Taking Care of Your Ranch Animals During Disasters

Colorado is no stranger to inclement weather and natural disasters that could be devastating for any ranch owner. This is why it's important to know what to do to minimize the losses and damage suffered when catastrophe strikes. This includes protecting your animals from harm, while at the same time protecting yourself. Here are a few tips.

Always remove headstalls and halters when not needed.

Headstalls and halters can encumber horses as they can get caught up in trees, posts, and other obstacles along the way. This is bad news when you have panicked animals running around, potentially hurting others or themselves.

Release them only as a last resort.

If there is no immediate danger to the animals—or to yourself—when they are in their shelters, avoid releasing them and letting them run free. It would be much safer to have them sheltered, unless there is a big danger of them getting trapped, hurt, or killed there.

When releasing animals, do not tie them together.

Rounding up your animals after a storm has died down may be hard work, but you should definitely not try to make it easier by tying the animals together when releasing them. They could end up getting tangled up in obstacles or hurting you or each other in a panic, giving you even more stress.

Disasters may not happen all the time, but investors who buy ranches in Colorado should know exactly what to do. If not for your own sake, do it for the sake of the animals.

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The Basics of Horse Care

There's no better way of getting around your own ranch than with a good horse. The great advantages horses offer a rancher are, of course, accompanied by serious responsibilities in looking after these steeds. That said, here are three basics on taking care of horses.

Food

Feeding horses is actually a bit more complicated than just giving the animal some hay. For example, it's advisable to add a bit of grain to horses' diet to make sure that they get all the nutrition they need. Mold is also a major factor as it could cause serious lung problems for the horse. Long story short: do your research on horse diet first.

Shelter

Two of the most common choices for horse shelters are run-in shelters and stables. Each has its own pros and cons, so it is good to deliberate carefully on which option is best in your case. An example: stables provide complete shelter from the elements, but run-shelters are less susceptible to fire.

Healthcare

As with any other pet or domesticated animal, horses have their own share of health issues. As the owner, you must know at least a few of the veterinary basics, such as checking vital signs, deworming, and spotting the signs of an unhealthy horse.

You cannot get the full experience of owning a ranch without a healthy horse. Thus, if you're planning on buying a ranch soon, better start on the basics of horse care now.

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The Animals You Can Have in Your Ranch

Different ranch animals serve different purposes. They are usually classified into poultry animals, dairy animals, and transportation animals. Poultry animals include chicken, ducks, turkey, etc. Examples of dairy animals are cows, goats, buffaloes, etc. Poultry and dairy animals are always in high demand because of their meat and other products such as eggs, milk, etc., which are packed with many health benefits. Some ranch animals, like horses, yaks, llamas, and donkeys, are good for transportation

Common ranch animals are, no doubt, beneficial, but you might want to learn about animal hybrids that perform better than the original breeds. The basic idea behind hybrid animals is that you can get the best in the genetic qualities of both breeds. To get a better idea of hybrid ranch animals, here's a short list along with some info on what animals were combined to produce them:

• Beefalo – American bison and a domestic cow

• Botswana – sheep and goat

• Mule – male donkey and female horse

• Yakow – yaks and cows

• Yakalo – yak and buffalo

Apart from the common and hybrid ranch animal examples above, dogs and cats make great ranch companions as well. Dogs in particular, can be trained and trusted with some herding tasks. Plus, they are loving, faithful, and sincere toward their masters.

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Kidding Around: How to Care for Baby Goats

There's no doubt that baby goats—or kids as they're more popularly known—are cute little bundles of joy. The way they flounce, bounce, and cuddle is utterly irresistible. However, like human kids, they grow up so fast, and taking care of them involves a lot of work. Here are some tips on how to raise them right:

Make sure they receive colostrum, which is the first thick milk produced by the mother goat, or doe. Colostrum contains proteins, carbs, and other nutrients that young infants need. Most importantly, it contains specific antibodies which are the more important ones the kids will have to protect themselves with. Most does will make their own colostrum when they give birth. If not, you can buy it from a local vet or feed store.

Feed the kids regularly. Newborns will have small stomachs so they'll require feeding at least four times a day. This won't be a problem if you leave the kids with their mother doe, however, in rare cases, you'll need to bottle-feed them. Fresh goat's milk is best, but if not available, you can use cow's milk, instead, while adding three tablespoons of corn syrup per gallon.

Provide the kids with a wam, dry place to sleep. Make sure the area is adequately covered to protect them from sun, rain, and drafts. Straw is a good material for bedding because it doesn't cling to their coat, provides good insulation, and is easy to clean.

Have the kids vaccinated at three weeks. Follow this with a booster at six weeks. Goat raising is always a viable, and even simpler alternative use of ranchland purchased in Oregon.

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Facts on Common Ranching Cattle Breeds

So, you've just bought ranch property, and are now taking the first steps towards establishing a cattle ranch. One of the most common questions first time ranchers ask is “what breed of cattle should I use for my ranch?” This is a valid and important question because each cattle variety presents ranchers with different advantages and disadvantages; and selecting the right breed for your ranch can help boost profitability. As such, here are a few facts on the most common breeds of cattle ranchers being raised:

Angus

The Angus breed, originating from Scotland, is one of the most recognized breeds of cattle in the world. In addition, Angus is the US beef industry's number one beef-producing breed, and is one of the most heavily demanded type of beef in the world due to excellent marbling and tenderness. Angus is also known for a low rate of calving complications, and efficient grazing-to-bodyweight conversion.

Hereford

Brought by the British settlers, Hereford cattle are known as a hardy breed, easily adapting to a variety of climates. An early maturity and a good grazing-to-bodyweight efficiency makes Hereford cattle a popular choice for beef ranchers. Hereford cattle are also frequently used for cross-breeding with other cattle.

Wagyu

Wagyu beef actually comes from a variety of different cattle breeds. Literally meaning “Japanese cattle”, Wagyu cattle ironically develop better in the US than Japan, with most wagyu beef used in Japan being imported from the US, making raising quality wagyu beef a highly profitable venture for any investor considering a ranchland purchase.

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Tips for Buying a Ranch as an Investment

Investing in land is one of the more popular investment strategies due to the fact that the value of land appreciates over time; when paired with the fact that the price of food has been rising in the country, purchasing and establishing a ranch is a great investment option. Wealthy moguls such as Ted Turner, founder of CNN, have looked into ranching as an investment venture for quite some time, and have happily reaped the benefits of doing so.

However, purchasing a ranch can be difficult, especially for first time buyers. As such, here are a few things to consider before deciding on a ranch:

• Is the land large enough to support your livestock? Before buying ranch property, know exactly what kind of animals your ranch will be keeping, and see if the land caters to the needs of these animals. Beef farming usually has prescribed acreage for particular varieties of cattle to be raised and the number of heads.

• How convenient is the location of the ranch? As with any property, location is an important factor. How far are your customers from the ranch? If you need supplies, how near are you to the sources?

• What is the quality of the land? If you can spare the time, visit a ranch you're considering and have the well checked for the amount and quality of the water, and have an expert conduct a soil test. These factors can easily affect the quality of your ranch produce.

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