Three Ways to Gauge Pastured Livestock Health

Reader Contribution by Meg Grzeskiewicz
Published on November 22, 2013
1 / 2
2 / 2

Before I launch into my first MOTHER EARTH NEWS blog post, I’d like to say hello to everyone. I am in my early twenties and starting a mob-grazing company in upstate New York: Rhinestone Cattle Co. Last year, I worked as an intern for Greg Judy in Missouri. My posts will deal specifically with beef cattle and mob grazing, but often will apply to other ruminants and grazing methods as well. I want to focus on sharing the easy, inexpensive things you can start doing today to get ahead in grazing.

Here are three easy observations you can make every day to see how your animals are performing. Use them to constantly adjust your grazing program, instead of “flying blind” until sale day or weighing. They can help you adjust paddock size or give supplemental nutrients. These three indicators are valuable whether you’re using mob grazing, low-density rotation or even set stocking.

How to Check Rumen Fill

Stand facing a cow’s left side (with her head to your left and tail to your right). You need to be on the left

side, because that’s where the rumen is. Look for a triangular indentation behind her ribcage and before her hook (hip) bone, high on her side, just beneath her loin muscle. If you can’t see a pronounced depression, her rumen is full. Her forage intake has not been limited, and she has eaten to her heart’s content.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368