Guide to ATTRA’s Livestock and Pasture Publications A Publication of ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org © 2009 NCAT The resources offered here deal with sustainable livestock production from the ground up. Several publications cover pasture management, feeds and forages, while others address care and manage- ment for specifi c animals and marketing of the products derived from them. If you are an experienced or beginning producer, you can fi nd useful information relating to traditional livestock such as beef and dairy cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry, as well as introductions to alternative livestock options from Contents bees to bison. Livestock industry reports ................................ 1 Cattle production (beef and dairy) .............. 2 Hog production .............. 3 Sheep and goat production ........................ 4 Poultry production ........5 Organic livestock production ........................ 7 Animal health and nutrition ............................. 8 Pasture, forage, grazing and range management ................... 9 Aquaculture and aquaponics ..................... 11 Photos by Linda Coff ey, NCAT. Wildlife and unconventional livestock farming ..........11 Livestock industry reports organic grass-finished beef market from producer to consumer. Other livestock topics ................................ 11 Building a Montana Livestock Natural Livestock Feasibility Study Publicaciones en Industry – IP346 (print only) Español/Spanish – IP347 (print only) publications .................. 12 Montana Organic Producers Cooperative Final Report Publications in Final Report Growth Through Ag Project Hmong ............................. 12 This report outlines the results of The report begins with the cost of pro- efforts by the National Center for duction survey and then summarizes a Appropriate Technology (NCAT) report on how Montana Organic Pro- to educate and gather information ATTRA—National Sustainable ducers Cooperative members can better from potential partners to decide the Agriculture Information Service access regional and national markets. In (www.ncat.attra.org) is managed feasibility of developing an alternative by the National Center for Appro- a broader sense, this report provides an livestock (mostly beef) industry in Inyo priate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the understanding of the value chain of the and Mono counties in California. United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business- Cooperative Service. Visit the To view and download the publications in this guide (except those labeled print only), visit the NCAT Web site (www.ncat.org/ Livestock section of the ATTRA Web site at www.attra.ncat.org/livestock.html. For a free print copy of sarc_current.php) for any of these publications or to speak with a specialist, call 1-800-346-9140 (English), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. more information on our sustainable agri- Central Time or 1-800-411-3222 (Español), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacifi c Time, Monday through Friday. culture projects. Cattle production Dairy Farm Sustainability (beef and dairy) Checksheet – IP174 This checksheet is designed to stimulate Beef Farm Sustainability critical thinking in planning a milk Checksheet – IP 129 production farm. This relates to all - Full version (16 pages) dairy species: cattle, goats and sheep. The series of questions is intended to - Short version (4 pages) create awareness about how decisions This checksheet is designed to stimu- made in one area affect the results in late critical thinking in planning a beef other areas of your farm. cattle production farm. The series of questions is intended to create aware- Dairy Beef – CT109 ness about how decisions made in one Dairy beef is an opportunity to diver- area affect the results in other areas of sify operations and boost income and your farm. represents an enterprise option for direct marketing to a niche market. Cattle Production: Considerations This publication discusses dairy beef for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy production, finishing, niche markets Producers – IP305 and direct marketing and analyzing profitability. Pasture- or grass-based livestock pro- duction is inherently sustainable and Dairy Production on Pasture: An can lower production costs, reduce ani- mal stress and boost animal immune Introduction to Grass-Based and systems. This publication highlights Seasonal Dairying – IP340 these and other practices producers In an era of high feed costs and uncer- are using to provide customers with tain milk prices, many dairy produc- nutritious food from sustainable farms ers are looking to pasture to provide and ranches. most of the dry matter for lactating Jerseys grazing highly productive cool-season perennial pasture in Vermont. Photo courtesy USDA NRCS. Page 2 ATTRA Guide to ATTRA’s Livestock and Pasture Publications dairy cows during the growing season. ranchers who would like to add value This publication addresses aspects of to the beef they produce. It includes pasture production, including animal methods to add value within the con- selection and forage resource assess- ventional marketing system, alterna- ment, grazing, facilities, reproduction tive marketing strategies including and health, organic production and niche markets for natural, lean and seasonal economics. organic beef, and production consider- ations for pasture-finished beef. The Economics of Grass-Based Dairying – IP210 Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers The grass-based dairy allows the ani- – IP318 mals to harvest their feed, which can This publication provides managers with significantly reduce the activities and tools and references to consider biolog- expenses of cutting, storing and feed- ical and climatological variables and ing harvested forages. This publica- make decisions that ensure the ecological tion discusses dairy economics, land and economic viability of a grass-based requirements, supplemental feed, sea- ruminant livestock operation. sonal dairies, labor and profitability. Hog production Dairy Resource List: Organic and Pasture-Based – IP307 Hog Production Alternatives This resource list offers many sources – IP019 of information for organic and pasture- This publication addresses the two based dairy farmers. Topics include different directions that hog production general organic dairying, pasture pro- is currently moving: contracting with ductivity, animal management, milk large-scale vertical integrators and marketing and farm energy. sustainable production of a smaller number of hogs sold through alterna- Raising Dairy Heifers on Pasture tive markets. – CT110 This publication offers a number of Pork: Marketing Alternatives references on pasture and grazing, dis- – IP153 cusses custom heifer-raising and costs Sustainable hog producers are creating of raising heifers and provides addi- products that many consumers want to tional articles on the subject. buy but can’t find in their grocery stores. Direct marketing and niche markets Value-Added Dairy Options are among the alternative marketing – CT151 strategies discussed in this publication. Dairy farmers can add value to their Legal considerations, labels, trademarks, milk by processing and marketing their processing regulations and obstacles are own products, such as cheeses, yogurt, also addressed. butter, ice cream and farm-bottled milk. This publication discusses regulations Considerations in Organic Hog and organic milk certification and offers Production – IP185 resources for further information. Part of the Organic Matters series, this 43-page publication is designed Beef Marketing Alternatives – IP290 to speed the flow of technical infor- This publication explores market- mation to those engaged in organic ing alternatives for small-scale cattle production. This publication focuses www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3 on areas of hog production that relate and goat production discusses specifically to National Organic animal selection, feeding, breeding and Program compliance. young stock, equipment and handling and marketing. Profi table Pork – IP191 (USDA Sustainable Agriculture Network Dairy Sheep – IP288 publication, print only) This publication explores the dairy This publication showcases examples sheep business and helps producers of alternative ways to raise pork prof- decide if it is a viable option for their itably. In designing hog systems that farms. The publication also addresses work on their farms, producers have industry regulation, production issues, been able to save on fixed costs, find animal health, stock selection and nutri- greater flexibility, identify unique tion issues surrounding dairy sheep. marketing channels and enjoy a better quality of life. Goats: Sustainable Production Overview – IP248 o view and Hooped Shelters for Hogs – IP149 download the Goat production can be a valuable Hooped shelters have evolved as an publications part of a sustainable farm. Goats can T alternative hog-finishing and gestating in this guide (except be incorporated into existing grazing those labeled print sow housing option. This publication operations with sheep and cattle or only), visit the Live- discusses some of the advantages and used for control of weeds and brush stock section of the disadvantages of using hooped struc- to help utilize a pasture’s diversity. ATTRA Web site at tures, and provides information on This publication provides fundamen- www.attra.ncat.org/ hoop barn design, deep bedding, waste tal information relevant to all goats, livestock.html. For a management