The Illustrated Guide to Cows: How To Choose Them - How To Keep Them
By Celia Lewis
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
The Illustrated Guide to Cows covers the 60 most familiar breeds of cattle worldwide. Breed profiles are written in engaging text that covers the history of each breed, its main characteristics and how to look after them, and each one has been beautifully illustrated by the author.
Introductory sections contain practical advice on all elements of rearing calves and keeping cattle, including what to consider about land, housing and fencing, whether to choose beef or dairy cows, tips on buying, moving and handling your stock, and guidance on feeding and breeding.
Celia Lewis
Celia Lewis is an accomplished artist and the author of the bestselling Illustrated Guide to Chickens, Illustrated Guide to Pigs and Illustrated Guide to Ducks and Geese and Other Domestic Fowl as well as the wonderful An Illustrated Country Year. Celia started her art career studying life and portrait charcoal drawing with Signorina Simi in Florence. She is now a member of a dynamic art group and several art societies in Surrey where she lives. She has won several prizes including the 2005 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour (RI) medal and Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) Winsor & Newton Prize 2009. Living in the country Celia is lucky enough to be able to keep hens and pigs in her garden and, along with nearby cows and sheep, this is where she finds her inspiration. Although working mainly in watercolour she has now branched out into acrylics.
Read more from Celia Lewis
The Illustrated Guide to Chickens: How to Choose Them, How to Keep Them Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Illustrated Guide to Pigs: How to Choose Them, How to Keep Them Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Illustrated Guide to Ducks and Geese and Other Domestic Fowl: How To Choose Them - How To Keep Them Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Illustrated Guide to Chickens: How To Choose Them - How To Keep Them Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to The Illustrated Guide to Cows
Related ebooks
Small Cattle for Small Farms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hobby Farm Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Rabbits, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, and Cattle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaising Goats: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Healthy Goats for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRabbits for Flesh and Fur - With Information on Breeding, Varieties, Housing and Other Aspects of Rabbit Farming on a Smallholding Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHappy Pigs Taste Better: A Complete Guide to Organic and Humane Pasture-Based Pork Production Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Backyard Chicken Book: A Beginner's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoats: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure And Profit Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pigs: Keeping a Small-Scale Herd for Pleasure and Profit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFarm Animals and the Principles of Feeding - With Information on Feeding Hogs, Sheep, Dogs and Other Farm Animals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPasture Basics: Permaculture Chicken, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeef Cattle: Keeping a Small-Scale Herd for Pleasure and Profit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeat From Your Garden - A Handy Guide To Table Rabbit Keeping Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuails as Pets. Quail Owners Manual. Quail keeping pros and cons, care, housing, diet and health. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Beginner's Guide To Raising Goats Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDucks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThrifty Chicken Breeds: Efficient Producers of Eggs and Meat on the Homestead: Permaculture Chicken, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRabbits for Food, Fur and Profit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheep Keeping Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Beautiful World of Chickens Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChicken Keeping for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCattle - Types and Breeds - With Information on Shorthorns, the Hereford, the Galloway and Other Breeds Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Keeping Chickens and other Poultry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKnow Your Hobby Animals a Breed Encyclopedia: 172 Breed Profiles of Chickens, Cows, Goats, Pigs, and Sheep Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Chicken: A Natural History Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ultimate Guide to Hobby Farm Animals: Raising Beef Cattle, Chickens, Ducks, Goats, Pigs, Rabbits, and Sheep Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Livestock Farmer: The Business of Raising and Selling Ethical Meat Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Complete Guide to Grass-Fed Cattle: How to Raise Your Cattle on Natural Grass for Fun and Profit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaising Beef Cattle For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Pets For You
Black Beauty (Illustrated): Classic of World Literature Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook: Featuring the Hierarchy of Dog Needs® Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ultimate Service Dog Training Manual: 100 Tips for Choosing, Raising, Socializing, and Retiring Your Dog Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cesar Millan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog: 98 Essential Tips and Techniques Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Everything Essential Dog Training and Tricks Book: All You Need to Train Your Dog in No Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Beginner's Guide to Veterinary Homeopathy: For Dogs, Cats, Horses & Others Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dog Food Cookbook: 41 Healthy and Easy Recipes for Your Best Friend Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Puppy Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Guide to Early Training and Care Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep: Don’t Be Dumb About Raising Sheep...Because They Aren’t Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnlock Your Dog's Potential: How to Achieve a Calm and Happy Canine Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5365 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About Your Cat: Fascinating Cat Facts Series, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5100 Ways to Understand Your Cat Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Idle Beekeeper: The Low-Effort, Natural Way to Raise Bees Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Golden Retriever: A Dog Training Guide on How to Raise, Train and Discipline Your Golden Retriever Puppy for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBrain Training For Dogs - Mastering Essential Skills And Overcoming Behavioral Challenges Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bedtime Stories for Cats Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Pets Go To Heaven: The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Dog Whisperer (2nd Edition): A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Dog Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Illustrated Guide to Cows
6 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Even if you have no plans to keep chickens, the lovely watercolor illustrations on every page will bring delighted enjoyment of this little book. If you do plan to keep a backyard flock, then you will find good information here, including temperament and nature so that you can decide which variety is right for you. The book is small; about 61/2 inches by 8 inches and has a sturdy soft cover so it's easy to pick up and lose yourself in the interesting world of domestic chickens.
Book preview
The Illustrated Guide to Cows - Celia Lewis
Contents
Introduction
What to consider
Land
Fencing
Water
Storage
Housing
Feeding
Hay
Straw
Silage
Haylage
Concentrates
Roots
By-products
Vitamins and minerals
A bull or artificial insemination
Rules and regulations
Before you do anything else
Notification of cattle movement
The death of an animal on your holding
Keeping on-farm records for cattle
Farm inspections
Subsidies
Acquiring stock
Handling
Halter training
Calving
Signs of imminent calving
Normal presentation
When to intervene
Castration
Disbudding and dehorning
Organic farming
Common ailments
Poisonous plants
Parasites and skin problems
Eye problems
Notifiable diseases
Calf problems
Adult problems
Breed profiles
How to milk a cow
Dairy products
Cream
Clotted cream
Butter
Yoghurt
Curd cheese
Finishing
Cuts of beef
Cow-horn bugle
How to make a cow horn
Tanning a hide
Useful websites
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Cattle are ungulates (meaning that they are hooved animals) and it is thought that they have been domesticated for around 10,000 years. All present-day cattle are descended from the prehistoric Aurochs that migrated across Asia from India, reaching Europe about 250,000 years ago. Amazingly, the last Aurochs died in Poland as recently as 1627. Aurochs were hunted by humans long before they were domesticated, as can be seen in prehistoric cave paintings in many parts of the world, the most famous being those at Lascaux, France.
Auroch cave painting
Cattle are not indigenous to the Americas but were first introduced into the Caribbean area in the early 1500s by the Spanish. Dairy cattle were introduced by British settlers in the early 1700s.
Cows were revered in Egypt – so much so that whole cows were sometimes buried with their owners. The Egyptians worshipped the cow goddess Bat, protector and mother of the pharaohs. In the Hindu religion of India, cows are considered sacred and should be treated with the same respect as one’s own mother because of the milk they provide. They appear in many stories from the Hindu faith, chief among these being the tale of Shiva, who was said to ride on the back of a bull called Nandi; and Krishna, who was brought up by cowherds and named Govinda or ‘protector of cows’.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that destroyed much of Chicago has long been blamed on Mrs Kate O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lamp. In 1997 the Chicago City Council, after much research, passed a resolution exonerating Mrs O’Leary and her cow.
Nandi bull
There are many other traditions relevant to cattle. The ox is one of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac, the constellation of Taurus represents a bull and the Maasai of East Africa believe that all cows on Earth are the God-given property of the Maasai. The ancient Romans valued their cattle so highly that the word for money, pecunia, is derived from the word meaning cattle, pecus.
Cattle are one of the most undemanding and rewarding domestic animals to keep, being in the main healthy and temperate. They are the smallholder’s staple, providing the essentials of milk and beef. There are numerous breeds to choose from, many of which are described on the following pages. Some may be unsuitable for your area, but there is sure to be one breed that will be ideal for you.
A cow was connected with the founding of Durham Cathedral in AD 995. Legend has it that monks carrying the body of St Cuthbert were led to the location by a milkmaid who had lost her dun cow. The cathedral was built upon the spot where the cow was found resting.
What to consider
Are you thinking of a house cow, just a few stores or a small herd of a pedigree breed? Do you want to milk your cows, or are you only interested in keeping them for beef? Before anything else you must consider how much land is available and how suitable the grazing will be.
Cows have no upper front teeth and graze by wrapping their tongues around grass and pulling it up by gripping it between the upper gum and bottom teeth; the grass must be long enough for them to do this. Cattle are ruminants, which means that they have a digestive system that allows them to digest food that would otherwise be indigestible, by a process of repeated regurgitation. The food, referred to as ‘cud’, is then re-swallowed. Cattle have one stomach but it is divided into four parts, the rumen, reticulum, masum and absomasum. The cud is chewed for up to eight hours each day and the animals spend about six hours eating.
The cow is of the bovine ilk, one end is moo, the other milk.
Ogden Nash
Land
Dairy cows need richer grazing than beef cattle and are likely to be of a more delicate disposition. You need to find the breed that best suits your ground. The Highland and Galloway, for example, have been bred to make the most of poor grazing in harsh conditions, and the Jersey and Guernsey need lush grass to produce their creamy milk – there is a breed to suit every need.
A question that is often asked is how many cows can be kept per acre, but this is akin to asking how long is a piece of string. What grade is your grazing? How dry is it? This is an important question, as you must also consider if your animals will need housing in winter. On good grazing consider keeping one cow to the acre, but you could increase the number of cattle if you are able to rotate your animals and take them off the grazing in the winter. On poor-grade grassland you might need five or even ten acres per beast. The size of the animal will also be a factor – a Dexter is not going to require nearly as much feed as a Belgian Blue, for example.
Ask yourself the following:
• How much land is available?
• What is the grade of grazing?
• How well drained is the land?
• Will the animals have to winter inside?
• Are you going to breed the animals?
• Do you want to sell the beef or milk?
• Is the beef or milk just for you and your family?
Fencing
It is your responsibility to fence in your livestock rather than your neighbours’ to fence it out. Although cattle are on the whole calm animals, they will always have their eye on the main chance. This applies particularly to steers, which seem to have a permanent desire to be on the other side of the fence. Fence posts and gates also make convenient scratching posts, and for this reason alone they should be sturdy. If you are lucky enough to have a stock-proof hedge this will be appreciated by livestock as shelter from wind and rain. Cattle can also be very successfully contained with electric fencing, but this must be checked daily as they will notice very quickly if the battery is flat or the electricity is disconnected.
Water
All cows drink a lot of water and must have access to ice-free tanks or streams at all times. A lactating dairy cow can drink an astonishing 150 litres (264