Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Using medical livestock equipment and supplies

Read all of the labeling, especially on unfamiliar medicines. Most livestock medicines dispense intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or orally. Some labels warn against using milk, eggs, or meat from animals after treatment. Wash your hands before administering any medications. Be certain to choose the correct needle and syringe for the injection. Intramuscular injections require a larger needle size to reach the muscle. Typically a 1 ½ inch, 16 or 18 gauge will work. Subcutaneous injections require a smaller size since they only go under the skin. Try a ½ to 1 inch needle in the same gauge. Calculate appropriate dosages by the animal's body weight. Keep a medical record of your livestock; this is very important for animals that are food producers. Mark animals such as dairy cows with a sticker or band to remind you to discard their milk for the allotted time. Keep records of dates and doses of preventative medicines, such as black shots, wormers, and other vaccinations.

I recommend: Since most farmers administer their own basic healing and preventative livestock medicines, you can purchase livestock medical supplies from Jeffers Livestock. Learn about proper diary cattle supplies from FOA.

Be cautious with livestock handling equipment

Even with the proper equipment, it takes skill to handle livestock properly. Livestock become anxious and harder to handle when forced. Allow the animals to take the lead as much as possible. Most types of livestock will follow a leader. Give the first animal time and space to locate the opening and enter it and the rest will usually follow. Avoid overcrowding. Most chutes are 20 feet long. Working chutes may be more effective with overhead restrainers that prevent animals from turning around, rearing up, or jumping over the chute. Mature cattle need a space of 20 by 20 feet per head in a working pen. Working and separating animals works best with multiple pens and gates for letting animals in and out.

I recommend: Buy chutes from Filson Livestock. Learn about proper goat handling equipment from Tennessee Meat Goats.

Feed and water animals with livestock equipment and supplies.

There are many different types of feeding and watering supplies. If animals cannot have access to fresh water supplies, use a watering trough. If possible, place the trough out of direct sunlight to help prevent algae growth. Use slabs of concrete for cattle feeding locations. High traffic livestock areas are muddy and rough. This can lead to foot disease. A textured concrete gives the animals more grip for standing. Rinse water and feeding troughs periodically to clean out mold growth and residue.

I recommend: Purchase hay feeders from Century Livestock. Discover durable water troughs from Farm Industry News.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Livestock farms, like other businesses, qualify for tax identification numbers. Get a number and purchase wholesale livestock supplies through your farm. Also consider used livestock equipment sales.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Shop for customizable cattle equipment

The best cattle handling equipment is the kind you can customize for your needs. This includes moveable corrals, moveable cattle maternity pens and custom agricultural curtains.

I recommend: Check out the customizable corrals and moveable maternity pens at W-W Manufacturing. Find a variety of cattle supplies and suppliers at Cattlesoft, Inc.

Find small livestock supplies from smaller manufacturers

Small livestock needs, such as poultry equipment and goat handling equipment, is better found at smaller manufacturers who specialize in one or two particular livestock breeds. Smaller manufacturers and suppliers offer everything from clippers to ear tags to incubating systems.

I recommend: Premier1Supplies meets the needs of livestock farmers who work with sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, poultry and more. MacRAE's BLUE BOOK lists a variety of suppliers and manufacturers that specialize in pig and hog farming. Find poultry equipment for chickens and pheasants at FeatherSite.

Research financial companies who lease livestock equipment and supplies

There are a variety of programs aimed at farmers and ranchers that help them save money by leasing large pieces of livestock equipment. Depending on the program, your lease can help you save money on taxes, increase your profits or work out a lease-to-own on the equipment. You can also schedule your payouts during your busy season, when your cash flow is at its peak.

I recommend: Check out the leasing options from AGStar Financial Services, ACA. Get an instant quote or apply for financing through Direct Capital Corporation.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay attention to company shipping charges and refund policies. Some companies charge a flat rate shipping fee or offer to waive the shipping fee for livestock supply purchases over a certain amount, while others charge based on weight.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Assess livestock equipment and supplies required for transportation

Farmers take livestock to shows, sales, veterinarians and breeding barns. The most common livestock trailer is metal and covered. However, some still use wooden open top livestock trailers for transporting smaller animals such as goats and pigs. A livestock trailer with a section divider is good for hauling cattle. Farmers can separate cows and calves for safety. It also helps to use the divider when loading. The first cows on can be closed in so they will not try to come back off the trailer. Trailers with side exit doors are good for hauling horses. Most horses are led onto the trailer. The handler can exit through the side door. Some trailers are straight step-up entry for the animals and others have a slant load. Trailers also differ in the type of hitch. Some are bumper hitch while others are gooseneck. If you plan to travel a lot or a long distance with your livestock, you may consider purchasing a trailer with a supply compartment to store feeds and other livestock supplies.

I recommend: Purchase gooseneck trailers from companies like FeatherLite. Kiefer Built offers straight load and slant load trailers.

Purchase basic medical livestock supplies for at-home treatment

Veterinary bills can accumulate very quickly on a farm. It is best if you have some do-it-yourself supplies available. These are especially beneficial when animals get sick at night or on the weekends. Livestock medical supplies include medicines, vaccinations, syringes, wound care, birthing supplies, and pests treatments. Most give medicines and vaccinations by shot. Wound care treatments are typically sprays. Many give pest treatment for flies, ticks, and worms by mouth, shot, spray, or pour on. Birthing supplies include devices that allow farmers to help livestock mothers by pulling the baby by its feet. When thinking about medical supplies for your farm, remember to include sterilization sprays and cleaners along with gloves.

I recommend: Livestock Concepts sells livestock injectable medicines. Quality Supply offers several different vaccines for livestock.

Consider livestock handling equipment to do more hands-on work with fewer people

Farmers can purchase a variety livestock handling equipment. Larger, wilder animals may require larger and stronger handling equipment while smaller and tamer animals may need only lightweight handling supplies. Handling supplies allow farmers to work hands-on with their livestock. Much handling equipment allows for the maximum work with the fewest people. Holding pens, chutes, corrals, and head catches work as durable handling equipment. For animals that only require light control, purchase halters, ropes, and lightweight panels.

I recommend: DS Livstock sells sheep and goat handling equipment. Powder River has a variety of cattle handling equipment and cattle supplies.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are uncertain about the type of livestock equipment and supplies that you need, consult a livestock equipment sales professional. If trying to decide between two types of equipment, consider renting the equipment for trial, then make your purchase. Also consider used livestock equipment.

Guide to Livestock Equipment and Supplies Key Terms

Get to know livestock equipment and supplies key terms

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bale rings

Bale rings slip around a large bale of hay to help prevent waste. Without a bale ring, cattle pull out unnecessary amounts of hay and tramp it into the ground without eating it. Bale rings come with solid panels on the bottom or with openings on the bottom. The second type is light enough to move by hand.

I recommend: You can see a solid-bottom bale ring from Farmco MFG.

Feed bunks

A feed bunk is a long, narrow trough that farmers use for cattle grains or other feed. Feed bunks raise the feed closer to the animal's mouth and keep the feed off the ground, thus preventing waste. Some feed bunks are movable, while others are permanently set into the ground.

I recommend: CPI Pipe sells Lifetime Feedbunks. You can see a picture of cattle feeding from a feed bunk as well as read the specs on the company's website.

Bale choppers

Bale choppers are devices that break apart bales of straw so the farmer can quickly spread bedding for his or her farm animals. These devices can also chop hay for animals to eat.

I recommend: ACI Distributors show Goosen bale choppers in use.

Forage wagon

A forage wagon delivers chopped silage to animals in the feedlot. You can find a variety of configurations of forage wagons.

I recommend: See a variety of forage wagons from Meyer Manufacturing. As you click on each individual wagon, you can get a better understanding of how forage wagons work.

Hay forks or bale spears

Hay forks, or bale spears, attach to a three-point hitch on a tractor. Their purpose is to move large bales of hay from the hay field to a storage place. The hay fork also delivers hay to the feedlot.

I recommend: For an explanation of how a hay fork attaches to a tractor, read the information from Leinbach Machinery.

Front-end loader

A front-end loader attaches to the front of a tractor. It can move dirt and manure piles created by animals in confinement. Some front-end loaders have attachments that allow the front end of the tractor to do other chores. One example of this type of attachment is a front-end bale spear.

I recommend: Westendorf Mfg shows a number of front-end loaders.