The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: My Way 2020 on October 25, 2020, 04:53:20 pm

Title: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: My Way 2020 on October 25, 2020, 04:53:20 pm

I am interested in cattle so could somebody point me in the direction of some good beginners reading.
Thanks

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: SallyintNorth on October 25, 2020, 04:58:18 pm

I love Cows for the Smallholder by Val Porter.  Or indeed, anything by Val Porter :)

ETA  It's also worth checking out the Books section (https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/category/cattle/) on the site here; some of the books have reviews written bu forum members.

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: My Way 2020 on October 25, 2020, 05:31:24 pm

Thanks for coming back....the Val Porter book was the reason I posted when I saw it was published some time ago  I wanted to make certain it was still valid....you seem to confirm it is....great Amazon prime tomorrow.

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: Rosemary on October 25, 2020, 08:53:50 pm

I have two Val Porter books - I've found them helpful for teh way we keep cattle

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: My Way 2020 on October 29, 2020, 06:21:13 pm

Hi
Thanks for coming back ....book is on its way ..

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: honeyend on November 04, 2020, 12:04:11 pm

The one book I bought was absolutely useless, I found the https://ahdb.org.uk/ (https://ahdb.org.uk/) site articles the most use,I would recommend  Youtube videos about cattle handling,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzTDh5BAtsThere (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzTDh5BAtsThere)

 are also lectures online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsYS8BtqbGk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsYS8BtqbGk)
Safety is a big issue, no matter how quiet they look 500kg plus will soon splatter you.

Title: Re: A definitive book for a wannabe cattle keeper
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 07, 2020, 01:40:34 pm

Books are good to get s general feel for things, and the logic behind health management, land management etc.
But hands-on experience is critical.


And nothing can ever explain the full suite of paperwork  :tired:


AHDB has "better returns programme" which is a series of quick technical guides, up to date overview rather than something your neighbour's dad did in 1950.
Temple Grandin is great for understanding some behavioural things and thinking about designing systems.


Defra has recently updated the cattle keepers handbook https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/611586/Cattle_Keepers_guidance_ver_1.0.pdf (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/611586/Cattle_Keepers_guidance_ver_1.0.pdf)