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Forages.  Forages are the edible parts of plants that provide feed for grazing animals or can be harvested for feeding.  This fibrous plant material helps produce the many meat and dairy products we consume making it essential to our lives.  Forage also plays a role in conservation by limiting soil erosion, providing food and habitat for wildlife, and protecting surface waters.   Examples Include:  *Forages cover about 55% of the land area in the US.   *Well-managed forage systems help keep our waterways clean and free of unwanted chemicals.   *There are about 14,000 species of grasses in the United States.   *Forages are...

Summer Forages Bermudagrass is a great warm season perennial used for grazing and hay.  If you have bermuda, make sure you are providing it with adequate levels of nitrogen and potash this summer to get optimal performance.  Bermuda is a heavy feeder.   There are also several warm season annual options producers can plant for grazing and baleage.  Summer annual grasses are high-yielding and have rapid growth during the hot, humid Georgia summers.  Once established, most are extremely drought tolerant.  Annuals are generally higher quality than their perennial counterparts.  Summer annuals work best in a rotational grazing situation.  Some of the...

FLY CONTROL INCLUDES A MULTI-STEP PLAN I love the growing season, but one thing I really dislike about late spring and summer are FLIES!  Flies are annoying because they invade your personal space and will even bite you.  There is no one practice or a magic wand to make them go away, but there are some practices we can implement to help minimize their adverse affect on our cattle herds.   Biting flies are carriers of such diseases as anaplasmois and bovine leukosis virus.  Face flies can spread Moraxella Bovis which causes pinkeye.  The economic loss from each horn fly biting...

It can be endearing to raise baby chicks, whether it is part of an urban homesteading plan, a family farm, or a classroom project. Young chicks are vulnerable and can easily become sick, however, and it is important to recognize symptoms of sick baby chicks in order to provide proper care for a healthy and thriving flock. Sick Baby Chick Diseases and Symptoms There are several common illnesses that might occur with any baby chicks, including young chickens, turkeys, quail, guineafowl, or ducks. Symptoms can be similar between these different diseases, but recognizing the signs of illness quickly can help...

Proper hydration is essential to keep all your livestock healthy in any season, from the blistering summer months to the icy depths of winter. By knowing how best to keep your cattle, horses, and backyard flock hydrated, you can protect their health and ensure every animal has adequate access to clean, fresh water. Why Hydration Matters Adequate hydration is critical for many bodily systems and clean, fresh water is necessary for good health. Water is an essential part of efficient digestion, joint and muscle lubrication, body insulation, waste elimination, delivering nutrients to cells throughout the body, skin and coat condition,...