Main description:

Every farm needs a cow - open the gates!

With an approach built around investing for the long term, Homestead Cows prepares homesteaders 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 Homestead Cows distills decades of hard-won, practical knowledge into an essential guide to successful small-scale cattle farming for every homesteader and farmer.

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