Life on the Farm & Cow Facts Archives - Clover Meadows Beef

Do Cows Have Teeth? Estimating Cattle Age With Teeth (Video)

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:58:22 +0000

We’re sometimes asked, “Do cows have teeth?” and “Can they bite you?” Teeth are extremely important for a cow because they need to be able to chew grass so they can digest it. Cows do have teeth, but they can’t bite like humans can. Here’s why…

Do Cows Have Teeth?

Yes, cows have teeth. Interestingly, it’s by their teeth that you can estimate their age (more on that below).

Cattle first develop 20 temporary teeth, known also as deciduous teeth, milk teeth, or baby teeth. These temporary teeth eventually fall out and are replaced with 32 permanent adult teeth as they mature. Like humans, a cow’s temporary baby teeth are much smaller in size than the permanent teeth.

Cattle have three major teeth types: lower incisors, premolars, and molars.

Lower Incisors are toward the front of the mouth and only on the bottom jaw. The front of the upper jaw is a hard dental pad and there are no front upper teeth.
Premolars are next to the incisors on the sides and further towards the rear of the mouth.
Molars are at the back of the mouth, next to the premolars. The premolars and molars are together known as cheek teeth.

Estimating a Cow’s Age by Teeth

Cattle, like many animals, start life with baby or milk teeth. From about two years of age these teeth are replaced with permanent teeth. When estimating cattle age, we look at the number of incisor teeth, the type of teeth (“baby teeth” or permanent teeth), and tooth wear, and overall appearance of the teeth.

Since we’re a cow-calf farm, we usually know exactly when our cattle are born. Part of our cattle management system is to keep birth records (and medical records) for all our cattle so we know their exact age. However, there have been times that we have purchased cattle from other farms and their birth records are not as clear. In these instances, we can estimate their age looking at their teeth. This process is called dentition, which is the arrangement or condition of teeth in the mouth.

How Many Teeth Does a Cow Have?

Mature cattle have a total of 32 teeth and they’re three types of teeth: incisors, premolars, and molars. Only the incisors (bottom front teeth) are used to estimate their age.

Here’s a short video of Matt checking a cow’s teeth. (And don’t worry — this doesn’t hurt the cow at all!)

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The Importance of a Cow’s Teeth

Dental health for cattle is very important because their teeth allow them to consume the nutrients to maintain their body condition and weight. Broken, missing or heavily worn teeth make it hard for cattle to graze. This means they can quickly lose body weight compared to other cattle in the herd.

Can a cow bite you?

Cows can’t bite a person because they don’t have any front upper teeth.

When cattle are eating grass, they press their sharp bottom teeth against the top of their mouth, which is a hard palate. This then cuts the blades of grass so they can chew the grass.

Since there are no top teeth, a cow may “gum” you, but it won’t bite you.

Fun Facts About Cow Teeth

Mature cattle have 32 teeth, and there are three types: incisors, premolars, and molars.
The incisor teeth at the bottom front of the jaw are used to estimate a cow’s age. When estimating cattle by age, the farmer (or vet) looks at the front bottom row of teeth. Specifically, he is looking for the number of teeth, the type of teeth (“baby teeth” or permanent teeth), and the wear and overall appearance of the teeth.
Cattle start life with baby teeth. They get their first permanent teeth when they’re about 1 ½ – 2 years old.
Cows can’t bite because they don’t have top front teeth. They may “gum” you, but they can’t bite you.
Cattle do have molars on the upper and lower jaw, but their incisors are only the lower jaw.
As a cow gets older, their teeth show more wear. The tops of the teeth will lose their sharpness and continue to grind down.
Cows are ruminant animals and they regurgitate their food. This means that once grass is partially chewed, they swallow it, regurgitate it, chew it more and then swallow again. They repeat that process about 50 times so that their stomach can fully digest the plant fiber. Ruminant animals have a four-chambered stomach that lets them regurgitate their food so that they can get a maximum amount of nutrients from their food.
All ruminant animals have a tough dental pad on their top lip instead of top front teeth. Some of the animals that have this tough pad at the top of their mouths are cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes, giraffes, deer, and more.
George Washington’s Dentist made him dentures out of cow, hippopotamus, and walrus teeth

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(Blog post updated in Feburary 2025. Originally published in 2016)

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What Do Cows Drink? Water, Milk or Both? (Video)

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:27:50 +0000

What do cows drink? Is it milk or water? We’ll explore what cows drink at different stages of life, and the importance of water for their health.

Cows are fascinating aimals that provide beef and milk to people around the world. As a beef cattle farmer, we receive lots of questions about what our cows drink and eat. Do they drink milk? Do they drink water? And what do they do when it’s winter and ponds are frozen over? How do they get their water? Some people think these are trick questions, but the answers might surprise you!

In this blog post we’ll explore what cows drink at different stages of life, and the importance of water for their health.

Do Cows Drink Milk?

A common misconception is that adult cows drink milk. However, this is not true — adult cows drink water, not milk. Only baby cows, called calves, drink milk during the early stages of their lives.

Why Do Calves Drink Milk?

When a calf is born, it relies on its mother’s milk for nutrition and growth. The first milk produced by a mother cow is called colostrum, which is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients that help calves develop strong immune systems.

Baby calves drink their mom’s milk for about six-months. Then, we wean them and they drink water.

Why do they wean them? There are several reasons. First, the mom stops producing milk at about six-months. Second, as the calf grows, he can get more nutrients from the grass verses the milk. The milk is very important in the beginning, but once he is about six-months old (about 500 lbs), it’s better for him to grow and gain muscle from the grass’s nutrients.

On our farm, we practice what’s called “fence-line weaning.” Fence-line weaning is an industry-best practice because it’s lower stress on the cow and calf. The fence-line weaning process looks like this: cows and calves are kept in the same field together for months so that the calves are very familiar with their surroundings, including the field’s water and feed sources. Then, we move the cows to another field that is adjacent to the calves, but separated by a fence. The cows and calves have nose-to-nose contact and can hear and see each other, but the the calf can’t drink its mother’s milk. Generally, within about three-days, the calves are fully weaned and they only want to eat grass from that time forward.

Do Adult Cows Drink Milk?

No, adult cows drink water.

How Much Water Do Cows Drink?

Cows drink a surprising amount of water every day. The exact amount depends on several factors, including their size, diet, and temperature. Here’s a general guideline:

Beef Cows: Drink 7 to 20 gallons of water per day
Dairy Cows: Drink 30 to 50 gallons of water per day

This means a single dairy cow can drink enough water to fill a bathtub every day!

How Do Farmers Ensure Cows Have Enough Water?

Water quality and quantity are very important to farmers. Every farm is different, but on our farm, we have three main water sources: fresh spring water, ponds and automatic waterers.

Natural water sources — like our fresh spring and pond — are fairly self explanatory and are what most people think of when they think of how a cow drinks.
An automatic waterer (that’s not a typo.There really is an “-er” on the end of “water”) is a unique water system that contains fresh well water. We can adjust the temperature slightly so that the water doesn’t fereze in the winter. Our cattle love the waterers, and we do too. If we didn’t have the automatic waterers, we would have to break the ice in our ponds so that the cattle could access the water.

Here’s a video with Matt showing off one of our automatic waterers.

In addition to getting water, springs and ponds help keep cattle cool on hot days — swimming, anyone?!

Looks like a great day for swimming!

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46 Best Kids Farm Books: Agriculture, Farming, & Animals

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:47:31 +0000

Looking for the best farm books to gift kids? This list is full of the best books for kids that make exceptionally wonderful presents, and teach kids about agriculture, farming and farm animals. Many of these book recommendations are for younger readers and are ideal for a bedtime story.

Criteria for our Farm Book List

We love good farm theme books and have many in our home library. There are so many great farm books, but to make our book list, it had to be a book that told about farm animals, life on the farm, or how food goes from farm to table. Captivating pictures are a must. And most importantly, it had to hold the attention of the littlest readers in our house (our daughter and her friends)!

The Best Farm Books for Kids

In general, farm books are broken into two huge categories: 1.) books about farm animals and 2.) books about farm life and how food goes from farm to table. We’ve tried to divide our book list into those two broad categories, but please know there is lots of crossover. We have thoroughly enjoyed all of these books.

Best Farm Books for Kids Discussing Farm Life and How Food Goes From Farm to Table:

Tractor Mac Series by Billy Steers

Tractor Mac is a whole series of books and we can’t say enough good things about it. They’re perfect for any child that loves farms, farm animals or tractors. The stories give an accurate portrayal of farm-life, and there’s always a great lesson at the end about important topics like teamwork, sharing, friendship, hard work, and helping those in need. Get it here on Amazon.

How did that get in my lunchbox?

Kids are very curious about everything! This is a great book for kids to learn the basics of where their food comes from. This book focuses on crops and produce. It skips meat entirely, which we wish it didn’t do, but it’s so good about everything else we had to include it on the list. Get it here.

Similar books about how food gets into the lunchbox or where products we regularly use come from are

Right This Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming

The best farm books for kids tell about life on actual farms. This is a wonderful book explaining how food is grown, produced, harvested, transported, packaged and arrives to us. It’s a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at numerous sectors of the agriculture industry from crops to livestock, and the effort and energy it takes to go from farm to table. Get it here.

First Peas to the Table

This wonderful book is written by an author from St. Louis. It’s a picture book that teaches children about Thomas Jefferson’s innovations in farming methods and contributions to agricultural production. It’s best for ages 4 and up. Get it here.

Cows Can Moo! Can You?: All About Farms

This is a fun Cat in the Hat book where he spends a day on the farm. Kids will see cows being milked, fields being tilled, sheep being fed and much more! Get it here.

Daddy’s Girl

Daddy’s Girl by Greg Huett tells a wonderful story about a red calf named Scarlet that learns to honor her father and mother. At the end of the book, Huett includes real life photos of the animals that are illustrated in the story. Huett has written several farm-related titles that teach Biblical values and principals like Love your neighbor, the value of family, and hard work. We own several of his books and Daddy’s Girl is our personal fav. Get it here.

Hey, Hey, Hay!

The best children’s books about farming tell about life on an actual farm, which is what this book does. In this story, young children learn about hay baling and why it’s so important on the farm. The main character is a little girl who helps her mom do the farm chores, specifically, the hay baling. Mom drives the farm machinery and her daughter feeds the horses. Get it here.

Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle and Becca Stadtlander

This is a beautifully written book that shows children how various aspects of the farm need to be taken care of before Winter arrives. For example, it shows how to take care of the farm equipment, protect the strawberry patch, and more. This book is educational for any child that wants to learn more about farm life. The text is simple with only a few lines per page and the illustrations are stunning. Get it here.

Other wonderful books about farm life today or in history are

Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish

If you want a child to understand where ice cream comes from, this is it. This is a great book for understanding dairy farms. In this fairy tale twist, the main character learns how farmers care for their cows, what dairy cows eat, and what appens to all the milk. Get it here.

The Berenstain Bears Reap the Harvest

We’re big fans of all Berenstain Bears books. They have several farm-related books and we like them all. In Reap the Harvest, Brother and Sister learn that working on a farm is hard work, but very satisfying. They also learn that sometimes you have to put in months of hard work on a farm before getting paid. Get it here.

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz and Eda Kaban

This story for preschoolers and kindergarteners is a fun twist on the classic Old MacDonald Had a Farm Song, but features MacDonald and his wife fixing up an old pick up truck. This fun book can still be sung to the same tune and is so much fun. Get it here.

Plant & Grow

This is a wonderful lift-the-flap book that is filled with fun farm facts, tractors, harvesting machinery, and lively rural scenes. Get it here.

Other books we thoroughly enjoy about farm equipment and tractors are

James Herriot’s Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small

On a family farm, the local vet is often like an extended-family member. They understand the importance of healthy livestock and the bond that a farmer has with his animals. This book may surprise you to be on our best farm books for kids list, but it has eight, true-to-life short stories from the perspective of a country veterinarian from Yorkshire, England. The illustrations are beautiful and words are written in rich English, so you will want to read it aloud with your child. Our favorite story is “Blossom Comes Home,” which is a touching story about the friendship between a farmer and his dairy cow. This is the perfect book for any animal lover. Get it here.

I Love Strawberries by Shannon Anderson

This book chronicles a young girl’s plan to prove to her parents that she is old enough to grow strawberries in her garden. Through a series of diary entries, she shows she is more than capable of growing strawberries, even though it’s lots of hard work. At the end, she even develops a you-pick strawberry patch for local neighbors. This is a very cute story for any child that wants to learn about growing their own food in their backyard. Get it here.

Other books we have enjoyed about growing your own food are

Best Farm Books for Young Readers Focused on Farm Animals:

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Big Red Barn is a classic that was originally published in 1954, and the vintage farm illustrations are beautiful. It tells about the cycle of a day on the farm using simple, rhyming text and features barnyard animals like cows, horses, goats, sheep and a pig learning to squeal. The author is Margaret Wise Brown, who also wrote Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny. Get it here.

Indestructibles: Hello, Farm!

Do you need a baby gift? This is it! Indestructibles are printed on a lightweight, paper like material that is chew proof, rip proof and washable. “Hello, Farm” introduces little ones to baby animals that are on the farm in a few short pages. Get it here.

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Meet Blue. He is the kindest little farm truck that helps his farmyard friends and strangers with whatever they need. In this book, the Little Blue Truck shows how one act of kindness can cause a rippling effect among those around you. We are a huge fan of all Little Blue Truck books, and this one should be in every child’s library. Get it here.

Around the Farm by Eric Carle

I’ve never met a baby or toddler who didn’t like Around the Farm with its classic, colorful Eric Carle artwork. The version we’re familiar with is a look-and-find book where little ones search farm scenes for hidden objects and animals. There is also a play-a-sound version of this book where kids can tour the farm and hear dozens of different animal sounds — a mooing cow, a neighing horse, a rooster crowing, an owl hooting, a cricket chirping, a dog barking, chickens clucking, and more. Get it here.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Who knew farm animals could type?!?! This is a hilarious and funny tale about Farmer Brown and his farm animals that love to type him letters and request things, like an electric blanket. This book is sure to have you and your child laughing. Cronin has written an entire series of Click, Clack, Moo books, so if you like this one, you should check out her others too. Get it here.

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

There’s something about this book that is magical. At our house, it makes us get up and square dance, literally! In this book, barnyard animals do a square dance — “Bow to the horse. Bow to the cow. Twirl with the pig if you know how.” It uses great rhyming text so that you can practically hear the catchy song they barnyard animals dance to and you can’t help but join in the fun. Get it here.

Do Cows Meow?

This is one of our favorite lift-the-flap farm books. It helps little ones learn the sounds of farm animals. Do cows sing? Do cows cuckoo? All I know is cows go . . . MOO! Get it here

Goodnight Tractor

If your little one loves tractors or farms, they will love this book. The book is also very short, which makes it a great bedtime read….but you may find yourself reading it over and over because kids love it so much! Get it here.

Cindy Moo

Cindy Moo is a fun story of a determined cow named Cindy Moo who proves that cows really can jump over the moon. After many attempts, she is finally successful! After a rainy night, she peeks out the barn door and the moon is clearly reflected in a puddle in the barnyard. Cindy Moo and her bovine friends jump the puddle with ease. Get it here.

Noisy Farm

This is a wonderful board book where children can touch, feel, and hear the farm animals as they read the book. Get it here.

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

The horse loves hay, the chickens need feed, the geese eat corn and the cow loves… cookies! This is an adorable and funny story that walks through the farmyard and shares what different animals like to eat. It always concludes with the cow, who loves cookies, and on the last page of the book you find out why. This is a cute rhyming story that kids love. Get it here.

Farm Animals

This wonderful book by National Geographic explains what life is like on a family farms, and lets kids see the kinds of plants and animals they would find there. Get it here.

The Busy Little Tractor

The busy little tractor loves to work hard, but he doesn’t like mud! This is a great story about friendship and helping each other. Get it here.

The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

This classic is on every farm book list. This book gives a strong message on the value of hard work and your readers feel a kinship with the Little Red Hen. It’s a classic for a reason. Get it here.

Another farm classic for strong readers that like chapter books is Charlotte’s Web, which can be found at almost any local library.

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Best Farm Toys, Barn, Tractor, Animals for Kids

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:58:48 +0000

Are you looking for a farm toy for a gift? This list is for you! Farm themed toys like toy tractors, a wooden barn, toy farm animals, and farm-theme legos, are open-ended toys that invite imaginative play. Here are our personal favorite farm toys and farm books that we play with at our house.

Talking about farm toys isn’t a normal topic for us. However, when a city girl marries a country boy and they have a baby, the city girl learns a lot about farm toys! This toy knowledge becomes very important near holidays when it’s time to buy and give birthday and Christmas gifts.

Mr. Rogers once said that “Play is the work of childhood” and toys help foster that play. We couldn’t agree more.

Toys are important to any child, and we appreciate all open-ended toys, like legos and blocks. They encourage hands-on learning and improve gross motor skills. However, studies show that children’s imaginative abilities are most effectively employed when they’re given freedom within a specific topic or scenario. Realistic roleplay modeled after real-life “grown-up” tasks is essential for developing critical thinking skills.

Farm toys fit this to a “T”, especially if a child has exposure to a local farm. Through play, a child can recreate what they see in their everyday world with their own world of farming toys. For example, if they recently built a fence on the farm, they can build a fence with their toy farm.

To illustrate it even further, when Matt grew up and bought his first truck and trailer, he wanted a black truck and black cattle trailer. Why? Because that’s what he had in his toy farm setup as a child.

Farm toys begin to mold country kids ideas for their future farm.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite farm toys that we own and play with regularly. We’re sure there are plenty of other great toys out there, but we’ve also stumbled on some farm toys by major toy brands that we would never recommend. Many of the higher-quality farm toys are by brands you won’t find in common retail stores, but you will find in farm retail stores like Tractor Supply and Orscheln’s, as well as Amazon.

Shopping tip: How to understand the scale when choosing a farm toy replica

High-quality farm toys are almost always a replica of an actual truck, tractor, or animal. The size is referred to as the “scale” of the toy, and it’s expressed in a fraction or ratio. For example,a toy tractor is 1/20 the size of the actual tractor. Every inch of the replica is 20 inches on the real tractor. Because it’s a scale, the larger the denominator (bottom number of the fraction), the smaller the toy. A 1/87 toy is much smaller than a 1/16 scale toy.

We like and own farm toys of all sizes. If you’re just starting out, you should consider purchasing toys that are the same scale so that your toy livestock aren’t bigger than your toy tractors and barn.Also keep in mind the age group you’re purchasing for — little hands need larger farm animal figurines, and older kids may may like smaller scale toys that have more details.

Here are some of our favorite farm toys for kids of all ages:

Toy Barn

We have had this barn by Terra By Battat for over 3 years, and it is the most amazing wooden barn toy we’ve ever owned (and we’ve owned lots of them). It is a high quality wooden barn that includes a hayloft pulley tray, ladder, hay bales and more. We’ve spent hours playing with this wooden toy barn, and can’t say enough good things about it.

Farm Animals

If you give a child a barn, they need a variety of farm animals and livestock to fill the barn. We like and own toy farm animals of all sizes. One tip is that if you want animals to fit the barn correctly, make sure you purchase farm animal toys that are the correct scale ratio. These animals have years of longevity and are perfect toys for all kinds of play. Kids can use them in sensory bins, art projects, and basically any imaginary play world they dream of.

Many manufacturers make farm animals, but we have always been impressed with the farm animals we’ve purchased from Terra by Battat. The animals are realistic, they will easily stand on their own, and they’re about 4-5 inches long, so they’re ideal for tiny hands.

Horse Stable

If you have a horse lover in your family, toy stables are sure to be a hit. This is the best horse stable we’ve ever found. Our daughter plays with this for hours on end. It includes everything you could ever need for pretend play, such as a horse and foal, saddle, bridle, blanket, brush, harness and more.

Although the horses in this set are nice, we wish there were more. We purchased this set of 6 toy horses from Terra by Battat and we’re so glad we did. Prior to finding these, we looked at 10+ toy manufacturer’s toy horses and these were the best by far. If you have a horse lover, get this horse stable and these horses!

Farm Games

There are lots of board games that teach kids about animals, but one of our favorites is the Smart Farmer game. It teaches kids (and adults) about problem solving and planning as they try and keep the pigs, horse, sheep and cow in separate fields. It’s for ages 4+ and has multiple skill levels: Starter, Junior, Expert, and Master. In addition to Smart Farmer, some of our other family favorites that have a farm or animal theme are Guess in 10, Sequence for Kids, and Outfoxed.

Truck and Trailer

If you give a child a barn and farm animals, they’re going to need farm equipment. For starters, we recommend a truck and trailer to haul their animals and hay. This truck and trailer are also 1:20 scale, so the animals above fit in it perfectly. We know that some families have loyalties to a specific brand of truck, trailers and tractor. There are dozens of toy trucks to choose from, so pick your favorite brand.

Toy Tractors

A good toy tractor is a great open-ended investment: something to build with, imagine with, and interact with. Tractor toys come in all colors — from iconic green to pink. They also come in all sizes from pedal tractor ride-on toys to smaller sizes. Whichever you pick, it will be a big hit and a great toy for years to come.

Toy Fence

All modern day farms have fence, and toy farms do too. Fencing makes it possible for animals to have an outdoor pasture and corral. Toy fencing has to be put together one piece at a time, so it is great for fine motor skills, improving concentration, and creativity.

Farm LEGO sets

What toy list would be complete without mentioning LEGO? As you would expect, there are some great farm-themed LEGO sets for kids of all ages.

Farm Books

We love books! They’re a great way to teach kids about agriculture and farming. We have a full list of some of the best farm books for kids of all ages.

Farm Toys for Younger Children:

Old MacDonald Had a Farm Tractor

Our daughter was given this fun farm toys when she was one-year-old. She played with it non-stop for weeks, and continued to play with it until she was about four. It’s the perfect gift for a younger toddler. It plays the familiar “Old MacDonald” song when moving forward. It comes with a little farmer and five animals that all make realistic animal sounds when placed in their proper seat.

Feed & Groom Horse Set

Invite imaginary play with this fun feed and care horse set. It makes a great gift for ages 3-7.

Farm Puzzles

Farm puzzles are a wonderful addition to any household. We are big fans of puzzles with chunky wood pieces because the pieces can stand-up and be used in other play. The puzzle pieces from this puzzle were put in a toy barn on more than one occasion at our house!

Fisher-Price Little People Barn

If you’re looking for an interactive barn for someone 5 or under, this is a great one. It comes with a little farmer and animals. One of the many reasons we like it is because there aren’t many bells-and-whistles on it, so it lets the child do their own imaginative play.

Poke-A-Dot Book

I am a little obsessed with these books! Read and pop each dot as you count the farm animals on each page.

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Cattle Ear Tags: Tagging Cows for Identification

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:00:46 +0000

What are the colored plastic number “earrings” are that you see in the ears of cattle? They’re called ear tags, and they’re more than a cows number. They are very important to cow-calf producers in monitoring their cattle. Here’s why they’re important.

What is an ear tag?

If you had a cow, what would you name it? Buttercup? Rosie? How about using a specific number? That’s what today’s dairy farmers and beef cattle farmers do, and they identify individual animals with ear tags.

So, what is an ear tag? At its most basic level, an ear tag is a small object made of plastic or metal that pierces the ear of livestock. The ear tag has a specific number on it and sometimes specific colors to help managing the cattle. In addition to beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, goats, and pigs most often will have ear tags.

Ear tags have benefits for farmers visually and from a farm management perspectivie. Thanks to the visual aspect of a cow tag, cattle farmers and ranchers can more easily determine which cow is which. Then, from a farm management perspective, they help us keep accurate records and track an animal’s history and performance so that we know which animals are performing well.

Types of ear tags

There are a variety of different types of ear tags. Plastic livestock identification ear tags are the most common because they’re high visibility and cost effective. That’s what you see when you look at pictures of our cattle in their ears. Plastic ear tags come in different color — red tags, yellow tags, green tags, blue tags, white tags, pink tags, etc — and number letter combinations. Each farmer has their own process on how they reliably track their livestock using letters, numbers and colors. Some use paper records and others electronic records, but all cattle are tracked in some way.

In addition to having an ear tag, the tag’s placement can help the farmer manage the cattle. For instance, ID ear tags can help identify the sex of an animal from afar with greater efficiency; tags in the right ear for males, and in the left for females. This is very useful when we’re sorting animals in a pen or while animals are passing through a chute.

EID Tags

Althouth plastic livestock tags are the most common, there are many other types of tags. And some cattle have a secondary tag that help with herd management.

Other types of ear tags include, but aren’t limited to, GPS ear tags; fly tags; and Electronic Identification tags (EID tags), which use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Many people use the terms RFID tags and Electronic tags interchangeably, but really, RFID is the technology being used in the tag. EID tags are small “button-like” tags that are placed in the ear. Each EID tag has a unique 15-digit number printed on it. The number can be read by scanning the tag with an EID reader. These official eartags are for the life of the animal. EID tags are one way the United States National Animal Idenfication System (NAIS) tracks livestock sold for profit or that are moved across state lines.

What information is identified using ear tags?

You may be curious about the type of information we keep on all of our animals.

For calves, our records include things like their gender, birth date, age, weight, and which cow is its mom. We keep these records electronically, but some farms keep paper records.

Our records for the mama cows include additional information like when she had her last calf and how many calves she has had in her lifetime. We also want to know which calf belongs to each cow .

When does a calf get an ear tag?

Since we’re a cow-calf producer and our calves are born on our farm, we give them ear tags as a newborn calf.

We bring them into our barn, they go into a cattle chute, we do the ear tagging with a small applicator, and then they go back outside with their mom. The entire process is similar to having your ears pierced. Just like earrings for people, it doesn’t hurt the calf at all.

Here’s a video of Matt giving a new calf an ear tag.

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All About the Meat Inspection Process for Food Safety

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:26:19 +0000

Meat inspection is mandatory in the United States. Learn who inspects our meat, what they look for, and what happens when meat is approved (or not approved).

Let’s talk about meat inspection. It’s not a very glamorous topic, but it’s very important since everyone wants their food to be safe to eat.

Is meat inspection mandatory in the U.S.?

Yes. Meat inspection is mandatory in the United States. The Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) of 1906 requires that all meat sold commercially be inspected and passed to ensure that it is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for providing this federal inspection. The USDA FSIS inspects all raw meat and poultry sold in interstate commerce and foreign commerce, including imported products.This includes any product intended for human consumption from any cattle, sheep, swine, goat or chicken. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of meat, poultry, and egg products and ensures that it is accurately labeled.

In addition, the FSIS enforces the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act. These laws require Federal inspection and regulation of meat, poultry, and egg products prepared for distribution in commerce for use as human food. It also verifies compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act for livestock. This statute is enforced through the FMIA.

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Do Cows Sleep Standing Up? Answering Cow Tipping Questions

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:14:11 +0000

Have you heard that cows sleep standing up? We don’t know where this myth began, but it’s only partly true. Both beef cows and dairy cows can doze lightly while on their feet, but when it comes to deep sleep, they need to lie down. Just like a human, sleep is critical to cow health and quality of life.

Do cows sleep standing up?

No. Cows don’t sleep standing up. When cows need deep sleep, they like to lie down to get it.

Cattle need about 4 hours of sleep time a day. This can be divided into drowsing, non-rapid eye movement (NREM), and rapid eye movement (REM). To obtain a sufficient amount of deep, non-rem sleep (NREM) and REM sleep, a cow must be able to lie down for 1-4 hours and have enough room to do so. Cows can’t enter REM sleep while standing and this can lead to sleep deprivation.

In addition to deep sleep, cows nap during the day for 5-10 minutes at a time. During these naps, the cow can be standing with its eyes closed or lying down.

Can cows nap while standing up?

Yes. Cattle often enter a restful state while standing and they may even shut their eyes. This makes it appear that they’re sleeping, but they’re really not.

How do cows doze standing up and not fall over?

It’s hard to imagine napping while standing, so how do cows do it? Most specifically, how can they not fall over while sleeping?

According to Amy Johnson, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, “The legs of horses [and other animals] have what’s known as the ‘stay apparatus.’ Their limbs contain tendons and ligaments that allow the animal to remain standing with minimal muscular effort, and thus allow them to stand—and even doze—for long periods.”

What other animals sleep or doze standing up?

Most four-legged land herbivores can doze lightly on their feet, but they have to lie down to sleep deeply. This includes big animals such as cows, moose, rhinos, bison, elephants, and horses.

Where do cows sleep?

Every farmer has their own practices, but typically, beef cattle sleep in the pasture. On our farm, our cows often gather together in a herd near trees. One of the reason they gather as a group is because cows have strong protection behavior and they’re part of the class that falls prey to predators. This means cattle are always alert in case of approaching danger.

A Colorado State University graduate student did a study on the protective behaviors of cows and calves. The study found that when there was a potential threat (like an unknown vehicle, person or predator in the field), the Mama cow would place herself between the potential threat and her calf in order to protect the calf.

Is it possible to tip a cow?

Although we sometimes get kids’ questions asking about cow tipping, everyone should know it’s an urban legend that only happens in the movies.

First, you have to remember that cows are very apprehensive and uneasy of anything that’s unfamiliar to them. They are easily disturbed and they would run away from anyone that got close to them.

Second, don’t forget that an adult cows weigh around 1,000 lbs (when not pregnant). They are large animals, and that’s a lot of body weight to push over.

Third, even if you did get close enough, a cow stands on four legs and would quickly shift their stance when you pushed on them so that they didn’t fall.

In case you still think it’s possible, make sure you read about the students from the University of British Columbia that have developed a mathematical formula that proves cow-tipping is a myth.

Learn more about cattle and beef

Do you want to learn more about beef? Join our weekly e-newsletter where we share farm happenings, recipes and beef availability. Sign-up and get a cheat sheet with 9-must-ask questions before buying beef directly from a farmer. Or, we have an entire ebook about beef that goes through purchasing and preparing beef from a cattle farmers perspective.

Here are a few other links you may like:

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Do Cows Get Cold in Winter Weather? How Cattle Stay Warm.

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 18:41:38 +0000

Cows can’t put on a winter coat when it starts to snow, so how do they stay warm in the winter? Do cows get cold in cold weather? You may be surprised how cattle handle the cold winter weather, and how we can help keep them warm from the inside out.

During the winter, we often receive questions about how cows adjust to wintery conditions. Questions like, “Do cows get cold?”, “How do cows stay warm in a winter storm?”, and “What do cows eat in winter when there’s no grass on the ground?” are a handful of the questions we hear.

Before winter arrives, we gear up to make sure our cattle have everything they need. However, it’s important to note that they’re naturally equipped to handle low temperatures, ice, wind and snow. With good body condition, a clean, dry coat, dry bedding, shelter, fresh water, and good nutrition, beef cattle can tolerate cold temperatures very well.

Do cows get cold?

Cows are warm-blooded animals with a core body temperature of 101°F. Belive it or not, they actually prefer colder temperatures to extremely hot summer days.

A cow’s normal average body temperature is 101°F degrees, which means they prefer temperatures between 40-60°F degrees. According to the University of Missouri Extension, the ideal temperature range for dairy cattle is 25 to 65°F. When it’s outside of this range, cattle can feel cold stress or heat stress. That means when we, as humans, are starting to think about putting on a sweather or jacket, adult cows are thinking the temperature feels good.

How do beef cattle stay warm in the winter?

One of the amazing characteristics of beef cattle is that they acclimate to cold weather with thick skin and by growing a longer, thicker hair coat in the winter. Thanks to the heavy, thick hair coat, they have natural insulation that protects them from the bitter cold wind.

When it snows, the hair catches the snow and forms a layer over the cow. This creates an air pocket between the snow and the cow’s skin, which is then warmed by the cow’s natural constant core body temperature of 101 °F degrees.

In the winter, it’s very common to see frost or snow on a cows’ back that doesn’t melt because they’re so well insulated.

In addition to the heavy winter coat, when colder temperatures set in beef cattle increase their metabolic rate which helps maintain their natural heat production. This increases their dietary needs, so our cattle herd eats more in the winter. We talk more about this below

Why are beef cattle well suited for the cold?

One of the many reasons beef cattle do well in the cold is because they’re ruminant herbivores. This means they rely on plants for food, and that they use a four-chambered stomach for the digestion. This digestive process generates quite a bit of heat.

In the winter, cattle eat more food. This in turn increases the amount of fermentation in the rumen, and one of the biggest waste products of fermentation is heat. When we provide our livestock with more forage for their rumen, more fermentation happens and more heat is produced. The process helps keep cows warm from the inside out.

What’s the hardest weather condition for cattle?

Both air temperature and wind chill are factors in determining the worst weather conditions for livestock. Typically, the hardest weather condition for pasture cattle is a cold rain followed by freezing temperatures. We keep a close eye on these changing conditions, and it’s usually when our cattle are brought into the barn to dry off before returning to the pasture.

Cold rain followed by freezing temperatures is especially hard on newborn calves. Since our calves are born in the pasture, they’re covered in fluid at birth and have wet coats (just like a human baby). If weather conditions are poor, the wet newborn calf gets colder and colder the longer it stays outside in the extreme conditions.

When a calf is born in frigid temperatures and we realize that they’re not responding to their mother like they should, it’s critical to raise its core body temperature as quickly as possible. On our cattle farm, this means we give them a little extra help by taking the calf to the barn. Then, we use what’s called an “animal warmer” to help them regain their natural body temperature.

An animal warmer looks somewhat like a large, dog carrier. It’s big enough for a calf to lie down or stand inside it. Like its name suggests, the animal warmer has a small heater that circulates air around the calf and helps dry off and regain its body heat. Once the calf is warm, has a dry winter coat, and is responding appropriately, we take it back to the field to be with its mom.

On our farm, numerous calves have been saved thanks to the calf warmer.

Do cattle have access to shelter?

All of our cattle graze in the field 365-days a year. However, when temperatures start to drop, we take numerous extra steps to make sure they’re protected, especially from wind.

First, we make sure our cattle are in fields with plenty of natural shelter, like cedar trees and thickets. They also get extra bedding, like straw, for even more comfort in winter months.

Next, we manage those fields to cut down on moisture and mud. In general, south facing slopes provide more sunlight that help keep areas dry and warm.

When temperatures drop to around 20 °F, we bring cattle into our large barns so that they are protected from the wind, snow, rain and ice.

What do cows eat in winter?

In the winter, our cattle eat lots and lots of hay. On our farm, a cow’s food intake will increase by about 20 percent in the winter. On average, one cow will eat five large bales during a typical winter

This means we are constantly providing them with quality hay that we’ve cut and stored earlier in the year. If needed, we also provide additional, veterinarian-prescribed mineral and supplements to keep them healthy in the winter.

As we’ve talked about before, hay is dried grass. Some livestock farmer buy hay from other farms. Thankfully, we’re blessed to have lots of pasture, so our hay comes directly from our farm.

Grass is one of the most important aspects of raising grass fed beef because it’s the grass that gives cows the nutrients they need to grow. Since lush green grass isn’t available in winter, so we harvest it in the summer. This process of harvesting grass is called “making hay.”

We make hay and feed it to the cows in the winter so they have plenty of food and don’t have to dig through the snow covered ground to find grass.

Here’s a short video of us making hay bales in the summer and fall:

And here we are feeding some hay to cattle in the winter.

On average one cow will eat five bales during a typical winter. That’s a lot of hay!

We always make sure we make enough hay bales to feed all of our cattle during the winter, and we do extra just in case it’s a long winter.

What do cattle drink in the winter?

Quality water is just as important as quality feed. In the winter on our farm, our cattle get the majority of their water from automatic waterers. These water tanks contain well water, and we can adjust the temperature slightly so that the water doesn’t freeze. Our cows love the waterers, and we do too because we know they can always get enough water when they want it. If we didn’t have these water tanks, we would have to break the ice on our ponds in extreme cold when water naturally freezes. Learn more about what cows drink here.

What’s winter like on a farm? What do farmers do in the winter?

There’s always a job that needs to be done on a farm. Always.

Typically, winter is when we do some farm maintenance like work on equipment or fix fences.

Plus, our cattle must be taken care of every day. We take them hay every morning, and check them several times throughout the day to make sure they’re doing ok.

Have beef questions? We are here to help!

Do you want to learn more about beef? You can contact us or below are a few popular beef posts and recipes you may like. In addition, we have an entire ebook about beef that goes through purchasing and preparing beef from a farmers perspective.

We have a weekly e-newsletter where we share about farm happenings, and beef recipes. When you sign up, you’ll also get a cheat sheet with 9-must-ask questions before buying beef directly from a farmer.

Note: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no cost to you. See our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for supporting Clover Meadows Beef!

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Head of Cattle vs. Herd: What Beef Livestock Terms Mean

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 18:54:29 +0000

For those unfamiliar with farm life in the United States, hearing the phrase “head of cattle” can be a bit confusing. If you’ve never had the chance to observe livestock up close, it might sound like a strange phrase, but it’s simpler than it sounds.

What is a head of cattle?

The term head of cattle refers to individual animals — either a cow, bull, steer, or heifer. In other words, a “head” is a singular unit in a group of cattle. One head is one cow, two head is two cows, three head means three cows, and on and on. If a cattle farmer says they have 100 head of cattle, it means they have 100 live animals. The reason “head” is used instead of terms like “cow” or “steer” is because those terms have specific meanings in the cattle industry (see below).

As the beef cattle operations get larger, the number of head will also increase. However, you never say “heads of cattle.” The phrase is always used in the singular form, “head of cattle.”

A cattle head can be any breed of beef cows or milk cows. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to a farmer with dairy cattle or a beef rancher with a cow-calf operation, one animal equals a single head of cattle.

Head of Cattle vs. Cattle Herd

Now that you know the definition of head of cattle, let’s explain what a “herd” is. For beef producers and dairy producers, a herd of cattle is a group of cattle. Depending on the size of the farm, a herd can range from a small number of animals to thousands.

In addition, “herd” can refer to the characteristic of certain animals. Cattle are herd animals. They like to stay together as a group for safety and social reasons.

On our farm we often manage our entire herd by grouping certain animals together based on a certain characteristic(s). For example, in one of our fields, we have a herd of pregnant cows that are ready to give birth, and in another field, we have a small herd of steers and heifers raised for beef production.

Cow vs. Heifer vs. Steer vs. Bull

If your new to cattle production, you may think that the term “cow” is a generic term, but it’s not. Here’s a quick overview of terms for cattle.

Bovine: An animal in the cattle group, which includes bison and buffaloes

Cow: A cow is a mature female bovine that has had at least one calf. Female cattle have udders. Using everyday lingo, the cows are the “moms”
Heifer: A heifer is a young female cow that has not had her first calf yet. Once a pregnant heifer has her first calf, she automatically becomes a cow. In other words, heifers are like “first-time moms.” She will give birth to either a bull calf (male) or young heifer (female).
Bred Heifer: A female heifer that is pregnant with her first calf.
Bull: A mature male bovine that is at least 2 years old, is fertile, and is used for breeding is considered a mature bull. Young bulls will have genitals intact with a scrotum and testicles. One bull can breed about 25 cows. Bulls exhibit more aggressive behavior and dominant overall (compared to steers). The bulls are the “dads.”
Steer: A steer is a male animal that belongs to the cattle family and is a castrated male bovine. His testicles have been removed, and he is incapable of reproducing. Castration is done at a young age, before sexual maturity when the bull is a young calf. Prior to castration, young male steers can be called bull calves.

Beef Cattle vs. Dairy Cattle. What is a cow-calf farm?

In the United States, the beef industry is primarily made up small, family farms with cow-calf operations. This means a farmer owns a female cow herd that stays on the farm for their entire lives. Each cow in the herd has a calf every year. The calf drinks its mother’s milk for about the first 6 months of life. At 6 months, the calf is about 500 lbs. and its body can effectively convert grass to nutrients. It will grow and gain muscle from the grass’s nutrients. At approximately 16 months of age, the calf is large enough to be sold for income. When raising beef cattle for meat production, it takes about 2-3 years for cattle to go from farm to fork.

What makes beef cattle unique is their ability to convert grass into muscle. They have a stockier build, rounded bodies, and short necks. They are sometimes compared to a weight lifter because of their appearance and because their energy goes toward building muscle and storing fat. This results in great quality meat — you want lean beef with marbling for texture and flavor

When most people think of a cow, they think of Holstein cows with black and white spots. The Holstein is one of six common dairy cow breeds in the U.S. that farmers use for dairy production. Dairy cows use their energy into producing large quantities of milk, not meat. They can make an average of 7 to 10 gallons of milk per day. Farmers milk cows two to three times a day in a milking parlor. Once a dairy cow is milked, it takes about two-days for the milk to travel from the farm to the store. During this time, it goes through many steps to ensure its high-quality milk. In fact, milk is one of the most regulated foods you can buy at the store.

How many head of cattle per acre?

There are many factors that go into how many acres you need for cattle. In Missouri, a good pasture with lots of high-quality grass may support one cow per two acres during a good growing year. A pasture with sparser grass (like you find in northwestern states like Montana and Wyoming) may only support one cow on 50 acres or more. In addition to grass, other conditions to consider for the number of cattle are how much precipitation does the area usually recieve and is it experiencing drought conditions? Are the cattle receiving grain or are they grass finished? Are the cows pregnant? These are just a few things to consider.

One more thing!

Here are a few other links you may like:

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Difference between grass finished vs. grain finished beef

Matt & Jessica @ Clover Meadows Beef — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:13:19 +0000

There are so many labels with beef – grass finished, grain finished, organic, natural, pasture raised – just to name a few. But what do these different labels really mean? Let’s talk fact vs. fiction so you can make educated food choices for you and your family.

What’s the difference between grass finished beef vs. grain finished beef? This is one of the top three questions we hear on a regular basis from consumers. On our farm, we raise both grass finished beef and grain-fed cows, so we have a first-hand perspective on both farming practices and both types of beef.

Our goal in this post is only to educate based on facts, not elevate one type of beef or another. Our bottom line is that both types of beef production are important to meet consumer demand, and all types of beef provides 10 essential nutrients that the human body needs.

All cattle spend a majority of their lives eating grass on pastures. The main difference between grass finished vs. grain finished beef comes down to the finishing phase, or how they spend their latter days.

What is grass finished beef

Grass-finished beef cattle spend their entire lives on a grass diet. Grass finished cattle eat grass from the pasture, or they may also eat forage, hay or silage at the feedyard. In addition, grass-fed beef cattle may or may not be given FDA-approved antibiotics to treat, prevent or control disease and/or growth-promoting hormones.

What is grain finished beef?

Grain finished beef spend the majority of their lives eating grass. What makes them different from grass finished beef is that during the last 6-8 months of their lives, grain-finished beef cattle are free to eat a balanced diet of local feed ingredients. The exact grain and type of feed will differ by each local farm. However, grain fed cows are typically fed a balanced, veterinarian-approved diet with grains such as potato hulls, corn, sugar beets, barley, sorghum or hay.

The terms grain finished beef, grain fed beef and conventional beef are essentially all the same. They refer to cattle that have been raised with the beginning of their life on grass, and then given grain at the end of their lives. Grain-finished meat is the type of beef is typically be found at the grocery store.

What do grass finished beef and grain finished beef have in common?

Grass finished beef and grain finished beef have many things in common. Let’s start at the beginning – how the animals are born and raised.

The majority of cattle farms in North America (including ours) are “cow-calf farms.” On a cow-calf farm, the farmer owns a herd of cows (sidenote: cows are always females and bulls are always males), and each cow has a a baby calf every year.

When a calf is first born, it stays with its mom for about six-months and drinks its mother’s milk. At this time, the calf is weaned from its mother and it starts to eat grass. When the calf is about 8-12 months old, beef producers must make some important decisions, with two main options:

Option 1: The cattle farmer can “finish” the animal on his farm and have it butchered at a local facility for beef. If the farmer chooses to finish the beef on his farm, he’ll also decide if it’s going to be grain-fed beef, grass-finished beef or organic beef. We’ll get into these types of beef later, but for now, know that the farmer is deciding whether or not the calf stays on his farm or if he sells the calf.
Option 2: A cattle farmer can sell the animal (typically between 8-12 months of age). and the animal will eventually go to a feedlot where large beef packing houses package beef. When the animal is transferred to a feedlot, it is typically fed a grain-based diet that’s higher in grain (like corn), but it also contains hay and other grasses. This is for the last 6-8 months of their lives. This type of beef that is fed supplemental grain has many names such as grain-fed beef, grain finished beef or conventional beef.

Nutrition:

There are many nutritional differences and similarities when comparing grass-fed cows to grain-fed cattle.

Similarities:

Both grass finished cattle and grain finished cattle are an excellent source of 10 essential nutrients and lean quality protein.

Studies show that eating lean beef, as part of a balanced healthy diet, supports healthy blood pressure and blood lipids.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a 3-oz. serving of lean beef, has about 150 calories on average. Beef is a good or excellent source of protein and 10 essential nutrients like zinc, iron and B vitamins.

Lean cuts have less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat and less than 95 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams (3½ oz). These cuts generally have “Round” or “Loin” in their names, such as Sirloin Steak and Tenderloin Steak.

Differences:

Since we aren’t nutritionists, we are going to lean on information from the American Meat Science Association and the Beef Council.

Studies have shown that nutritionally, grass finished beef has some great health benefits like more vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C antioxidants, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids compared to grain fed beef. They also produce meat that’s higher in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fat that’s been studied for possible heart benefits, improving immunity and anti-inflammation benefits. But, the interesting thing with CLA is typically found in the fat marbling that people trim off their beef.

However, according to scientific experts, the jury is still out on if it’s really that much healthier. According to the American Meat Science Association

“Many people think that grass fed beef is healthier for you since if contains a different type of fat when compared to conventional grain fed beef. Grass fed beef contains lower levels of saturated fat and slightly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. While this is true neither source of beef has a sufficient number of omega-3s when compared to something such as salmon, which contains 35 times more omega-3 than beef.

While grass fed, beef does have lower levels of saturated fat, the difference isn’t significant. Texas A&M recently did a study of men to see if grass fed beef would lower cholesterol levels. Their results actually show that men who consume conventional corn-fed beef improved cholesterol levels while the men that consume grass fed beef saw little to no change in their cholesterol levels.”

Do grass-finished cattle taste different from grain-finished animals?

Yes, the taste of the beef is slightly different between grass-fed cattle and grain-finished cattle. This is mainly due to the different level of fat and marbling. Grain finished beef has more marbling than grass finished beef. Researchers in the United States have done studies to see if people like grain finished beef or grass finished beef better. Grain finished beef significantly outperforms grass fed beef in palatability panel scores.

Organic

Beef that is certified as organic comes from cattle that have never received any antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones. These cattle may spend time at the feedyard and may eat grain, as long as it is organically grown. If you want beef that’s both organic and grass finished, look for both of these terms on the label.

Naturally Raised

Naturally raised beef comes from cattle that have never received antibiotics or growth hormones. This beef may spend time at a feedyard and can be either grain-finished or grass-finished.

One More Thing

Here are a few other links you may like:

The post Difference between grass finished vs. grain finished beef appeared first on Clover Meadows Beef.

Life on the Farm & Cow Facts Archives - Clover Meadows Beef

Do Cows Have Teeth? Estimating Cattle Age With Teeth (Video)

Do Cows Have Teeth?

Estimating a Cow’s Age by Teeth

How Many Teeth Does a Cow Have?

The Importance of a Cow’s Teeth

Can a cow bite you?

Fun Facts About Cow Teeth

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More Beef Tips and Recipes:

What Do Cows Drink? Water, Milk or Both? (Video)

Do Cows Drink Milk?

Why Do Calves Drink Milk?

Do Adult Cows Drink Milk?

How Much Water Do Cows Drink?

How Do Farmers Ensure Cows Have Enough Water?

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46 Best Kids Farm Books: Agriculture, Farming, & Animals

Criteria for our Farm Book List

The Best Farm Books for Kids

Best Farm Books for Kids Discussing Farm Life and How Food Goes From Farm to Table:

Best Farm Books for Young Readers Focused on Farm Animals:

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Best Farm Toys, Barn, Tractor, Animals for Kids

Shopping tip: How to understand the scale when choosing a farm toy replica

Here are some of our favorite farm toys for kids of all ages:

Farm Toys for Younger Children:

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Cattle Ear Tags: Tagging Cows for Identification

What is an ear tag?

Types of ear tags

EID Tags

What information is identified using ear tags?

When does a calf get an ear tag?

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More Beef Tips and Recipes to Try:

All About the Meat Inspection Process for Food Safety

Is meat inspection mandatory in the U.S.?

Do Cows Sleep Standing Up? Answering Cow Tipping Questions

Do cows sleep standing up?

Can cows nap while standing up?

How do cows doze standing up and not fall over?

What other animals sleep or doze standing up?

Where do cows sleep?

Is it possible to tip a cow?

Learn more about cattle and beef

Do Cows Get Cold in Winter Weather? How Cattle Stay Warm.

Do cows get cold?

How do beef cattle stay warm in the winter?

Why are beef cattle well suited for the cold?

What’s the hardest weather condition for cattle?

Do cattle have access to shelter?

What do cows eat in winter?

What do cattle drink in the winter?

What’s winter like on a farm? What do farmers do in the winter?

Have beef questions? We are here to help!

Head of Cattle vs. Herd: What Beef Livestock Terms Mean

What is a head of cattle?

Head of Cattle vs. Cattle Herd

​Cow vs. Heifer vs. Steer vs. Bull

Beef Cattle vs. Dairy Cattle. What is a cow-calf farm?

How many head of cattle per acre?

One more thing!

Difference between grass finished vs. grain finished beef

What is grass finished beef

What is grain finished beef?

What do grass finished beef and grain finished beef have in common?

Nutrition:

Similarities:

Differences:

Do grass-finished cattle taste different from grain-finished animals?

Organic

Naturally Raised

One More Thing

Cow vs. Heifer vs. Steer vs. Bull