Product Description
The metrics in this report cover three year trends in the industry, broken out on a state-by-state basis. Analysis is based on data applied from all firms in our database (total 13million) which identify themselves in this primary line of business. Industry market vitality measures for each state are benchmarked against US averages for the industry, creating easy comparison of state-by-state performance. Industry sales are detailed for both company-wide headquarters data and locally generated sales levels. The report also compares proprietary BizMiner measures in each state and the US, including failure rates, entrepreneurial activity and new branch development rates in the industry.
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The best first step understanding genetics
Formulas, graphs and tables in a very simplemathematical language make this book an excellent tool for those who ane not experts on the subject. ... Read more

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This popular and widely praised book describes everything you need to know about selecting and raising small livestock.

Long the primary reference for anyone who keeps animals as a sustainable food source, this latest edition includes up-to-date information on breeds and breeding, feed, disease prevention, housing, and management. The book also includes a chapter on growing feed; appendices covering disease identification and treatment, manure, tanning, incubators, and injections; and a catalog of supplemental resources. Country Journal calls it "a handbook in the true sense of the word. You can pick it up and turn to any section to find quickly the information needed." 55 black & white line illustrations, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Resource
This is one of several books that we've purchased or borrowed from the library to learn about raising animals.I think that this one is one of the best (the Encyclopedia of Country Living is also another great resource).The information is straightforward and honest.After having experienced the country life, along with the ups and downs of having chickens, guineas, goats, and cows, I can say that I wish I had this one in the beginning.

Great place to start
As someone who is just starting to look into making a change in lifestyle from the suburban cubicle life to a life on the land, I found this book to be a great starting place from which to make some early decisions. I'll definately buy more indepth books on the types and breeds that I want to include on my future farm. No one should expect a wide-ranging overview like this book to cover everything.

The book covers major topics within each animal type such as popular breeds for the homesteader, purchasing options, feeding, housing, handling, management, breeding, health, and butchering. I specially liked the options discussed in how to purchase your livestock and how to save money with mixing your own feed.

Overall, a good overview of what's available. Well written with plenty of personal experience thrown in.

Not what I was looking for
In my opinion, this book is not for someone who wishes to homestead either organically or "naturally". Right off the bat, the authors mention GMOs and defend their existence by claiming that man is always going to be looking for better ideas, so there's no point in arguing their merits! They admit that GMOs are not strictly 'cross-breeding', but restructuring DNA at the cellular level (and NO ONE knows what will come of that), but again, simply shrug that off as progress. There are other unfortunate misconceptions in it as well, and not a lot of detailed information regarding the various breeds of animals, nor why you should husband one type over another depending upon your needs. All-in-all, this isn't about sustainable homesteading, more like how to create a smaller home version of modern factory farming techniques. Not what I was looking for, at any rate...

Everything you needed to know about raising your own animals
This is by far the best book I have ever read on the subject of raising your own livestock.The author not only put great information into the book, he also wrote it by telling stories that helped me to better understand and retain the information.I bought the book to learn more about raising a few cattle for both milk and beef, but after reading about other livestock, my wife and I are looking forward to raising a few other types.It even tought us how to save money on feed by giving recipes and directions for getting your animals feed from nature.A must have book if you want to raise your own poultry, or livestock.

Everything to get started!
#1 goes into breeds, #2 goes into needs, #3 goes into purchasing AND how to CHOOSE healthy animals, #4 how to house and care for them!! Everything!I am sure there is more to each animal, but this is THE best intro book! I am so happy with my nrew load of reading materials!! I cant wait to get this all started!! ... Read more

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Prenatal life is the period of maximal development in animals, and it is well recognised that factors that alter development can have profound effects on the embryonic, fetal and postnatal animal. Scientists involved in research on livestock productivity have for decades studied postnatal consequences of fetal development on productivity. Recently, however, there has been a surge in interest in how to manage prenatal development to enhance livestock health and productivity. This has occurred largely due to the studies that show human health in later life can be influenced by events during prenatal life, and establishment of the Fetal Origins and the Thrifty Phenotype Hypotheses. This book, Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity reviews phenotypic consequences of prenatal development, and provides details of mechanisms that underpin these effects in ruminants, pigs and poultry. The chapters have been divided into three parts: Quantification of prenatal effects on postnatal productivity, mechanistic bases of postnatal consequences of prenatal development and regulators of fetal and neonatal nutrient supply.

Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity is a reference from which future research to improve the level of understanding and capacity to enhance productivity, health and efficiency of livestock in developing and developed countries will evolve. It is particularly timely given the development of molecular technologies that are providing new insight into regulation and consequences of growth and development of the embryo, fetus and neonate.

Product Description
KEEPING LIVESTOCK HEALTHY is one of the recognized classics in its field. Small Farmer's Journal called it "a major contribution to available farm veterinary literature." Modern Veterinary Practice wrote: ". . . highly recommended to all livestock owners." And Farmstead Magazine said, "So admirably organized and indexed that its information is instantly available."

Now completely revised and updated, this fourth edition draws on the very latest research from experts on each of the five animals covered - horses, cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. It presents new information on vaccines, artificial insemination, ultrasonography, disease testing, drug treatments, and diseases such as Lyme disease, Potomac fever, bluetongue, foot-and-mouth disease, and mad cow disease. This complete reference on livestock health is an invaluable guide to preventing disease through good nutrition, proper housing, and appropriate care. ... Read more

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Vet student review
This book has an overview of diseases for most domestic large animals.I found this text to be too general to be very helpful as a reference guide for folks needing all the details.It does have some decent rule out lists. ... Read more

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A complete guide to preventing disease through good nutrition, proper housing, and appropriate care.Third Edition.161,000 copies in print. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent for beginners, but...
I found this book to be an excellent resource for beginning my cattle farm.It spells out a lot of necessary things that must be done in order to care for cattle, and other livestock animals.There is, however, a lotof "higher level" biological dialogue that a novice will need towade through to find the 'just plain english' part.However, don't letthis discourage you.It is a very complete book that answers a lot ofquestions, many, before you even ask. ... Read more

Product Description
Taking Stock describes the crisis of genetic erosion withinthe livestock species of North America. Coverage includes an overview ofthe continuing importance of genetic diversity among the livestock onwhich humans depend, results of the 1990-1992 North America LivestockCensus, histories of some of the rarest breeds of livestock, discussion ofextinct breeds and feral populations, and recommendations for conservinggenetic diversity in livestock species. Taking Stock calls for changes inpractice and policy that will provide for sustainable agriculture in thefuture. ... Read more

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Proceedings of the RCA III Symposium on Crop and Livestock Technologies held in Arlington, VA, in May 1995. DLC: Agriculture - U.S. - Congresses. ... Read more

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The aim of this book is to examine the role played by livestock in the agricultural and rural economies of the developing world. It provides a comprehensive study of livestock development within the framework of modern economic theory. In the first part of the book, an analytical framework is developed for explaining how the functions of livestock change in the course of economic development. Farm household theory is used to explain the role of livestock in an agri-analytical perspective, while the theory of induced technical change is applied to explain typical patterns of change in livestock farming from a macro-economic perspective. Both at the micro- and macro-level, this framework is extended by an application of concepts of the new institutional economics, including property rights analysis, agency theory, transaction cost economies and the analysis of institutional change. On the basis of this body of theory, the book shows how typical patterns and critical phases in livestock development can be explained. Historical examples both from Europe and the US are used to illustrate the theoretical argumentation. ... Read more

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Livestock and Livelihoods: The Indian Context discusses livestock rearing in India, in realtion to changes in the conomy and policies of the government. The issues range from traditional practices in animal rearing, effect of colonial and post-colonial practices to the current policies. It also discusses methods to promote sustainable biodiversity and alternative systems of veterinary care. ... Read more

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This work contains the proceedings of the Third Round Table of the EAAP Task Force on Animal Production in Eastern Europe. The objective of this Round Table was to review the livestock situation in Central and Eastern European countries, in particular, in Poland. A second objective was to study in depth the problems related to the privatization of state farms in Poland and to discuss the changes which have taken place in the Polish livestock sector. The text should provide information for researchers and managers in governmental organizations and private companies on the new structures in the livestock sector in Eastern Europe, on the adaption of the meat industry and trade to EC and Western European standards, as well as on the boosting effects these changes have on the activities of the meat companies and those involved in the export of products of animal origin. ... Read more

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Developments in statistics and computing as well as their application to genetic improvement of livestock gained momentum over the last 20 years. This text reviews and consolidates the statistical foundations of animal breeding. This text will prove useful as a reference source to animal breeders, quantitative geneticists and statisticians working in these areas. It will also serve as a text in graduate courses in animal breeding methodology with prerequisite courses in linear models, statistical inference and quantitative genetics. ... Read more