Out Around the Barn

Like every other day, I was feeding the cattle their regular feed and supplements.   We are in our calving season and we keep a close watch on the cows and heifers that have delivered and those that are still waiting to deliver.  Our herd looks really good this year and seems to be thriving.  Most of our mamas, some pros and others new to this experience, are calm and easy to be around but, there are a few that are extremely protective of their babes and you can’t get within 100 ft. of them.  Can’t really blame them for that.

As I was looking over the herd, I noticed one new Bromvie mama, her baby, a bull calf, only three days old, just standing by the livestock feeders and watching.  She had her baby hid out somewhere and did not bring him up to eat.  She had already ate so, it surprised me to see her just standing there like she was overseeing the others finish, like a supervisor would watch his crew.  I wondered what she was thinking.  Was she really watching the herd or maybe she was just as curious about why I was still there after I had already left their food for them.  Do you ever wonder what they are thinking?

We, also, have longhorn cattle.  The discussion of horn size came up when I questioned about my young cows horn size and comparing it to her mama’s and grandma’s horn sizes.  Heredity does make a difference in the size of their horns.  My three ladies horns are nothing to brag about because they are not that big.  I believe Angel’s, that is the grandma, has the largest of the three.  Rusty and Ruby just aren’t going to have the best of horns and Squirt and Chili Pepper, their bull calves, aren’t either I’m afraid. 

After comparing them, I looked over the remaining herd and we have a few that carry some huge horns.  I got tickled, all of the sudden, because the thought, that for some strange reason, crossed my mind was, do cows get headaches from carrying around those huge horns?    

I got the funniest look from my partner.  Seriously, though, people get headaches from all kinds of things including too much hair because of the thickness and weight.  So why don’t cows get headaches? 

Even funnier was the look I got when I said, ”well, you don’t hear them asking for Tylenol.” 

Animals can tolerate a lot of pain.  They get scratched or cut and go on.  When they are out in the pasture or on open range, you cannot keep a close watch on them and you cannot cure their every injury.  We would like to think we can but, it is impossible to do.  They were created to care for themselves and do quite well. 

But, I am still curious, do they?

Owning a horse is a big responsibility. Whether you ride and jump him competitively or he’s simply a family pet, there are many factors to consider before you purchase a horse of your own. Even though it’s the dream of many little girls to own a pony, what many of those little girls don’t realize is how expensive and time consuming a horse can truly be. The first significant cost is boarding. Unless you have a barn in your backyard, you’ll have to pay for board at a stable, and that can be almost as expensive as a second mortgage.

There’s also the cost of food to consider as well as necessary equipment such as horse blankets and more. And if you ride, the equipment becomes even more elaborate and expensive. This is to say nothing of the vet bills and health related products. These will include equine joint supplements and more. But if you can afford the costs, both upfront and longstanding, horses are amazing creatures that will offer you and your family love and lasting memories.

 When purchasing new equipment for your farm or ranch, there is always something new to learn.  You need to know how to operate it correctly, what kind, if any, fuel does it use, how often does it need serviced and many other details.  You are usually supplied with a manual that will tell you all you need to know or at least give you phone numbers or a website to go to for help.

That isn’t the case with new livestock.  They may come with registration papers but not a how – to book.  You learn as you go.  You first go with your own instinct and experience and follow through from there.  If you feed them too much they will let you know one way or the other.  Some signs are not wanting to eat, loose bowels, droopy ears, watery or discolored eyes and just plain puny acting.  This can also be the case in not getting enough. 

It also applies to supplements.  Give them too much or too little can also make them sick acting. 

You have to watch closely day to day to see what is and is not working.  Animals need a good grain feed and supplements to grow and be healthy.  There are several varieties of equine supplements and cattle supplements on the market these days.  Also, you can find a supplement for your livestock depending on if they are fed on grass or alfalfa.  There are specific varieties of alfalfa supplements and grass fed supplements out there. 

Check out the listings on the web or at your local feed store to find what is best for your feeding schedule.

Wasn’t that “Awesome!” as so my niece says.  She named the baby “Wendy” and calls the mama “Blowie.”  We were having 30 mph winds that day and leave it to a two year old to come up with these names.  Pretty good, huh?

As I mentioned before, cattle supplements, horse supplements, minerals, horse and cattle vitamins, protein and etc. are essential for your livestock, especially when they are expecting.  As shown in the video, this is just what we want when a cow delivers, a healthy calf.  There are different kinds of cattle supplements out there available, so cho0se wisely for the needs of your stock.

Now, for the conclusion of our mini movie, this is “Wendy’s” first attempts at standing and she finally makes it.  She stood within 20 minutes of her birth and in 30 minutes she was nursing.  It was a miracle to see and I wanted to share it with you.

         
Wendy’s First Stand from Tracie on Vimeo.

There are wonderful things around us everyday and we cherish the memories of those moments.  They stay with us throughout the years and the stories we tell are told for generations to come.  Once in a while you get the chance to witness something miraculous and wonderful and capture it on video.  I had such a moment on March 24, 2009.   In a moment you will also, get such a chance to see the miracle I saw that morning. 

Before, we get to that point of my article, there are some facts I want to share with you, based on what I have learned.

Cows need good nutrition while carrying their little one.  That is why cattle supplements are very important during this cycle of their lives.  A  cows pregnancy cycle lasts nine months, during which their bodies adjust to supplement the needs of the fetus.  A cow must have a sufficient amount of protein and minerals in their diets in order to keep up their energy and supply enough nutrients for both her and her fetus.  Two or three pounds of grain a day and grass or hay is good and will help the mama keep up her strength and energy levels to carry to term.  If a mother- to- be does not get the nutrition she needs, she will eventually steal the nutrients from her own body to care for her fetus.  That is why it is so important to supply the extra supplements.  It could harm her health or the fetus’ or both.  “Wendy” has arrived, witness the miracle of birth:

         
Wendy Has Arrived from Tracie on Vimeo.

 We are an obese nation yet, we are also getting back on track with our health.  More and more of us are trying to live healthier and by doing that, we are supplementing our intake with vitamins and minerals.  We constantly read about the best vitamins that we need and which one is better and for what purpose but, have we forgotten about our animals? 

Most of us, unless you work your animals everyday, do not realize that our animals and livestock need supplements also.  Our cattle and horses need supplements to keep them strong and agile.  No matter what their purpose is on your farm or ranch, they need vaccinated, de-wormed and have a healthy feeding schedule.

Available to us is equine supplements, cattle supplements, joint supplements (for both), vitamins and minerals and not just for horses and cattle.  There is also a wide variety out there for all other animals and pets.

We need to be aware of our animals health.  Duke (Belgian) is an old pulling horse.  He has pulled everything you can imagine on the farm and also has pulled in many a contest at County Fairs.  In his prime he was considered one of the main contestants.  Now, years later, he has developed arthritis in his joints and cannot do the work any longer.  He is just our pet.  So to keep him agile and strong, we supplement his feed with vitamins and minerals.  It keeps him moving and he can still be out in the pasture with the younger horses.  He may be a little slower but, believe me, he gives back to them what they dish out.

Please supplement your animals and livestock, they are worth the effort.

Taking care of animals is much like taking care of yourself.  When we need a drink we go get one or when we are hungry we fulfill our appetites.  At the beginning of the day or at the end, most of us like to bathe or take a shower to feel clean and relaxed and then we apply deodorants, perfumes, colognes and lotions to our bodies to keep our skin soft and looking good.  The same goes for our animals; well, not to that extent but, we still have to help them with their physical needs once in a while. 

That is where Udder Oil comes in.  We really don’t consider the fact that the udders on an animal needs attention,  we just assume that mama can take care of herself.  Only until we notice that the baby or babies are having problems nursing or the mama won’t let them nurse, do we see they may need help. 

Just like us humans, an animals skin can become dry, crack and become sore.  So much that the mama can no longer stand to have her little ones suckle.  Then and only then, do we begin to apply an oil or ointment on the udders to help them heal.  Hey, I’ve been guilty of not paying attention and not realizing this exact issue.  I didn’t even consider the fact that this was an issue until I started watching my partner with his cattle and sheep.  One of the biggest issues we have had was a cow that one side of her udder would get so full of milk that she would become so sore she couldn’t stand to have her calf even touch the swollen side.  She would have to be milked, and we don’t have milk cows, to relieve the pain.  It might take a couple of times before we could turn her and her baby back out into the pasture. 

Before that could be done, we would apply an oil or an ointment to her udder to help it heal.  It soothes and heals the dry damaged skin and gets mama and baby back on the right track.  This is one more tool for the farm and ranch that can be added to your livestock supply kit.

Meet the unique nutritional needs of your horse. Horse vitamins have a huge impact and well-being on equine animals. Vitamins can come from food but are also manufactured within the body. Vitamins have the power to promote and regulate virtually all of a horse’s normal bodily functions.

Be reminded though that vitamins are needed only in small quantities. More can do more harm than good. Actually, some experts even agree that under normal feeding programs using good quality feeds, horses do not need extra vitamins added to their food. But if a horse is under stress or feeds are of low quality, then vitamins may be needed for supplementation.

Cattle, sheep, goats and deer have something in common; they have a digestive system which allows them to utilize roughages, such as hay and grass, which is a major source of their diets.  It is also a major source of nutrients for them.  Even though they may seem to eat all day and munch on hay or grass, they still need a feed source such as grain.  Along with their daily feeding of grain they also require some vitamins and supplements.

Cattle supplements are available through many manufacturers and companies.  They are easy to obtain but some can be pretty expensive.  One of the biggest expenses in raising cattle is the feed bill.  It is not a cheap business especially when you never know when the cattle market might just plummet or rise. 

To get an idea of what to feed your herd, there are a few things to consider.  There are various classes of nutrients and each nutrient fulfills a specific role in the growth and production of your herd.  Energy helps the body with the ability to function; Protein is a building block for the body; and Minerals help with growth, bone formation and reproduction as well as many other functions.

Some minerals to consider are: calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium(salt) and selenium.

Common feedstuffs for cattle are: roughages, grains, oilseeds and byproducts.

We know how it feels when we don’t get the right nutrition into our bodies. We feel under the weather and puny, don’t much feel like doing a thing.  Well, we usually don’t think of cattle like that but, if you think on it for a minute you’ll soon realize that if they don’t get the food that they need, they won’t grow so that we can have meat on out tables, they won’t produce the milk that we drink and they won’t have the ability to raise their own babies, on which we depend for our survival.  So when you really consider all the factors, it makes sense, don’t you think.

Nutrients and supplements are essential to our livestock and pets.  If you would like more information on basic cattle nutrition, check out the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.

Caring for your horse is the same as caring for yourself or any other animal.  They need a substantial amount of TLC and good nutrition, such as supplements and vitamins.  You feed yourself everyday, so shouldn’t you do the same for your horse?  The nutrition a horse needs will help them grow and mature into a fine animal.  They should have plenty of fiber, from grass, in the summer and plenty from hay in the winter.  It keeps their digestive system working correctly.  Along with the fiber, they need some grain in their diet to give them the nutrients their bodies need for healthy hooves and teeth.  A healthy coat keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

I give my horse supplements everyday.  He injured his leg a few months ago and has had a long recovery.  The supplements and vitamins that I have provided for him has helped him heal well and we will soon be able to take him out for a ride.  He has been in a stall for the past eight months with an outside pen to exercise in.  He is very anxious to be out in the pasture with the others.  I will begin to work more with him now that his leg has healed so he can eventually have more freedom.

 I recently learned that if you put a blanket on your horse in the winter for warmth, you’ll need to continue that throughout the season because, their bodies will adjust to the blanket and depend on it for warmth and their coats will not grow as thick to protect them from the elements.  Just a tip I thought I would pass on.