[Berkshire Boy]

Has anyone any recomendations for a book about keeping cattle for the novice that I am.

[robert waddell]

yes forget about the book go to agric college instead

[Berkshire Boy]

Oh thanks for that Robert so helpful, not.

[robert waddell]

not as daft as you think you are getting to work with them taught how to do the husbandry and none of the loses that you could have if you bought your own

[Dan]

These are the ones we've either got, or had recommended to us:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/category/cattle/

HTH. 

[Rosemary]

I think Tim Tyne is on the point of having a cattle book published - a companion to the excellent "Sheep book for Smallholders". I for one am looking forward to that. Maybe my girls are too.

[SallyintNorth]

These are the ones we've either got, or had recommended to us:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/category/cattle/

HTH. 

Good list - but missing the truly excellent Cows for the Smallholder, also by Valerie Porter.  I'm sure I've sung its praises on here many a time... 

[Dan]

Good list - but missing the truly excellent Cows for the Smallholder, also by Valerie Porter.  I'm sure I've sung its praises on here many a time... 

It's on now:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/cows-for-the-smallholder/   

[SallyintNorth]

Good list - but missing the truly excellent Cows for the Smallholder, also by Valerie Porter.  I'm sure I've sung its praises on here many a time... 

It's on now:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/cows-for-the-smallholder/   

   Thanks, Dan 

[darkbrowneggs]

Val Porters Cows for the Smallholder was the book which started me off  That was pre-Internet, but there is an excellent Amercian forum now on housecows.  I will try and find the link if I can.  I just wish it had existed when I was starting 

[darkbrowneggs]

I have tried several times and several ways to post the link.  Is posting links no longer allowed?
 
Anyway if you type in Keeping a Family Cow it comes up under familycow.proboards

[Dan]

I have tried several times and several ways to post the link.  Is posting links no longer allowed?

Yes, it's still allowed. 

What happens when you click the link icon (the second from the left on the second row)?

I get a pop-up window that lets me paste in a link - http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi

[Simon O]

I agree with Sally, I got Valerie Porter's book on her recommendation 2nd hand for a fiver via Amazon and there is a lot of interesting stuff in it, some dry humour and it seems a lot of experience behind the writing.

[Berkshire Boy]

Thanks everyone for your advice will get looking on line.
Robert I get where you're coming from but agri college is a bit OTT for what I'm doing. I am buying a cow off my mate who can't afford the feed and has very little grass. Her calf is coming to and I will wean it over the next few months and he will then have the calf back.I will get the cow in condition and most probably slaughter her.
If I had more land I would love a small herd but thats life.

[robert waddell]

BB with any animal it is all down to instinct and reading the signs  books could give you a basic understanding    i personally don't use books never have and never will  there biggest problem is the volume of books proclaiming to be the only one you will need    now don't get me wrong i can read and have read books Louis Pasteur and the  39 steps  the first gave me a greater understanding of anthrax and the second  made me a fan of the original film of that title and the second film  a complete dung miden compared to the first
then again it may well be the writer or just being a Scot