Answer: Cover crops can be harvested for livestock feed. On our prevent plant acres we grew sorghum-sudan grass (instead of field corn) and will be chopping it and feeding
it to our cattle.
Many acres in DeKalb County and surrounding counties were not planted to the usual field corn or soybean crops ...
Answer: African Swine Fever is a disease that originated in Africa and now has infected pigs in China. With protocols in place here, it is my hope that it doesn’t reach the United States.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a swine disease virus that has been around for decades. First in ...
Answer: Most dairy farms have family members or employees to milk cows and provide feed and care for animals. As dairy farmers, it’s up to us to train our family and employees to provide the utmost best care for our animals.
Dairy farms typically have several people involved on a daily ...
A: With a reduction in crops being planted, feed for livestock will be in short supply. If we can’t raise our own feed we will need to buy it.
The past fall and winter was a trying time for many livestock producers. The cold and snowy weather increased the demand for ...
ANSWER: Springtime is when we put cows on pasture and when we plant our crops – alfalfa and field corn – which is fed to our cows.
This time of year, in April and early May, our dairy farm transitions from winter to spring. I love this time of the year: ...
Answer: All animals have natural occurring hormones. So there’s no such thing as hormone-free pork. Also, no supplemental growth hormones are given to pigs.
I was driving around the country and I came across a sign advertising pork for sale, more specifically, “hormone-free pork.” I have seen similar advertising in small ...
Q: How are cattle farmers educated and trained on animal practices, food safety and quality?
A: I am certified through the Beef Quality Assurance program, with principles of best management practices and safe operating procedures designed to meet U.S. food production standards.
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is an education program for farmers ...
Q: How are dairy farms different today, based on modern technology, compared to the days of milking cows by hand?
A: Farmers don’t milk cows by hand anymore. Today most farms have milking parlors and can milk several cows at a time. Technology has improved dairy farming.
My Grandpa milked cows by ...
Answer: The holidays are a special time and meant to be shared with family. However, livestock farmers still need to tend to their animals and don't have the holidays off.
As a farmer who raises pigs, I dislike holidays. Why? On a livestock farm, animals require daily care, including holidays.
You see, I ...
Answer: Pens allow farmers to sort cattle by size, gender, diet and quantity. This separation offers uniformity and a better environment for the beef cattle.
Often, I get the questions, “Why do you have so many pens of cattle? Can’t they all just be together?”
The simple answer is no…when you are ...
