Livestock

When seeking to purchase an electrical fence for your farm or ranch, consider Shakespeare: You must needs, sirs and madams, understand your electrical fencing "audience and purpose." But seriously, all 16th Century lit. references aside knowing what you plan to do with your electrical fence is the first part in deciding what you ultimately need. North 40's first recommendation on learning about fencing set ups? Watch the video below and see Matt get electrocuted... and also get an instructional lesson from Gallagher's own electric fencing expert.   Is your fence permanent or temporary? First things first, this is the realest question to ask for a few reasons. Why? Permanent fences and temporary fences use way different materials. If it's a permanent fence you're after, then you're going to opt for an installation that utilizes wire... Read more

Montana has a unique tie to ranching and livestock, and this was no more apparent to me than when I started researching brands. Montana became a territory in 1864, two years after the Homestead Act. Prior to 1873, the registration of brand information was left up to individual counties. This wasn't a functioning system because news and registrations spread more slowly (or not at all) during this time period. So down around Yellowstone you could have a ranch running the same brand as a ranch up by Glacier, and they wouldn't find out till they drove their cattle to market. This was remedied when the state enacted legislature in 1872 that centralized brand registration held by the Department of Livestock. Side note: Montana is a lot different than Idaho and Washington--because the state passed legislation designating a central housing place... Read more

The short, simple answer to this question is, of course, the cow. That's her job. The role of the cow specifically, and cow/calf production systems in general, is to profitably turn forage into beef through the production of calves. Our entire management effort centers on providing the inputs required for the cow to do her job. Not providing these inputs diminishes her chances of successfully playing her role in the cow/calf production system. As cattle producers, our responsibility is to ensure that the fundamental inputs of water and forage are provided along with supplemental nutrition and sound animal husbandry and management that prevents disease and promotes herd health. Like every living thing, the cow needs water which is the most important nutrient. Water is essential to maintaining all bodily functions and, if limited, results ... Read more