Out Around the Barn

It’s no secret that alfalfa is a staple in the diet of many horses, but do you know what sets it apart from other forage? First, alfalfa has a high level of protein, which is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass. Alfalfa also boasts large quantities of fiber, which is essential for digestion. It also has immense volumes of calcium and other nutrients, so you have to be careful that your horse isn’t getting too much of what he needs.

For horses that don’t have alfalfa as part of their daily diet, you can purchase alfalfa supplements. These products contain the same nutritional value as the hay in a small, easy to administer cube. This allows your horse to get the proper amount of nutrients without excess waste.

Nothing hurts more than the heartbreak of losing someone or something you love.  The something I am referring to is the loss of a couple of kids, goats, that contracted Coccidiosis.  Being a beginner in the raising and handling of goats; it was a shock to me when my kids started getting sick.  I have had my herd for over 2 years and this had not been an issue for me so I was at my wits end. 

I read up on the symptoms they were showing and most of it pointed in the direction that I needed to de-worm them.  I hadn’t considered that they would need that at such a young age but, then again, I was totally at a loss.  So, checking with the vet, I got what I needed and de-wormed the whole herd of 15, making sure to disperse the correct dosage per body weight, per animal.  They seemed to improve some but in two weeks,  I knew it had to be done once more.  The time came and I done another round.  A couple of days later, one of my kid nannies became weak and I had to remove her from the herd and give IV solution for dehydration.  She did not make it.  I was devastated!  I did not understand what was happening.

I called the vet again and explained the weakness and dehydaration symptoms and lack of appetite and told him my smallest was down and the others were showing similar signs.  After due consideration, he prescribed a Corid Drench for 5 days and a liquid to add to their drinking water for the older ones.  Coccidiosis, which can be fatal if not treated in time, is an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites that attack the epithelial tissue of animals and my little ones had it.  My littlest was not strong enough to withstand the medication, another loss.   

I began working with them on a schedule and drenching them once daily.  Cleaned out their feeders and  re-strawed their barn.  They would be confined for 5 -10 days and needed a clean dry place to get over this.  After a couple of days, their appetites increased, the diarrhea cleared and they were playing again.  They even began to look healthier.

I was relieved but we were not out of the woods yet.  They were not 100% and Doc said as a preventive and precautionary measure, I should change their feed to a medicated one that controls just this issue.  So I did.

I now feed Goat Power feed with medication for Coccidiosis mixed in.  It has given me great results and the goats love the taste.  They look forward to that everyday.  From this experience, I have learned to keep Doc’s number close at hand and when I see something that is not quite as it should be to question it, even if it amounts to nothing in the long run.  Sometime it just may save a life.

Due to superior breeding and an abundance of nutritional food, horses and livestock are larger and in better physical condition than ever before. While this is certainly a boon for farmers, these superb physical specimens also require more maintenance. One of the most essential tasks for any horse or livestock owner is administering the needed livestock or horse supplements on a regular basis.

Even if you are unfamiliar with the various supplements available, the process shouldn’t be reduced to a guessing game. Look for supplements from well-known producers that are created for a specific purpose. For example, you can now find supplements specifically engineered to augment fiber intake, improve metabolic function and even address the needs of aging animals.

In order to get the most out of your cattle and livestock, it is crucial to give them the proper cattle supplements. With so many products on the market today, it can be difficult to know what your animals really need. A good rule of thumb is to go with supplements that are made with all-natural ingredients.

All living creatures benefit from the same basic vitamins and minerals; so many cattle supplements will contain things that you are familiar with. Top products will have calcium, magnesium and other basic minerals. Also look for a combination of A, B, D and E vitamins in your supplements.

I consider myself a lover of animals.  I enjoy my animals a lot.  My horse, Blaze, is a beauty but due to health issues, I don’t get to spend as much time with him as I would like.  My goat heard gets more of my attention since I have seven nanny’s getting ready to kid and my dog, Bella, gets her daily time with me.  I really consider myself a dog person over cats but do have a couple of favorites.

On our farm we have had an over abundance of kittens this fall.  Nine litters have arrived and made themselves at home.  Every few months we began to notice a new Tom hanging around and then disappear, then another would show up.  Of course, it wasn’t long before the Mamas started showing and we knew then that we were headed for a lot of kittens.  Now we can officially count 20 plus 0ut around the barn at feeding time.  Out of all of them, I have two that I call mine, a Calico named Fluffy and Black kitten with a white diamond on her neck called Raja.

So, my question is are they considered a farm animal or just pets?  Well, we know a lot of people have cats as pets in their homes, sometimes several.  But on the farm we have more than several, we have twice that many.  And yes, we consider them as farm animals, they keep the rodent population under control.  That is good on a farm. I once had a rat run up my pant leg and let me tell you that was not a happy moment.  I jumped a fence and ran until it fell out of my pant leg.  I was 16 at the time but have never forgotten it.  It was just one of those feelings that you don’t forget.  

So in light of all of this talk about farm animals or pets, I consider them both.  Just as we have working dogs, we have them as pets also.  We take care of our Cats and Kittens just like we do our other animals.  We feed them the best cat food we can and have found that Proud Paws Cat and Kitten food is terrific for our feline herd.  They enjoy the taste and eat it up.  Some can be and have been picky about other cat food but this feed they really like.  They need to have good nutrition to grow and keep healthy just like the horse feed we feed our horses to keep healthy and the rest of the animals.  We love them all the same.

Here we are almost a year on our blog.  We have posted over 70 blogs and would appreciate comments from our readers.  We would like to know your opinions and ideas about our blog.  If there is an article that caught your eye, let me know your thoughts on the subject.  We look forward to hearing from you.

If there is a subject that you would like to know about, we can do our best to find an answer to your question.

We are a farm family and enjoy our animals and farm life.  So talking about the farm and all that it requires is a passion of ours.  From equine supplements to chicken coupes, we will discuss just about anything.  Comments welcome.

Merry Christmas everyone.  It is the holiday season and we are all getting ready for the parties, family get togethers and presents.  Now, who doesn’t get excited over receiving a gift?

Well, can you believe that your animals like to receive gifts also?  Now I am not necessarily talking large animals but if they are a pet, they will let you know in their own way that they are happy.  Larger animals, like cattle appreciate a new bale of hay set out for them or an extra bucket of feed, even an extra bale of straw for bedding and to show their appreciation, they jump right in like it is a new toy. 

If they are pets they are more loving and affectionate.  Our horses enjoy an extra and unexpected brushing and even that unexpected walk just because they spend time with their master.  Our calves get an extra bale of straw for bedding and my pet, Buster, gets to be led around and pampered a little, he is my Little Holestine bull calf.  Our dogs, Jessie and Bella may get a new tennis ball and treats for a day or two and my goat herd will get new bedding and a little treat, animal crackers. Even livestock vitamins are a treat for your animal.  My horse enjoys peppermint and if I give him a piece of peppermint candy after a good ride or just because.  I can tell he loves it.

They really do appreciate the extras that we can give them just like we appreciate the gifts we receive.  So do something special for your animals this season and show them your love.

Even though you may have dreamed of having a pony as a kid, and now you want to get your own kid a pony, take some time to consider just what your about to get into. First of all, ponies need lots of land to run around on; they also need someone to spend a couple hours per day caring for them; and they need dozens of supplies to be properly cared for. The following list highlights all the small horse supplies you should plan to have when getting a pony:

For leading/riding:

~lead ropes
~halters
~bridle with reins and bit and chin strap or curb chain
~saddle and pad with girth
~tack box with brushes, hoof pick, curry comb, mane/tail comb

For feeding/watering:

~water bucket for in the barn
~water trough for the field
~ground feeder for grain
~salt block (very important!) keep it in his field near his water
~hay (when the grass is depleted or when he is kept in the barn)
~grain
~horse supplements

For washing him:

~mane and tail shampoo and conditioner
~large sponge or plastic curry
~sweat scraper or squeegee

There are a lot of other products you can get, but these are the most basic and will get the job done.

Livestock represents the backbone of most family farms. While there are some farmers who specialize in corn, wheat, soy beans and various other plant life, it’s likely that he or she will keep a few animals around as well. Cows provide a valuable source of milk, and steers are often raised for beef. The winter is a popular time for slaughtering pigs, especially as that traditional meal of Christmas ham approaches.

Perhaps most popular of all livestock, however, is the chicken. These birds take up minimal space on the farm, can live in close quarters together, and provide so many useful services. Nothing beats waking up in the morning and collecting the eggs that have been yielded overnight. Many farmers choose quality livestock supplies that are specially formulated to feed chickens for various purposes. Some protein and grain combinations are meant to produce better eggs, and others aim to plump chickens up to produce quality poultry.

When I was growing up my mom always kept horses, so I was accustomed to the stable atmosphere. Although my mom owned many horses throughout my childhood, my favorite was Denero. From the time I was about three years old I would go to the barn with my mom a few times a week to ride Denero, feed him, and give him his equine vitamins.

One of the best memories I have was going on long trail rides through northern California. Fortunately for me, Denero was a gentle horse and didn’t have a propensity to buck or leave the trail like many of the other horses. Naturally, I was devastated when we moved further north and were forced to sell Denero, but we still keep his portraits around the house to maintain his memory.