Cows spend their entire lives (6 to 10 years) grazing on grass or forage and mothering baby calves. When they are too old to calve, cows are harvested for beef. Cows live up to 20 years, but this...
Category: Cow Care
Anthrax in cattle is caused by naturally occuring bacteria whose spores can live for more than 50 years. Prevention via vaccine is often the best protection since treatment generally requires culling...
Grass Fed Cattle Vs. Grain Fed Cattle: What Is The Difference For The Cattle And The Consumer?
Grass fed cattle eat grass and never go to the feedlot for finishing, typically have less fat and marbling and often are more expensive. Meanwhile, grain fed cattle still eat grass but are fed grain...
How Long Can Older Cattle Stay in Your Herd? When Is A Cow Too Old To Breed?
Although a cow’s natural lifespan is around 20 years, most never live beyond 4 years. The average slaughter age for beef cattle is between 1 and 2 years. A dairy cow will be slaughtered for meat at...
Johne’s Disease In Cattle: What Is It And How To Prevent It?
Johne’s disease (pronounced “yo-nays”) is a contagious, chronic, and often fatal infectious disease, mainly attacking the small intestine of ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats....
Mastitis In Cows: How it Differs Between Dairy Cows and Beef Cows
There are numerous causes of mastitis in cows. It can also be complicated to treat depending on the severity and the source of the infection. Mastitis collectively costs farmers billions of dollars...