Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle: Health/Handling/Breeding: 9781580173278: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Everything you need to know to raise one, two, or even a herd of beef cattle is in this book -- the most comprehensive beef cattle guide available.

This definitive handbook will help both beginners and experienced owners capitalize on one of the world's most natural and efficient backyard livestock industries. Whether you simply want to make use of land that is too steep, too rocky, or too dry for growing crops, or you want to run a full-scale, modern beef production operation, this book will provide you with the information you need, including how to:

-- Prepare comfortable, low-maintenance facilities

-- Breed and calve cattle for specific genetic attributes

-- Remedy cattle illnesses and maintain excellent herd health

-- Understand cattle behavior

-- Handle herds humanely and effectively

-- Market your cattle business

About the Author

Heather Smith Thomas raises cattle and horses on her family ranch in Salmon, Idaho. She is the author of 10 books and thousands of articles on animal health care. Her books include Essential Guide to Calving, Getting Started with Beef & Dairy Cattle, and Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle.

Product Details

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

5 star		82%
4 star		15%
3 star		3%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

Amazing book

By David Hall on February 19, 2004

Format: Paperback

If you've read all the other books on how to raise cattle and still have a million questions, reading this book will answer them! I'm so overloaded with information I can't think of any more questions to ask. This book will take weeks of rereading to get half the information to sink in. Very impressive work.
Incredible illustrations and photographs. If you've ever wondered exactly where your hand should be to check a cow's uterus for conception, you'll know after examining the illustrations. If you want to know every detail for visually evaluating a bull for fertility, it's in there. Want to know how to reinforce a fence corner? It's in there. Want to see an excellent corral design? It's in there.
Great book to own, not borrow, because you will be referring to it for years to come.

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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

Excellent Resource

By "dlynch@tiltonschool.org" on March 12, 2001

Format: Paperback

This is an excellent book for anyone who is even considering raising cattle. I learned things I never imagined. If you are thinking about buying cattle, buy this book first!

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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

Excellent for the "non-cow" reader

By Grant H. Sitler on April 25, 2005

Format: Paperback

I'm not a farmer or rancher, but in my job I'm required to have a working knowledge of the small scale cattle operation. Ms Thomas does not assume that the reader has any certain level of ag knowledge, but she is not condescending either. The reader easily grasps the concepts and lingo, to the point that if you don't already have some cattle, you will soon want some. That's the level of caring and excitement Ms. Thomas brings to the subject. This book now stays on my desk as my primary "real world" cattle research book.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Wonderful, Informative, Great for the beginner/Novice

By Gerald Buck on November 11, 2001

Format: Paperback

This book will help the beginner make informative decisions and understand which questions to ask. A calf is more than a pet. Ms. Thomas has covered everything except the butchering. She explains terms in language easily understood. This book helped me understand not only what the cows need, but the area I will be raising them in also. She explains breeds, cross breeds, and the benefits of both.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Extremely helpful and informative

By B.L. on December 2, 2003

Format: Paperback

I have read this book cover to cover more than once now and find that it answers every question I have for near every situation. It is the most useful book I have in my cattle library. Whether you are an experienced cowboy or just getting started, this book will help you with keeping your livestock healthy and you a happy producer. Well written and easy to read!

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21 of 26 people found the following review helpful

A practical, insightful, Bible for profitable beef.

By Charles Wm Anderson @wordpress TOP 1000 REVIEWER on June 8, 2003

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

Heather Smith Thomas has achieved the unachievable - a comprehensive text for aspiring cowboys!
If you've ever visited a friend or family member who is trying to make a living on a small farm you have probably been asked to pitch in. And, if you have tried helping, you probably have felt you could have been more help picking ticks off a dead cow than trying to rustle the calf into its corral. At least I felt so many years ago.
Don't get me wrong, I don't yet feel I am competent with the critters. I merely feel I am no longer the city slicker asking dumb questions!
After reading this excellent book I am excited to start raising beef cattle for profit. I can do this on a small scale without harming the environment and without millions of dollars and without using techniques that alienate me from my animal rights' activist friends, because of common sense advice from Heather Smith Thomas.
Okay, I probably will aggravate my more radical friends and will irritate my vegetarian niece, but, you haven't lived until you've eaten beef!
Buy this book. Read it thoroughly BEFORE you buy those calves. Then keep it handy for frequent reference!

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Small scale beef breeder guide

By Carole J Adams on September 12, 2001

Format: Paperback

Excellent book for novice breeder. Covers genetics, breeding, maintaining healthy stock. Detailed, accurate information. Excellent reference for beginner breeder.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Good, Thorough Book!

By Rachel P. on August 3, 2006

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

This book was exactly what I was looking for. I know nothing about cattle, my husband has raised them since he was young. I wanted a book that would explain the "little things" to me so I wouldn't have to ask him day in day out what this meant, what they are doing, how will we know when they are in heat, etc. It's very interesting, easy read and very informative.

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