Farm

Synopsis of UN FAO’s “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” (FAO 2006) report on the effects of meat consumption on the environment. Includes information related to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, factory farming, animal agriculture, environmental destruction and acid rain.

Duration : 0:2:29

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Could someone describe the process of showing livestock (calves in particular) from the time you buy the cow until the day you sell it? I’d love some details about what really goes on during a show. Do judges just look at the cow and judge it? Or do the handlers walk it around a ring, etc., like at dog shows? What criteria are handlers and their animals judged on? I’d love to hear as much info as you can give me. Thank you!

Here are some links with good info:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res1p0du/id12.html

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/youth%20extension/files/showing.bucket.calf.pdf

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/DS117

Take a tour of the MV Becrux – a state-of-the-art purpose built vessel for livestock exports, carrying sheep and cattle from Australia to their overseas destinations .The MV Becrux has been engaged in livestock exports non-stop since its launch in 200, carrying Australian livestock such as sheep and cattle to various international livestock export destinations in Asia and the Middle East. This livestock export ship has a desalination plant on board and produces all the fresh water for both livestock and crew. The MV Becrux live export ship has completed over 80 voyages carrying more than 3 million sheep and 500,000 cattle.

Duration : 0:3:3

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What are some diseases that could be caught from Horses and/or Livestock that you would need a vaccination to protect yourself from catching the disease/virus?
If anyone could let me know a.s.a.p that would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Sarah
Thanks a lot!

there are none. we cant catch anything they get besides ring worm which is a skin fungus.

I want to keep some livestock (chickens to be exact) but I dont know if I can do to my zoning. I’ve looked on the state website for this info but I cant find it. Does anyone know where I can find it? Thanks.

Contact the Connecticut State Legislature.

Australian Agricultural College Corporation (AACC) offers specialised industry relevant training in beef cattle production, sheep and wool, goat and farm production for careers in the pastoral industry.

Duration : 0:5:43

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I know many "sustainable agriculture" types who say that we should grow mostly plants, or grain, and greatly lessen livestock production. However, I would say that livestock is one of the most important segments of agriculture for feeding a population, in certain cases. Aren’t some types of land not good for growing crops, therefore having dairy cows or meat animals, chickens, what have you, better for the environment than trying to get produce to grow on land that isn’t the best for that type of production? I’m talking about raising animals using pastoral practices here. Do you agree? Or are there any other reason you can think of why raising animals could be GOOD for the environment, sustainable ag.

Always organic is better. Normally thats how it works — rock less fertile land become grazing and livestock raising regions and fertile soil become an agricultural reason. Organic means the animals are fed oraganic foods because its better for them and organic means no use of pesticides (which harm Earth) which makes it environmentally-friendly. By pastoral practices hopefully you mean no anti-biotics, growth hormones, genetically modified animals…..

This DVD features a case study from West Africa where the Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative (PPLPI) of FAO was a key partner in a regional policy process to harmonise the animal health and food safety regulations across eight countries. The 2007 UEMOA Regulation on food safety and animal health will help an estimated 20 million poor livestock keepers to access growing urban markets in the region. Produced by WRENmedia and J Dijkman, PPLPI.

Duration : 0:6:14

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I have 20 acres and am looking for easy livestock to raise.I have severe artritis in the ribs which limits my lifting and mobility.

Chickens for the eggs with your health problems would be the best. Most other livestock will require heavy lifting.

I want to increase biodiversity in our very large garden. How can I use wild animals and livestock to do this?

PERMACULTURE ANSWERS ON ANIMALS WITH IN AND AROUND THE GARDEN

Try to think of the animals as components in controlled eco systems ,instead of being the king (like a pig in a pen)with you working as a slave to clean its place and supply food all the time.

PIGS
We have used pigs as labor,corralled in a place too difficult to clean .such as grass over rocky ground ,or forest or places full of bugs snakes etc.
They will clean it better than any machine or man going half a meter into the ground eating up the roots ,

When they are done ,move them to another place ,and after you have taken out the rocks the site is ready to plant.

You may have to moisten the ground and supply water and a bit of food like corn.

DUCKS & CHICKENS and other FOWLS
Normal chickens and normal ducks will destroy your garden
the chickens scratch and all the upcoming little plant literally
hit the dust

Duck work like miniature plows doing maximum damage ,especially if the ground is moist ,they work with their beaks like hoes

However Ducks contained in a pond provide a lot of fish food

Normal Chickens that are contained can be used to clear land in a chicken tractor (a movable corral )

There are many animals that can be used walking about free amongst you garden with out damage and a lot of benefit such as pest control and fertilization

The best are ,Chooks (chickens with feathers on their feet,Partridge ,Guiny fowl ,My Favorite Silkeys and Bantam chickens ,these are small chickens that run about and chase anything that moves ,they go all over the garden fertilize and catch 70 % of all garden pests that walk, jump or land .

There is also a miniature white duck which does not do a lot of damage and they are the top expert in getting rid of snails their favorite food .

Breed these little ducks and chickens and sell them to other gardeners everybody that has them is delighted with the results

The danger to them is cats and other predators and they need a dormitory to sleep in a closed chicken house with staggered pols to roost on (staggered like a staircase so thy don`t poop on each others head )
,everyday they will return in the late afternoon ,
some body must close the door after them ,

And in the morning they will rouse you to open the door so that they can go to work .

SOME MORE ANIMAL USES
Just a few more examples of organic pest control and there are thousands

In Mexico we got a sort of small lizard that lives on the wall ,and sit near the lamps ,and eat mosquito’s all night,

In the mango orchards we release laboratory bred wasps to attack and kill the caterpillars that go for the mango’s

Birds we also don’t kill
when the passion fruit is ripe ,a little black Caterpillar comes and wants to destroy them,luckily a little finch type bird turns up and eats the black caterpillars.

Place poles with bird feeders on some compost
and visiting birds will drop some interesting seeds ,that can germinate below,

Have bird houses in the trees to encourage caterpillar feeders to move in.

In Mexico we have let mazacoas,which are, python type snakes in to the garden to take care of the rats.

In Africa we released mole snakes into the garden and field to combat the plagues of Norwegian rats that were destroying the fields

Ant eaters take care of leaf cutting ants that can destroy a large tree in a week.

Armadillos eat Beatles and such,but they will eat all the worms in your worm culture and dig up the garden like pigs, so you have to fence them out

Potbelly pigs and deer and normal pigs are good in an orchard because they eat fallen rotting fruit which breeds a lot of small flies.You have to corral these in

In our water reservoirs we put fish to eat the mosquito larva’s.

I have bred tree frogs from eggs and released them in the garden to eat mosquito’s and horse flies.

Apart from the fact that many animals serve as food for people Animals In Nature have jobs ,each full fills a function in their respective eco -systems

some examples that can be around a garden are
squirrels who plant trees ,so do many birds

bees and other insects pollinate so have some bee hives

fish keep the waters clean from contamination

Any other animals you may have place them in the most useful place,so that an energy flow can be created

For example the chicken house above the vegetable patch and below the house in elevation so that you can lead the rain water from the roof of the house with a channel (from the house roof gutter) ,through the chicken house ,washing it clean and leading the fertilized water ,on into the vegetable patch ,every time it rains.

You can also have pigpens with a sloping floor or chicken houses with the roosting poles .on the edge of a fish pond to supplement the fish food.
have gutters sloping floors in the stables to collect urine and make for easy cleaning of the manure ,to be used as fertilizer.

Make a worm culture to produce the best compost in the world with the house hold organic wastes.

NOTE

So the main job is housing and management

Peacocks are very destructive and the noise will drive you crazy after a while