Homestead Cows - The Complete Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy Cattle

Every farm needs a cow ¿ open the gates! 

A must-read for every homesteader and small-holder with an interest in keeping cattle for virtually any purpose. ¿ HANK WILL, editor, Mother Earth News 

A comprehensive guide that is perfect for the beginner, but is still useful for the experienced cattleman. ¿ ALICIA BOOR, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Cottonwood District, K-State Research and Extension 

WITH AN APPROACH built around investing for the long term, Homestead Cows prepares home- steaders and small farmers to open the farm gate to cattle, whether a single milk cow or a small beef herd.

Homestead Cows covers the A to Z of husbandry: 

• Cow history, biology, diet, and nutrition 


• Understanding what you want, what¿s involved, and creating a plan


• Selecting breeds and determining herd size


• Housing and facilities, transportation, and equipment


• Financial management and the dollars and cents of cows


• Breeding and reproduction


• Cow health and happiness, including safety, handling, and good husbandry


• Processing, products, and cooking. 

Cattle are the most productive, versatile, and low-input sources of food and revenue on the farm and can help regenerate and build soil. The secret to success is excellent management, and Home- stead Cows distills decades of hard-won, practical knowledge into an essential guide to successful small-scale cattle farming for every homesteader and farmer.

A gem of a book; full of great advice for anyone thinking about keeping cattle. ¿ JEANETTE BERANGER, senior program manager, The Livestock Conservancy 

Required reading for anyone with cattle or considering cattle. ¿ JOANNA WILL, head herdswoman, Prairie Turnip Farm 

Eric and Callene Rapp own and operate the award-winning Rare Hare Barn, the largest heritage-breed meat-rabbit enterprise in the United States. Authors of Raising Rabbits for Meat, they have over 50 years of combined experience handling nearly every species of domestic livestock. They live and farm in Leon, Kansas. 

To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select New Society Publishers books to its readers. This book is one of them. 

List of contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Humans and Cattle

A Brief History of Cattle

What¿s Your Plan?

Chapter 2: Breeds and Cow Selection

Breeds of Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Beef Cattle

Breed and Environment

Temperament

Where to Get Your Cattle

Selecting Breeding Stock

Health Papers

Chapter 3: Handling, Transportation, and Infrastructure

Working Safely Around Cattle

Transporting Cattle

Fencing

Facilities and Equipment

Chapter 4: Cattle Biology

Forage and Digestion

How Cattle Handle Heat

Cold Weather

Chapter 5: Nutrition and Feeding

Major Nutrients

Concentrates

Choosing Quality Hay

Body Condition

Determining Supplemental Feed Needs

Chapter 6: Reproduction in Cattle

Estrous in Cattle

Pasture Breeding

Puberty

Artificial Insemination

Chapter 7: Calving

Stages of Labor

When Things Go Wrong

When to Rebreed

Calving Season

Care of the Newborn Calf

Chapter 8: Raising Calves

If Mom Does the Work

Bottle Raising a Calf

Weaning from Mom

Buying a Calf for Beef

Considerations for Bringing Home a Bucket Calf

Chapter 9: Cattle Health

Castration

Behavior and Appearance of Healthy Cattle

Antibiotics

Immunity and Vaccinations

Common Health Problems in Cattle

Health Problems for Calves

Health Problems for Cows

Chapter 10: Milk and Milking

How the Cow Makes Milk

Milking the Cow

Milking Equipment

Raw Milk

Milking Basics

Handling Raw Milk

Chapter 11: Beef

When to Process

Freezer Space

Beef Cuts

Chapter 12: Cattle and Environment

Grassfed Beef

Grazing Systems

How Grass Grows

Types of Grasses

Grazing Behavior

Implementing a Grazing Plan

Evaluating Pastures

Creating a Sacrifice Area

Deciding Paddock Size

Glossary

Additional Reading

Index

About the Authors

A Note About the Publisher

About the author

Callene and Eric Rapp have owned and operated the award-winning Rare Hare Barn since 2005, the largest heritage-breed meat-rabbit enterprise in the United States. In addition to their conservation work with rabbits, they have a large herd of heritage-breed Pineywoods cattle, and work with the critically endangered Palmer-Dunn strain. Callene has also worked with a variety of cattle breeds at the Sedgwick County Zoo, and Eric has had experience with his family's own cow-calf operation. They have over 50 years of combined experience handling nearly every species of domestic livestock and are active members of the Livestock Conservancy. Callene is also a regular contributor to Grit Magazine. Authors of Raising Rabbits for Meat, they live and farm in Leon, Kansas.

Summary

Homestead Cows is a comprehensive guide to raising cattle, from a single milk cow to a small farm herd. Offers detailed planning rooted in practical experience, covering breed selection, herd size, whole farm management with cattle, safe handling, finances, housing, health, reproduction, processing, and more.

Foreword

• Co-op available
• Digital galleys on Edelweiss
• National advertising: Mother Earth News, Hobby Farm, GRIT
• National print campaign: Mother Earth News, Hobby Farm, GRIT, Acres U.S.A., Small Farm Canada
• Outreach to homesteading podcasts and radio shows
• Online/social media outreach
  • Facebook Live event and giveaway with author
  • Outreach to the Livestock Conservancy
  • Promotion on New Society Publishers social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, our blog, Pinterest, Instagram, in-house newsletter, and YouTube
• General tour info: Mother Earth News Fairs. Dates TBA
• General eBook marketing plan:
  • eBook will be available at the same time as print publication to maximize sales
  • eBook ISBN will be included on all press materials, author and publisher websites, and whenever print ISBN is listed
  • publisher and authors will be promoting both e and p through social media
• Excerpts target for first serial rights: Mother Earth News, Hobby Farm, Acres U.S.A.
• Promotion through the author's website: rareharebarn.com

Product details

• Authors: Callene Rapp, Callene Rapp Rapp, Eric Rapp
• Publisher: New society publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 29.06.2021
• EAN: 9780865719477
• ISBN: 978-0-86571-947-7
• No. of pages: 176
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Lifestyle, personal development; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > Veterinary medicine; HOUSE & HOME / Sustainable Living, MEDICAL / Veterinary Medicine / Food Animal, Veterinary medicine: large animals (domestic / farm), Green lifestyle & self-sufficiency, Sustainable agriculture, Self-sufficiency & ‘green’ lifestyle, Modern Homesteading and Farming