Small Cattle for Small Farms

Margo Hayes’s book on Small Cattle for Small Farms is now available…also from Farmers’ Mailbox

• There are more small farms in Australia than there are large, and this trend continues as an increasing number of larger farms are subdivided into smaller parcels. A growing demand for lifestyle blocks, in Australia and overseas, is fuelling an interest in the quieter, smaller breeds of cattle which have particular appeal as they are more manageable to control and maintain.
• Small Cattle for Small Farms is ideal for those people considering buying a small farm for lifestyle or commercial purposes.
• It was written in response to the many questions the author was asked by those seeking to purchase small cattle. It is these questions that form the basis of this practical and easy to understand guide.
• The book assumes no prior experience with cattle, and covers all the basics to help you set up your small farm, including topics such as: types of cattle available, how to select your stock and care for them, stocking rates, fencing needs, vaccination requirements, methods of identification, and government requirements for land and stock owners.
• For those wishing to show their cattle, there is a chapter explaining how to prepare for competitions. A section on marketing details how to make a successful entry into the commercial beef industry, and a list of cattle organisations directs readers to more specific information for their chosen breeds.

Features

• Answers real questions asked by those seeking to make a rural lifestyle change
• Deals exclusively with small cattle
• Information is provided in a detailed, easy to understand format with simple terminology

Author Information
Margo Hayes (MBA) came from a rural background. In 1996 she began breeding Australian Lowline cattle and has exhibited the Grand Champion bull for seven consecutive years and the Grand Champion Carcass (all breeds) at the Royal Brisbane Show. Margo has judged cattle internationally, is in demand to speak at forums on marketing and been a guest speaker both in America and Thailand. She exports Lowline and Redline cattle to over seven different countries. She conducts her own ‘On Farm’ courses which augments this book..
Paperback, 168 pages, 245 x 170 mm,

What’s all this Talk about Cow Size ?

Nearly every week I read an article or two on the internet or in a beef magazine about cow size.   Everyone seems to be infatuated with cow size.   All of the so-called experts are talking about cow size.   What’s going on?   Why all this talk about cow size all of a sudden?

The beef industry has been obsessed with increasing weaning weights for the past 40 years.   Everyone mistakenly believed they could increase profits simply by increasing weaning weights.   That concept worked for a little while – but eventually our bigger and bigger weaning weights reached a point of diminishing returns.   You cannot produce something for nothing!   When we increased our weaning weights we changed the size and the type of our momma cows.   Producing bigger and bigger weaning weights requires bigger and bigger cows with ever increasing maintenance costs.

Every increase in production has a cost involved.   When it cost more to produce a pound of beef than a pound of beef is worth, we have gone too far.   I believe the beef industry crossed over this line 15 to 20 years ago.   If that is the case, then why did everyone continue to chase after bigger weaning weights for another 15 to 20 years?   Because it is very easy to measure increases weaning weights.   In contrast, it is not so easy to measure increases in efficiency and profitability.   As long as they are not going broke, most ranchers do not concern themselves with profitability.   They think it is boring and much too hard to calculate.

The current beef industry was built on cheap grain and cheap fuel.   Times have changed!   The era of cheap grain and cheap fuel is over.   It will continue to become more and more difficult for the typical (high-input, high-production) rancher to make a profit.   That is why everyone is talking about cow size.   The light has finally come on.   Ranchers need to make changes in their operation and in their cowherd if they want to survive the next era.   What has worked for the past 20 years will NOT work for the next 20 years!
Thankyou to Kit Pharo for the above information
Kit Pharo
Pharo Cattle Co.
Cheyenne Wells, CO
Phone: 1-800-311-0995
Email: Kit@PharoCattle.com
Website: www.PharoCattle.com

Weighing your Animals.

• For those of you who do not have scales  or platforms to weigh your animals,
  try the  weigh tape.
• They are available from Farmer’s Mailbox  for approx. $ 16
• They were recommended as being relatively accurate  (also cheaper than scales!)

Contact details are:

The Farmers’ Mailbox
 40 Laurel Street
Whittlesea
Victoria 3757
Phone: 03 9716 3312
Fax: 03 9716 3319
Email: info@fmb.com.au
Phone (orders): 1800 81 66 99
Fax (orders): 1800 00 71 34
http://www.fmb.com.au/index.html