Prepper's Livestock Handbook: Lifesaving Strategies and Sustainable Methods for Keeping Chickens, Rabbits, Goats, Cows and other Farm Animals

by Leigh Tate

Overview

Healthy, Happy Homesteading

Whether you’re looking for a farm-to-table solution that provides fresh meat and dairy products today, or a long-term plan that will feed you and your family after the collapse of civilization—or both!— this all-in-one preparedness guide is for you. It teaches sustainable animal husbandry skills that allow you to build and operate your own small-scale ranch anywhere from a backyard to a bug-out bunker.
Packed with tips, techniques and strategies, this handy guide breaks down everything you need to know, including how to:

• Choose the best breeds for your needs
• Build barns, coops, hutches and fencing
• Grow feed and utilize pastures
• Breed your stock and raise offspring
• Protect your animals from predators
• Provide basic health and vet care
• Preserve fresh milk, eggs and meat

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612437958
Publisher:	Ulysses Press
Publication date:	06/19/2018
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	209,773
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Leigh Tate and her husband Dan homestead five acres in the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Their goal is simpler, sustainable, more self-reliant living. Over the years they've partnered with goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, guinea fowl, dogs, cats, honeybees, and a llama. In addition to livestock care, Leigh's days are filled with gardening, foraging, and food preservation. She enjoys cheese making, solar and wood cookstove cookery, and the fiber arts. Leigh is the author of 5 Acres and A Dream The Book, Critter Tales, How To Bake Without Baking Powder, and The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. She blogs at www.5acresandadream.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

What Is Homesteading? 7

Why Homestead? 8

Who is This Book For? 8

Chapter 1 First Things First 10

Chapter 2 Best Breeds For Self-Reliance 14

Cattle 17

Goats 20

Sheep 23

Pigs 26

Rabbits 28

Poultry 30

Chapter 3 Barns Shelters And Fencing 39

Meeting Basic Needs 40

Types of Livestock Structures 40

Designing Your Structure 42

Fences 51

Gates 56

Additional Supplies 56

Chapter 4 Forage And Feed 58

Pasture for Foraging 58

Rotational Grazing 63

Utilizing Unfenced Areas 66

Utilizing Browse 67

Purchasing Hay 68

Growing Hay 70

Using Feed 73

Using Grain 75

Using Legumes 77

Making Your Own Feed Rations 78

What's Poisonous? What's Not? 80

Minerals and Vitamins 87

Last but Not Least-Water 91

Chapter 5 Breeding And Pregnancy 92

Keeping Males 92

When to Breed 96

How to Tell When Your Ladies Are in Season 98

Detecting Pregnancy 99

Care During Pregnancy 100

Chapter 6 Blessed Events: Important And Hatching 102

Before Birth: Important Supplies 102

Prepare the Birthing Area 105

Stages of Birth 106

Common Problems 109

Introducing Newborns to the Others 112

Dairy Animals: Managing Triplets and Quads 113

Hatching Eggs 114

Grafting onto a Broody Hen 116

Feeding Hatchlings 116

Introducing Newcomers to the Flock 118

Chapter 7 Eggs, Milk, And Meat 119

Eggs 120

Preservation Techniques for Eggs 122

Milk and Milk Products 126

The Milking Process 128

Managing the Milk Supply 131

Milk Processing 132

Keeping Milk 133

Butter 136

Cultured Milk: Yogurt and Kefir 138

Cheese 139

Meat 142

How Much Meat Can You Expect? 145

Equipment and Supplies 146

The Process 148

Keeping Meat 149

Meat Byproducts 152

Off-Grid Storage of Eggs, Milk, and Meat 153

Chapter 8 Keeping Them Healthy 156

Grooming 158

Shearing 158

Hoof and Foot Care 159

Vaccinations 159

Integrated Parasite Management 160

Nutritional Balance 166

Other Preventable Problems 170

Wound and Accident Care 174

Other Medications 174

How to Know When You Need a Vet 177

Vital Signs 179

Diagnosis and Treatment 179

When Death Is Kinder Than Prolonging Life 180

Chapter 9 Keeping Them Safe 181

Predator Control 186

Predator Deterrents 187

Chapter 10 Keeping Them Manageable 190

Understand Your Motivation 190

Make a Plan 191

Set Goals and Prioritize 191

Start Slowly, Start Small 192

Review and Revise 192

Day-to-Day Management 192

The Long Run 194

Conclusion: IF SHTF 197

Biblography 199

Resources 205

Index 222

Photo Credits 230

Acknowledgements 231

About The Author 232