Small Cattle for Small Farms

Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1 Time for a tree change -- 2 Benefits of smaller cattle -- 3 Production systems: stud or commercial -- 4 Selecting a breed -- Role of the breed society -- Breed types -- Colour plates -- 5 Selecting stock -- Choosing your breeder -- Desirable traits -- Structural soundness -- Bull reproduction soundness -- Other factors -- 6 Selecting genetics -- Maturity patterns -- Breeding systems -- Hybrid vigour -- Heritable traits -- Scientific advances -- 7 Infrastructure required -- Fencing -- Paddocks -- Yards -- Equipment -- Loading facilities -- Water -- Shelter -- Irrigation -- 8 Basic cattle husbandry -- Health and safety -- Behaviour -- Joining -- Calving -- Weaning -- Vaccinations -- External parasites -- Internal parasites -- Dehorning -- Castration -- Nose rings -- Other possible health problems -- General tips -- Suggested management plans -- 9 Methods of identification -- Management tags -- Tattooing -- National Livestock Identification System -- Branding -- 10 Breeding systems -- Natural joining -- Artificial insemination -- Semen collection -- Embryo collection -- Pregnancy testing -- 11 Nutrition -- Understanding the terminology -- The food process -- Nutritional requirements -- 12 Healthy soils, healthy pastures, healthy cattle -- Healthy soils -- Healthy pastures -- 13 Showing -- Preparation -- Entries -- Show day -- 10 reasons you know you enjoy showing cattle -- Showing led steers -- Hoof and Hook competitions -- 14 Being a player in the beef industry -- Production type -- Production system -- What breed is the best? -- Market options -- Costs -- Terminology -- Basic cuts of a beef animal -- 15 Marketing -- Before you get started -- Develop your strategy and make yourself stand out from your competitors -- Strategies to win new customers -- Marketing tips.