One of the best grass-farming primers I've read.

books:


	• Small Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health, Sustainability, and Profit Carol Ekarius Storey Publishing, LLC, 1999 - 192 pages average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Great book

Great book. I would have liked to see some more complete information on some topics, but it's a very useful read.

One of the best grass-farming primers I've read.

After digging through many farming books geared to raising conventional (i.e. grain-fed) livestock, I was extremely happy to find this book!

Small-Scale Livestock Farming is definitely geared toward novice farmers who want to start out completely grass-fed and free-range; but it would also be helpful for more experienced farmers who want to switch from conventional monoculture methods. Ms. Ekarius gives very good information about the qualities of grasses and legumes and the best ways to achieve healthy soil and livestock through a natural forage system. This book definitely filled in the gaps for me and gave me the formulas I was looking for to determine how much forage and hay I could expect from a field and how many animals I could healthily stock on each pasture (fresh or hay) based on their nutritional needs. The planning section alone is worth the price of the entire book!

The only things missing were a section about browse (brush & shrubs) because goats and pigs tend to love that even more than graze (grass & legumes), and information about rabbits (not a typical "livestock" animal in the US). But, with the plethora of information she provides on other topics, this is entirely forgivable and doesn't diminish the value of this book at all.

The special attention Ms. Ekarius gives to direct marketing and legal matters for the small producer is invaluable! I'd been trying to find the laws and regulations for my state for ages and kept getting more and more confused. After reading the legislative section, I knew exactly where to look and how to decipher what was being said. I think it would be wonderful if she tackled Taxes for farms and farmers next!

If you're looking to operate a biodiverse farm sustainably, this is definitely the book to get you started.

for more information click here

I loved this book

Small Scale Livestock Farming:... is a simple easy to read text containing a broad overview of many more topics with more depth than expected and providing numerous references for areas which the text is not indepth enough for your needs. This book had to be the best money spent on a starting source for related knowledge. It is highly recomended to anyone intested in this subject.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Starting a small-scale livestock farm? First, you need this book! Yes, you can have a prosperous farm and achieve the lifestyle of your dreams ; and farming expert Carol Ekarius will show you how. Small farms can pay big dividends, Ekarius explains, but hard work alone isn't enough: Success demands knowledge and effective management. Ekarius's natural, organic approach to livestock management produces healthier animals, reduces feed and healthcare costs, and maximizes your profit. Through case studies of successful farmers, nitty-gritty details on every facet of livestock farming, and fascinating insights for working with nature instead of against it, you'll learn to make your farm thrive. Small-Scale Livestock Farming will help you: * Determine what you want from your farming life (even if your farm is simply a few backyard animals) * Choose suitable livestock * Understand housing, fencing, and feeding needs of livestock * Learn about reproducing stock and caring for your animals' hea

for more information click here

hot