Small-Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health, Sustainability, and Profit

by Carol Ekarius

Full of practical everyday advice, this guide explains how a natural, organic approach to livestock farming produces healthy animals, reduces costs, and increases your operation’s self-sufficiency. Livestock expert Carol Ekarius helps you create a viable farm plan, choose suitable livestock, care for your animals’ health, and confidently manage housing, fencing, and feeding. Case studies of successful farmers provide inspiration as you learn everything you need to know to run a prosperous livestock farm and make the lifestyle of your dreams a reality.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Food, Animals

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1999

About the author

Carol Ekarius is a freelance writer.

Reviews

[Amy Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this review by saying that I'm still on my quarter acre suburban lot with my dream of owning property still just that, a dream. That said, I found this book informational and something I'll keep on my bookcase for our future homestead.

If you've seen any videos featuring Joel Salatin (sp?) then you know how I'd like to lean managment-wise on the property. I'd also like to call myself a grass farmer and that's what this book teaches.

For anyone interested, I'm also neck deep learning about silvopasture as a form of land management. I believe that this book goes hand in hand with that philosophy but I could be wrong.

[Patina Malinalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I found it super helpful and extremely informative. It even covered topics I hadn't thought about, such as stock density and it provides equations for calculating the ideal number of animals to keep in a pasture. Five stars!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little boring and technical for me, though I am sure if I have o peruse it again, will glean something useful.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small-Scale Livestock Farming is written like a sixth grade text book. That is to say, it's really tough to keep reading because there's so much information I already know and the non-factual data is sparse.

I most recommend this book to someone who's just starting out and wants to jump right into making a living from pasturing animals. Maybe a high school FFA or 4H person?

I'll be keeping it on my shelf for a while because there are some quite handy charts, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to a fellow homesteader.

[Enesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's been really useful in helping me figure out what I want to do on the farm. Especially the small scale, as I don't see myself a cattle baron with 1,000s of head of cattle. I like how the author made the small scale viable.

It was informative, encouraging without being too chipper, and well written.

[Nathan Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great guide to pasture livestock. Both practical and immensely detailed, this lady knows her stuff. From financial planning, to holistic management overview, to pasture monitoring, to marketing, to animal husbandry, this book has it all.

[Anita]

Excellent resource

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addresses raising free-range livestock on small acreage on a small scale. Many people now prefer grass fed meat over that from feedlots.

[Chris Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book with nice little stories in-between.