How To Take Care Of Cows - Tips For Beginners

Rearing cows can be a good source of income. It can be a tedious process as in raising other farm animals but it is one profitable venture. There are three types of cows. One type is raised for production of dairy products like milk, butter and cheese, the other is raised for its meat called beef. The third kind is used as drafts. Knowing how to take care of cows is very important so that you can get quality products from your cows. You have to keep them strong and healthy for whatever purpose they may serve. Naturally, you have to feed them well and keep them away from diseases.

The first tip on how to take care of cows is to provide your cows a good area of pasture for grazing. Grass feeding is ideal for cows. It is approximated that a cow needs one to two acres of grazing land. Also, those who live in dry regions require more acres of grazing land per cow. They need to graze to have good health and to have plenty of exercise they need. However, if it is not enough pasture especially if you have little land or because of the climate changes, supplement hay, alfalfa, corn and grain as your cow food. Make sure that you give your cows enough fresh water daily. It is said that a full grown cow can consume about 20 gallons of water per day so make sure it gets adequate supply of water.

Aside from providing them shelter, another tip on how to take care of cows is to place a good fencing. Since cattle need to graze freely they should be left alone for some time. The only way to ensure that they will not stray is to fence your property with barbed or woven wire which can be at least 4 feet high. This can guard your cows and make them stay within the boundaries of the fenced land. Sometimes cow ranchers tie their cows to an object held firmly on the ground so that they can graze freely. While this is okay, fencing your property is the best way to keep your cows guarded.

The next tip on how to take care of cows is to provide them with shelter. Cattle are huge animals so you need to provide them with enough space. They need a place where they can be protected from the sun and heat during summer and the rainy and cold days especially during winter. The shelter need not look exceptional. It just needs to have a space where there is adequate ventilation. Also keep in mind that you have to separate the cattle from the drafts unless you have to mate them already. Make sure to clean their shelter daily so that they will not get sick because of their unhealthy surroundings. If your cows are kept inside a barn, be sure to clean the stalls and give them fresh straw every day.

There are many other tips on how to take care of cows which include keeping them away from lice and parasites. Make sure that they are de-wormed. Vaccinations are also advised to keep your cattle away from diseases. Let the veterinarian have your cattle checked regularly so that they can be given proper medication or vitamins and minerals supplements. You should also brush their hair and touch them. Lastly, although cattle are generally gentle animals, keep caution in handling them because they are big animals and they can accidentally hurt you.

Are you looking for more tips about raising and feeding cattle? Raising cattle can improve quality of life and provide great satisfaction and responsibility for families. If you would like more tips on dairy cattle farming and how to raise cattle, just go to: howtoraisecattle.com