk will be flavorfully, pungently tainted if there is a buck in the barn with them. You will need to build separate, very secure, living quarters for the buck and raise a companion animal with him. For small operations, you might be better off borrowing or leasing males as needed. Goats are incredibly versatile livestock. A Saanen can supply the dairy needs of a family, a couple of Angora goats can keep handspinners busy yearround, and a herd of Kikos can be raised on the range like pint-sized beef cattle. With goats, you can have it all: milk, meat, fleece and lots of character.
Flair for fiber
Two of the softest natural fibers available are produced by goats: mohair
GRIT’s Guide TO GOAT BREEDS
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RICHARD KIRSCHMAN; JULIANN BUTCHER; JEROD FOSTER
ful animals that produce rich milk, but they are also very vocal. On the other hand, if you have low or even moderately high fences, Alpines might not be the breed for you. Their ability to jump may exceed your patience. That being said, many wonderful breeds of goats are available and, within each breed, the productivity, appearance and character of individuals can and will vary considerably. Another consideration is the avail-
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oats are the Swiss Army knife of livestock. They can play many roles on a farm. For example, goats can be raised for milk, meat or mohair. They can be raised as pets or pack animals, and they can clear brush better than a Bush Hog. As with all types of livestock, it’s important to consider your needs when
selecting a breed – think about, for example, whether you want to raise goats to make cheese or sausage. With goats, you also might want to reflect on your own character and farm situation. For example, if you have Nubians, non-farming neighbors might complain during weaning and breeding season. (I’ve heard of a rural SPCA officer who was called more than once about people “torturing goats” only to find Nubians in heat.) They are beauti-
KESSLER
By JANET WALLACE
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MARGOT
We’ll help you get your goat, whether that’s for meat, milk or mohair.
SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND SIZE: small APPEARANCE: deer-like, fine-boned, mostly red or tan with black markings FLEECE: short KIDDING: year-round breeding; often twins MILK PRODUCTION: yield of very rich milk comparable to Toggenburg BEHAVIOR: gentle USE: rare breed, meat, dairy ORIGIN: unknown from feral stock; According to DNA, don’t track to anything, possible origins in Europe or Africa ENVIRONMENT: adaptable to environment This rare breed is derived from feral goats that ran wild on San Clemente Island since 1875. The island, off the coast of California, is managed by the U.S. Navy. In 1972, there were 11,000 goats on the island, and a goat removal program (to protect endangered plants and environments of endangered animals) reduced numbers
to 4,000 by 1980. A handful were brought to the mainland for adoption, and today, The Livestock Conservancy (www.livestockconservancy.org) lists the endangered breed as critical. Most are now raised to preserve the species; some are used as breeding stock and for milk production. Farmers report that does can give a quart of milk a day with butterfat levels of 5.5 to 7 percent.
BOER
ALPINE
SIZE: large APPEARANCE: stocky goat with lop ears; Roman nose; often white body with reddish head and neck; variable colors and markings FLEECE: short KIDDING: usually twins; extended breeding season MILK PRODUCTION: enough for offspring BEHAVIOR: docile USE: meat ORIGIN: Dutch farmers in South Africa ENVIRONMENT: best in dry areas
SIZE: large APPEARANCE: various colors and markings; upright ears; dished nose; beard on bucks FLEECE: sleek KIDDING: often twins MILK PRODUCTION: high yields, low butterfat BEHAVIOR: friendly, curious, high-spirited USE: dairy ORIGIN: Switzerland ENVIRONMENT: can thrive in arid climates as well as lush pasture
Boer goats have an excellent conformation for meat production and gain
weight rapidly; under feedlot conditions, kids can gain 0.3 to 0.4 pounds per day. Boers are often used as a terminal (sire) breed crossed with Nubian, Kiko, Spanish or even Cashmere does. In humid regions, Boers are more susceptible to problems with internal parasites and hoof rot than other goats.
Named after the Alps, where the breed was developed. Their agility, which enabled their ancestors to leap between rocky crags, makes them more difficult to fence than many other breeds. According to the
Alpine International Club, “The breed can be highly individual in character and tends to be a breed for enthusiasts who like a challenge.” Alpines are tied with Saanens for the breed that produces the most milk; they average almost 2,000 pounds of milk (more than 3 quarts a day) over a 305-day lactation with 3.5 to 3.8 percent butterfat.
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MOVING FORWARD As you work to build trust with your equine partner, look for these indicators of progress:
him. We rode many miles on Twister for more than 10 years without any more trouble. He was the most dependable trail horse you could ask for. By spending just five days focusing on “tomorrow” rather than “today,” and by adjusting our short-term plans to meet our long-term goal, we were able to transform a dangerous horse into a loyal trail buddy for life. Stretch your plans and focus on the immediate problems to avoid jumping ahead. It is true that “your flight might be delayed,” but I’m forever glad we delayed our own flight and stayed safe rather than take an involuntary flight of Twister’s choosing.
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Settle down
Aggressiveness is an emotional state of anger or hostility that seeks to force one’s aims or interests upon another. Being overly aggressive involves being pushy, belligerent and antagonistic. Assertiveness, on the other hand, is to be self-assured and confident in behavior. To be assertive is to have firm and focused determination. With assertiveness comes emotional control, ability to manage, and skillfulness in handling. Aggressiveness will break your horse’s trust, while assertiveness will cultivate it. Horses distrust aggressive humans, perceiving them as unreliable, erratic and dangerous. Assertive humans, though, are like magnets to horses. They are innately attracted to a composed nature, steadiness, predictability and intense focus. The less aggressive and more assertive you can be, the more your horse will trust you. KELSEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
WILD STOCK, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/YURI_ARCURS
Be sure to set aside time that you and your horse can simply be in each other’s company. Whether it’s bath time, play time or otherwise, let him know that the time you spend together will not always be work. And reward him for a job well done. Praise and an apple, carrot or peppermint at the end of a lesson or when he has done what you have asked will help him learn to associate you with positive thoughts.
Remember, a horse’s daily agenda is basically to stay safe, eat, eat some more, play a bit, and take a few naps. Our first horse, Twister, was not a partner in our plans. He was incredibly spooky. We desperately wanted to ride him, but it was becoming too dangerous. We made the decision to start taking him for walks rather than rides. Our first walk was absurdly short. The real problem became obvious just outside the pasture gate, where it was clear that Twister was not at all confident in new environments. So, that first day, with big eyes, a stiff neck, and his head held high, he danced while we did ground work with him just outside the gate until he calmed down. Then we returned him to his beloved pasture. The following day we made it about 30 yards beyond the gate before he panicked. We stopped there and played until he relaxed, and then we returned him to his pasture and his buddies. The next day we made it across the street. The day after that, we went down the path, and it happened: We went out and just kept walking. After that, we went back to riding
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TIME AND TREATS
Be flexible
Steady as she goes
Become positively predictable. Horses do not like surprises. Develop a method and routine to everything you do, in-
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My horse meets me at the gate.
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My horse tends to be curious about new things rather than skeptical or spooked.
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My horse is more playful.
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When I am with my horse, his head is down, his neck, lips and ears are loose, and his eye is soft.
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My horse lays down in my presence.
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As you seek to bond with your horse, remember that a trusting relationship does not develop overnight. It is similar to human relationships, which form gradually and mature over time. With both human and horse, we must be willing to slow down, be flexible, control our emotions, and be positively predictable. The more we better ourselves, the more trustworthy we become, and the faster these bonds will grow. Go out and live the dream.
cluding saddling, grooming, mounting and trailer loading. Make sure your attitude is fair and your actions are consistent. This methodology also applies to riding. For example, what is your method for handling a spook? How dependable are you to not spook along with your horse? Do you flinch, tighten up your body, and grasp the saddle horn with your hands, all at the speed of light? All of these actions on your part communicate to your horse that he was justified in his actions, and you are in harmony with his fear. This is not the harmony you are seeking. Rather, keep your mind and body
relaxed when your horse spooks. Steadily back him or bend him in a circle, spiraling in with a slow yet firm feel on your reins until you come to a stop, and rest. Your horse will quickly conclude that his spook was nothing more than a waste of energy. The more consistent we are in responding to situations, the more trust we will gain. Jamie Cearley, Ph.D., and her husband, Curt, manage their homestead, Soquili Farm, together. Jamie dedicates her time to horsemanship, gardening, cooking and honing her wide array of fix-it skills. Read her GRIT blog at http://bit.ly/1LIBDyO or www.JamieCearley.com. WWW.GRIT.COM
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Vinegar
Vinegar seems to be good for just about anything. It even works as a great insect repellent. Mosquitoes, flies, fleas and ticks find vinegar repulsive. I started using an apple cider vinegar mix repellent last summer, and I’m happy to report that I never had a tick on me when I used it. When sprayed on fur, skin or clothing, vinegar will deter most any pest from landing and biting. Either white or apple cider vinegar (ACV) may be used, but I prefer ACV. If the vinegar smell repulses you or those around you, mix in some essential oils to make it smell more pleasant. Vinegar can also be added to your animals’ drinking water, in small amounts, to help ward off pests.
Learn to make your own insect repellents for pets and livestock.
Herbs and essential oils
By JACKIE WILT
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LYNN STONE
AKM IMAGES INC./EDWIN BROSENS; LYNN STONE
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pring and summer are accompanied by many beautiful and wonderful new living things in our barnyards. However, these seasons also usher in many unwanted pests – mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas and lice – that can make our livestock and pets miserable, contribute to disease, and reduce production. We often resort to using chemicals for pest control, but there are many issues with their use, especially if you are trying to raise organic stock. Pests can develop immunity to pesticides over time, making them less effective. In addition, there are possible toxic side effects to chemicals, and many of us are eager to exclude or reduce them from our environment, our food and our water. So, before investing in any of these often expensive, potentially toxic chemicals this year, consider utilizing some all-natural techniques to control the pests that pester your animals. Let’s look at a few of the possibilities:
A vast array of herbs and essential oils are effective repellents and even insecticides. While there are numerous plants and herbs that are great insect repellents, I will share a few of the more common and easily found. It may be necessary to do a little experimentation with different herbs and oils of varying concentrations and mixtures to find the perfect concoction for your needs. Essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass and tea tree, are all good repellents. When utilizing essential oils, be sure to start with 100-percent oils that are organic and are not mixed with anything else. This allows you to control the amount of essential oil in whatever preparation you use, and it’s also more cost effective. These oils are generally safe to use on animals, but use caution on sensitive skin and avoid getting any in your animals’ eyes. Undiluted oils may be used, but sparingly. I only use undiluted oils if there is a big infestation, and then it is used one time to kill the pests and is removed a short time later to avoid skin irritation. For fleas and flies, lavender and peppermint are among the best repellents. Peppermint should be used sparingly on sensitive areas, as it is the most likely of any of the oils we will discuss here to cause skin irritation. When mixed in a spray, it is less likely to cause problems, but be sure to keep it away from the eyes. If mixed in a water-based solution, it should be applied at least once per day. If mixed in an oil-based solution, it can be applied less often. Mosquitoes and ticks dislike lavender as well,
VINEGAR REPELLENT 2 cups vinegar (preferably organic apple cider vinegar) 1 cup water 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 15 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops peppermint essential oil 10 drops lemongrass essential oil 10 drops rosemary essential oil 1 Combine vinegar and water in a
32-ounce spray bottle. 2 Mix all oils together thoroughly, then
add to spray bottle. Shake to mix. 3 Apply spray liberally to livestock
and pets, avoiding eyes. Shake periodically during use to keep oils dispersed. NOTE: This repellent can also be used on humans. Be careful to avoid the eyes.
but add lemongrass to really keep them at bay. In addition, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, cedar, rosemary, thyme and sage can also be utilized in repellents. Any of these essential oils can be added to a recipe to boost repellent power as well. Experiment with different oils to see which ones work the best, which have the aroma you prefer, and which are most readily available in your area. Peppermint, as a live plant, also works as a
Try an all-natural technique for keeping mosquitoes and flies away from livestock this summer.
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