Cattle

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Take care when introducing cattle to grain and pelleted diets as there is a risk of grain poisoning. The high starch content of most grains can cause grain poisoning. Lupin is the exception because it is low in starch.

Good security of grain stores and standing crops is essential in order to prevent accidental poisoning. If you intend to turn stock onto stubble, it may be a wise precaution to feed some grain beforehand, so that the rumen bacterial population becomes adapted to grain.

When stock are fed grain or any feed that has a high carbohydrate content, the feed must be introduced gradually so that the animal’s rumen has time to adapt to the increasing levels. There should also be a minimum of 10-20% roughage in any ration.

During the introductory phase to grain feeding, animals should be closely monitored. Diarrhea is often the first sign of mild grain poisoning, and if this is seen in a number of animals, the proportion of hay in the ration should be further increased.

Some grains, for example lupins, are safer to feed than others. Similarly, it is safer to feed oats, which have a higher ratio of fibre to starch than does wheat.

When changing between different types, or even batches, of grains, and especially when changing between batches of pellets, the new feed should be introduced by ‘shandying’ it with the old and gradually increasing the proportion of the new feed over about 7 days.

When cattle are introduced to a high-grain diet, they should be started on a ration consisting primarily of hay, with the percentage of grain being gradually increased over 2-3 weeks.

Knowing the correct way of caring for pigs is the secret of becoming a successful pig farmer. When they are cared for properly, pigs will not only provide plenty of cheap meat for your family, but also fertilizer that you can use in your fields.

Caring for pigs begins when you buy them from a breeder. Make sure that the piglets you buy are healthy and have been immunized for the most common swine diseases. One way of knowing a trustworthy breeder is to look at their facilities and breeding stock. If they are not clean or the stock looks sickly, don’t deal with that breeder. Also, consult with a local veterinarian for a vaccination program for your herd.

While many people believe that all you need to feed pigs are table scraps and spoiled vegetables, caring for pigs means ensuring that they stay healthy. Make sure that you also feed them the right powder feed for their current level of development. And your pigs must also have plenty of clean, fresh water to drink, since water is essential to their health. Change their water daily, since they will bathe in it if they are given the chance.

Although pigs have the reputation of being dirty animals, perhaps because they enjoy rolling around in mud to cool off, they are actually very clean creatures. They become dirty only because they are kept in filthy pens. So an important part of caring for pigs is making sure that their living quarters are clean, with plenty of fresh straw for bedding, which should also be changed regularly.

If you raise them in a pasture, or let them out occasionally to root around in the fields and find plants to eat, make sure they are fenced in, particularly if they are already mature, in order to prevent them from wandering away. You might also want to build a water pool for them where they can swim and cool off. Refill the water pool frequently with a hose. Outdoor pigs should also have a small hut where they can have shelter from the hot sun, since they don’t sweat and have no normal way of preventing overheating.

Finally, proper handling is very important in caring for pigs. Pigs are intelligent and affectionate animals that enjoy being played with. So take some time to lavish them with some attention. And, always handle them gently, since rough treatment can frighten them and cause them to die of heart attacks, or can make them aggressive and hard to handle.

Springer Spaniels make terrific family dogs for a number of reasons and if you’re looking for a dog, you should give this breed a good look. Whether you’re looking to buy or adopt, it is well worth your time to research this endearing breed to find out more about it. Here are ten reasons why Springer Spaniels make great family pets:

1. Springer spaniels belong to the Gundog group of dogs and their history can be traced back at least a thousand years. Being such an old breed, you can be sure they are highly developed as a breed and don’t suffer from heavy inbreeding like many other breeds.
2. There are many lines to choose from as the spaniel family is quite large. The American Kennel Club of England recognizes two separate pedigrees of Springer Spaniels: the Welsh Springer Spaniel and the English Springer Spaniel. There are more English Springer Spaniels around than their Welsh counterparts.
3. Springer Spaniels are very popular dogs and this means many people breed them so you will be easily able to choose from numerous puppies. Finding a local breeder should be easy and you won’t have to travel across continents to find one of these dogs.
4. Springer Spaniels are known for their hardiness and good health and this is believed to be because they have such old bloodlines spreading back a thousand years. Their popularity has resulted in great numbers of these dogs and this also serves to reduce the risk of inbreeding. If a genetic problem appears, it can easily be eliminated due to the large number of breeding stock in existence.
5. These medium sized dogs are very economical to keep and cost about $7 dollars a week to feed. Springer Spaniels don’t require professional grooming or trimming and this can save you even more money. Their hardy constitution also means less vet bills to deal with.
6. Even though these dogs aren’t massive (an average English Springer weighs fifty pounds), they make impressive guard dogs. They vigorously defend their territory and human family without being overly aggressive and will warn if an intruder is sensed. Because of their strong sense of loyalty to their human family, they will do everything they can to defend their owners.
7. Their easy to manage size makes them able to fit in any car and they are small enough to handle when traveling by train or airplane as well.
8. Springer Spaniels are medium shedders and don’t shed much. Regular grooming is all that is required to keep then clean and tidy. English Springers come in two color lines: black and white and white and liver. They may also have tan markings. In the United States there is a blue roan version of the breed. Welsh Springers come in one coloring: white and red
9. Springer Spaniels have great personalities and are full of vigor and vitality. They are fun loving dogs that also have a very affectionate side to them and they love to retrieve, especially when there is water in the picture.
10. As Springer Spaniels need a lot of exercise, they are the kind of dogs that will get you out and about. These dogs will really encourage you to exercise daily and it will do you both a world of good. They are highly intelligent and trainable dogs that can bring a lot of joy into your household.

Raising rabbits for meat is a common business but it requires more dedication and attention compared to normal pet rabbit care. In this kind of business, the first thing that should be considered is the breed of rabbit to produce. The types which are commonly used in the business of raising rabbits for meat are the Californians and New Zealands because they are the fastest producing breeds. Most owners have purebred stocks of these types while some crossbreed them to produce babies that grow more quickly and are more vigorous. The New Zealand breed is one of the most popular among rabbit meat because they can already be sold in the market in just 8 weeks. The Californians, on the other hand, are highly demanded because of their plump yet fine-boned body structures.

Raising rabbits for meat is a business which is highly dependent on the quality of feeding that the producer does to his pets. Generally, rabbits are kinds of animals which consume different kinds of foods. However, if a producer wants to get quality meat, only commercial pellets or alfalfa hay should be given to them. Feeding these animals with lettuce or cabbage is not recommended because these vegetables can cause diarrhea problems. Giving the proper amount of the food is also important in raising rabbits for meat because overfeeding will cause too much accumulation of body fat. Once a doe becomes too fat, it may have some problems with kindling or breeding.

Knowing when to breed the parents is also important in raising rabbits for meat. Medium breeds are usually bred between 5-6 months while large breeds are not bred until they are 8 months. In choosing the animals to breed, make sure to choose those that are healthy and are not closely related. In mating the doe and the buck, the doe should be the one which should be placed in the cage of the buck because female rabbits are often territorial with their own cages.

The gestation period of these animals takes 31 days. The actual birth of the young also happens in this time frame. Also make sure that the doe is already placed in a comfortable nest a few days before her actual giving birth. Feeding the babies should not be a problem because the does naturally nurse their young. In cases when the mother has died though, the babies should be fed with a mixture made of skim milk, egg yolks, karo syrup, and bone meal.

Description: The Great Pyrenees is a large, shepherding dog. The dog will be between 27 and 32 inches at the withers and will weigh up to 110 pounds. The bitch is a little smaller, measuring 25 to 29 inches and with a weight of 80 to 100 pounds. This dog has a medium long double coat consisting of a dense under layer and a coarse, weather proof guard coat. The Great Pyrenees has a double dew claw on the hind feet. This dog can live for 9 to 12 years. The Great Pyrenees is also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Chien de Montagne Pyrenees.

History: The original stock that led to the Great Pyrenees probably came from Eastern Europe or Asia. The ancestors of the Great Pyrenees are the Maremmano and the Hungarian Kuvasz. This dog was used in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain and France for nearly 5,000 years as a herding dog. It was not until the 19th century that the breed became known to the outside world. The Great Pyrenees was used not to herd sheep in the way a Border Collie will, but to live with the sheep and provide protection against wolves and bears.

Temperament: While the Great Pyrenees becomes attached to its human family, it will always be a somewhat independent dog. It will never be as needy of affection as most dogs because it was bred to stay with the sheep and protect them. Older children are recommended for this dog breed. This dog had to be able to make decisions on its own, without human direction. The Pyrenees is very protective of its human companions as well as any sheep it has in its charge. This dog needs a strong leader and must be trained while young, as it is very strong when adult and can be difficult to control if it does not understand its limits. This dog has a tendency to wander.

Health Issues: The Great Pyrenees can suffer from hip dysplasia, as can most large dog breeds. This breed is also subject to bloat or stomach torsion. Symptoms of this will be acute discomfort and attempts at vomiting that are unproductive. The dog must be given medical attention at once to save its life. Smaller meals and a rest time after eating are thought to help prevent bloat.

Grooming: The coat of the Great Pyrenees should be brushed out several times a week and should be checked for burrs and other debris. The under coat is shed once a year and more intensive grooming is called for at this time. As the ears are floppy and can retain moisture in the ear canal, they should be checked every week and cleaned if necessary.

Living Conditions: The Great Pyrenees is totally unsuitable for apartment living. This large dog needs space and likes to roam. While the Pyrenees gets quite attached to its human family, it is a dog that does not need intensive interaction with people. It was developed to be a guardian of sheep in isolated pastures and carried on most of its work without the presence of a human. This dog loves cold weather and enjoys being outside in winter.