Fertrell Blog

If you are a farm that practices disbudding/dehorning of your animals, it is important to have everything ready to go once you have animals on the ground. This is not a pleasant procedure, but necessary if you raise certain classes of animals. Both males and females have the potential to grow and develop horns, unless they are naturally polled, so count on devoting a good chunk of time to this each year. To have a successful result, you should check bud development daily as soon as the babies are born. Horn growth varies between animals. Sex, breed, species, will all affect how fast a bud will emerge and how much time you have to stop the horn from fully developing. In order to have the best result, the bud needs to be emerged from the growth plate but still fits within your iron. 

As the calendar gets ready to turn again, we approach my favorite time of year. No, not Christmas-BABY SEASON! Since most sheep and goats are seasonal breeders, the barns are hopefully full of heavily pregnant does and ewes. Sure, not all does/ewes will freshen at the same time, but it is important to be ready for the onslaught of births waiting to happen. The more you can prepare ahead of time, the less stressful this process will be.

Did you know that Fertrell carries both non-GMO and certified organic liquid molasses? We have convenient 1 or 2.5-gallon containers available for all classes of livestock.

Over the course of their lifespan, animals encounter many different stressors. One of the earliest experiences is during the weaning process. This stress can affect both cows and calves. After spending all summer grazing together, it is time to separate cows and calves into different management groups and housing for the winter months.

It might only be the beginning of the dog days of summer, but it is never too early to start thinking and planning for fall breeding season! The days are already getting shorter and soon your dairy does and certain ewes will start cycling. That also means the bucks and rams will be ramping up their yearly mating rituals (hello buck stink!!). Although it seems early, whatever you do now, 3 months before, will be affecting the results of your breeding season. This is because the production of sperm takes 88-90 days. Some simple management will help to ensure an easy and successful breeding season.

Kelp meal has been fed to livestock for over a century. Livestock farmers living near to ocean coasts have seen the benefits of feeding seaweeds to their animals for years. Kelp meal is one of the only plant species that is full of chelated minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients to help maintain the health of your horse.