I’ve got a two day old heifer that is walking on her front knuckles. Never had to deal with this before so kinda lost on what to do. Any idea’s on how to correct this ?

I am looking for ideas on the best/most profitable way to lease farmland. My family own about 500 acres of farmland and have owned it for probably 50 years. Currently they only use it for cattle operations, which honestly only breaks even and is mainly used for property tax purposes so that the land has a very low agricultural use valuation. The cattle operation is relatively small, and there is quite a bit of open land to use. The land is mostly open pasture with some wooded areas. Probably a third is wooded and 2/3rds is pasture type land.

The costs of the farm was initially supported by a business that is in the midst of failing. So, the farm needs to be self-sufficient in order to survive long-term. I've calculated that we need 60-100k per year to be generated in order to hold on to the land. None of the people in the family are true farmers... we have some that help with the cows but that's really it. What are the best ways to use the land in order to generate income? I am thinking some sort of lease, but don't know what kind of lease to look for.

Ideally we would want something that is minimally invasive, that wouldn't tear up the land (such as timber farming), or have people coming out several times a day onto the property. I had thought of perhaps leasing to a solar farm, but that's all I have been able to come up with so far and looking for some creativity. I have no idea it is viable farmland, but in any event that is probably too invasive for what we are looking for. I realize we may not be able to get everything we want to accomplish our goal, but all suggestions are greatly appreciated. I do not live on the land, and I know little about farming.

I also realize that this is not a great situation to be in, and that something should have been done much sooner, but the situation is what it is and I'm just trying to source ideas to help the family. Any ideas are much appreciated.

If there is a more appropriate sub for this, please let me know and happy to move it there.

What kind of grass should I get so they can eat that and im not dependent on hay or feed as much.

What kind of shelter, should I get like a run in 3 wall shelter just to protect from rain?

What should I use as watered and feeder looking for the cheapest thing possible even if I have to make it myself somehow.

How tall of t-post should I buy and how many strand of barb wire because that’s probably what I’ll use.

If it matters I’m in north GA and I’m into black angus or whatever would be the best meat cow

I have a couple of calves that are being sluggish, they're still getting up and walking with the mother but they act like they're drained and maybe not handling the change in temp and weather well. They were all doing great during our cold snap 14°-37° but since it rained a few days ago and the temps have been in the 50°s I've just noticed a few aren't acting themselves.

I gave one that had some scour a dose of Power punch but didn't have anything else on hand. Any recommendations would be welcome.

Thank you

Good afternoon, I’m in need of a few geo thermal waterers for horses. Has anyone made their own?

I know farmers have problem with varmints on their land. I've heard coyotes are a pretty big problem and menace to cattle. Would you let people hunt your land for varmints or do most farmers feel they can handle it? If you would let them hunt, what would be conditions you would set for them?

Has anyone ever gone through the FSA for a loan to purchase land or animals to expand your current operation? If so, any advice? Found out today they offer really great interest rates and low down payments so I’m still trying to gather information.

Has anyone had any luck turning wooded land to pasture?

To start this off-we have no clue wtf we are doing. We raised a cow for 18 months and she’s off to the butcher. Problem- we are so deep under snow the trailer won’t make it to the barn and this cow has never been haltered. How in the hell are we going to get her to walk 100 yards into a trailer?

Update Cow got on the trailer just fine after a bit of man handling. Thank you for the helpful advice

I have had terrible luck with weaning this year. Sample size 3 calves. What I tried:

-4 kinds or various rings that poke the cow. 0/3 success cows just don´t care

-The new inward poking ring (that irritates the calfs nose) from Kerbl that is supposed to work in 2-5 weeks. 0/3 success after 6 weeks, calves don´t care.

- Old Faithfull, piece of conveyor belt bolted to a halter 2/3 "success" one managed to nurse by corkscrewing his head, despite me extending the belt several times. Another one got abscess from the halter scrape despite me padding it with duct tape.

So now I have them separated in a barn. How long they need to stay there before the last one forgets the nursing?

Different pastures are not possible all my property is in a circle around home so they can always see and hear each other and keep escaping and screaming at each other. Selling is also not convenient now.

Any tips?

What is the life cycle of a cow and who makes profit off of the animal at every stage? I'm trying to write a report on how produce is made in this country and I was wondering how most smaller scale farms make money and what percentage of that is from commercial deals and how many is sold directly to consumer

-city person curious about the economy of beef

I had a cow who was an absolute nightmare. She was horned and would clear the other cows from the feed trough and water tank. I had to pin her up in a paddock by herself. She was so mean i would carry an aluminum attitude modifier with me when i went in her paddock. She calved and I sold the crazy cow because i waa sick of dealing with her. I bottle feed the her calf. He is now weaned but has been penned up by himself.

I need to get this calf out with the others in the field but don't know where to put him. I am on limited acreage. I have 3 steers in one paddock weighing 500 to 600 lbs. I feel turning the calf out with them would be bad because he is so small and will get bullied when fed. My other option is turning him out with the 4 cows where there is a heifer calf one weak older than the weaned calf who is still nursing on her mom. All the cows are dry expect the one with the heifer.

What is the best option?

I have never had a cow go much past 2 weeks after losing her cervical plug before she calves. I have a first-time heifer who very clearly lost her plug 5 weeks ago. Overall, she seems healthy and the calf is visibly moving inside. Her belly started dropping about 3-4 days ago, springing was evident about a week ago, and her milk is slowly coming in. Has anyone ever had a cow/heifer lose her plug this early? Should I call the vet?

On Monday, a family friend comes to my house with a premature calf asking if I'd like to try to keep her alive and bottle feed her, because he would not have the time to do so. He said the momma wanted the calf, but she wouldn't stand up to feed and the temps were in the negatives.

She shows the typical symptoms of a premature calf when it comes to no energy to suckle, hardly gets up to move around, and smaller than average with a little bit of a rounded head.

He did tube feed her colostrum, though I'm not for sure the exact amount of time she went without it. She will stand on her own but not for long periods, she gets really weak and falls down after a bit.

She will just hold the bottle nipple in her mouth, every great once in a while makes slight suckling movement but not enough to get anything out of the nipple or for very long. I've tried stimulating her to suckle by moving her jaw, squeezing the sides of the nipple to get some in her mouth and that has done nothing. I reluctantly have had to tube feed her each feeding after a failed bottle attempt.

I have read and heard people say to use things like honey or chocolate and such to help her figured it out but on the same coin, different side, someone says those are myths. I am looking for real direction as to how to continue. I don't want to continue to tube feed and risk infection and everything else. I understand premature calfs can really die from anything but I don't want it to be from my lack of trying and knowledge.

Thanks in advance!

Currently have three black angus heifers. I’m trying to find some sort of semi portable (wheels, skids, aka something with a bottom) hay feeder that I can move around without breaking the bank.

They’re currently in a 1/2 acre paddock that I’m throwing loose hay out for them but that’s creating a little too much waste for me. I’d like to continue the low waste theme when they get into the 2x ~2 acre pastures this spring.

The pastures will not provide enough food for them year round without heavy investment into irrigation.

Do you think this would work ok for working pen/ show calf pen. We only do about 10 head with 3 or 4 being current year show calves and others heifers and cows that we bred. We AI everything currently use a gate in a 20×12 pen to swing them into chutes.

So I have what has been a great cow family- 4 generations. Commercial angus with registered bull last 8 years. Last year two of the 3rd calf cows rejected their calves. Raised their first two calves without issue. They would clean them off and lick them like crazy but when they tried to nurse they would kick and butt the calf. Broke one calf’s leg. Both were 5 yo, slightly over conditioned otherwise in excellent health. Grass and hay fed, free choice minerals all the time. Housed in a bedded pack barn. Fast forward to this year and one of their sisters just pulled the same thing. Same all the way around, 3rd calf etc. Other members of the family are great moms. Vet is stumped and so am I. Any thoughts?

a 24x24 acrylic painting from a photo I took of a bull here in north Texas during the recent snow days. (Yes, Texas got snow!) I wanted the painting to have a joyful solitude with warm sunlight creeping through the cool winter day. I hope you all enjoy!