Raising sheep is not solely about the wool - and this is a fact that tends to surprise people! In fact, when I first started raising sheep and was asked what I planned on doing with the wool, it ...
Katahdin Sheep: Low-Maintenance Meat and Milk Producer
Considering raising sheep? If so, you might want to think about selecting the Katahdin as your breed of choice. The Katahdin is not the sheep breed to select if you plan on raising sheep for ...
Pig Manure Compost: The Benefits, Risks, and How to Compost Pig Manure
Raising pigs is great for so many reasons. Not only can you produce all kinds of delicious meat for your freezer - Bacon! Ham! Pork chops! Sausage! - but pigs are also fantastic at rooting up and ...
How to Prevent and Treat Life-Threatening Bloat in Sheep
Bloat - that puffy and uncomfortable feeling from eating too much at that holiday potluck, or perhaps you drank a few too many sodas. Although bloat is something that’s unpleasant to deal with, it’s ...
Coccidiosis in Sheep: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
A few weeks ago, a farmer friend of ours incited a bit of panic when he mentioned that it wasn’t wise to multispecies graze our sheep and chickens together. When pressed for reasons why he cited ...
How to Keep Your Chickens Cool in Hot Days and Ensure Their Good Health
I am not too proud to admit that I am a big wimp when it comes to the heat. As soon as temperatures rise above 70°, I try to stay inside as much as possible, ideally in front of a fan or air ...
How to Keep Pigs Cool in the Heat to Minimize Their Discomfort
96° - that’s the forecasted high today for my town. Phew! That’s about 30° too warm for my liking. I don’t think the pigs are any different. In fact, almost immediately after the sun came up this ...
White Muscle Disease in Lambs: What Is It and How to Prevent It?
This year, a peculiar and unfortunate incident occurred on our farm. In fact, it was an incident that repeated itself twice. A couple of days after being born, two lambs died - for no ...
Kunekune Pigs: Are They Right For Your Homestead?
If you’re thinking about raising Kunekune pigs on your small farm, you’ve made a great decision. These heritage-breed pigs are great for small to moderate-sized farms and homesteads. They are native ...