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Horns N Hooves
🐄 Horns and Hooves: The Highland Cattle Podcast
Are you tired of sorting through bad advice about raising Highland and Highland Cross cattle? Do you need practical, proven strategies to make smart decisions for your farm? You've come to the right place!
Welcome to Horns and Hooves, the podcast dedicated to being your go-to source for all things Highland and Highland Cross cattle.
Join your hosts, Lori Racicky (from Creekside Highland Haven) and Taylor Hauser (from Hausers Homestead). We started this podcast because we learned the hard way - through our own mistakes and by trusting the wrong advice. We know what it's like to feel all alone, juggling costly decisions and second-guessing every move.
The good news is: You don't have to anymore!
What We Cover:
We dive into topics that truly matter to the everyday cattle owner, offering real stories and honest advice from people who live it. We keep it real and share what works, learning from experience, not nonsense.
- Farm Economics: Expert tips on managing feed costs and making financially savvy choices.
- Buying & Selling: Strategies for navigating the complexity of livestock auctions and sales.
- The Hard Truths: We tackle the subjects others avoid, like getting straight answers about cattle sizes, temperament, and quality.
- Community Support: Our mission is to build a strong community where everybody feels welcome, no matter how long you've been in the game.
Our goal is to cut through the noise and give you the practical takeaways you need to raise a healthy, successful herd.
Hit that subscribe button and give us a five-star rating to help our community grow!
Follow Us on Social Media: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Horns N Hooves
Progress Not Perfection in Livestock Management with Courtney Henson
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In this episode of Hooves and Horns, we sit down with Courtney Henson from Little Finger Farms to discuss the reality of starting and scaling a small livestock operation. We dive deep into the lessons learned when transitioning from a hobby to a production farm, emphasizing that "Progress, not perfection" is the key to success in the homesteading world.
Courtney shares her experience moving from Virginia to Northwest Georgia and how she navigated the challenges of regional differences in cattle management and pasture care. From the importance of soil sampling to the brutal honesty required when managing animal numbers, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to optimize their farm forages and livestock safety.
Key Takeaways
Utilize local resources like your county extension office for free soil sampling and expert regional advice.
Implement rotational grazing and stockpile forages to offset the high costs of hay during drought seasons.
Maintain a "brutally honest" assessment of your property’s carrying capacity to avoid overgrazing and financial strain.
Understand livestock safety and behavior, especially when integrating different species like cattle, donkeys, and goats.
Episode Highlights
The transition from hobby farming to intentional livestock production.
Regional differences in forage quality and the impact of Georgia droughts.
How to effectively use temporary fencing and rotational management.
Managing animal temperament and safety tips for handling fluffy but pushy cows.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to Courtney Henson and Little Finger Farms.
05:22 - Moving a farm from Virginia to Georgia.
12:15 - The importance of soil sampling and extension offices.
18:45 - Strategies for rotational grazing and drought management.
25:30 - "The Math": Balancing animal numbers with available acreage.
32:10 - Safety tips for livestock owners and "Cow Math".
Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories!
Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves
Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast
TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast
Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com
Contact Courtney Henson: Little Finger Farm
Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/