Livestock Books
We have gathered together a wide variety of small scale livestock production books to help you make the most of your livestock. These books collectively cover livestock husbandry, livestock housing, livestock feeding and nutrition, animal training, and working with animals in various production models.
Would you like to see an additional title here? Do you have a favorite book that has helped you optimize your own operation,? Just Contact Us and we'll add it to the collection!
Dairy Cows and Milk Production
The Family Cow, by Dirk Van Loon
This book is where we started when we first thought about getting cows. A classic for small farm owners, and the oldest of the three most popular books on the topic today (see below for the other two). A wonderful introduction to buying, housing, feeding, milking and otherwise managing a family dairy cow.
Keeping a Family Cow, by Joann Grohman
This is specifically about keeping a dairy cow for small farm or homestead milk, dairy, and manure. It's a classic from the height of the 1970's back-to-the-land movement, originally printed under the title The Cow Economy, and it's been in constant reprints ever since. If you really like the idea of a family dairy cow, this book will give you a good introduction.
The Family Cow Handbook, by Philip Hasheider
This is the third of the Big Three books on homestead and small farm dairy production. A realistic introduction to the realities of bringing these animals onto your farm or homestead, and making the most of their many gifts.
Beef Cows and Beef Production
Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, by Heather Smith Thomas
Storey Publishing has been a leading publisher for small farms and homesteaders for many years, and Heather Smith Thomas has been living (and writing about) the cattle ranching life for almost as long. Her book on selecting and raising beef cattle, and either using or selling beef on a small scale, are considered one of the bibles of the industry. This fourth edition has been updated with information on pastured beef production and small ranch business management. Very highly recommended.
Salad Bar Beef, by Joel Salatin
We love Joel Salatin's books and this one helped us manage our cattle much more cost effectively. His beef are grass-fed within 100 miles of the nation's capital, and he serves markets up and down the mid-Atlantic seaboard. This book is a wonderful introduction to his operation.
Beef Cattle: Keeping a Small-Scale Herd by Ann Larkin Hansen
Another excellent book on selecting, starting, managing and profiting from a small scale beef herd. This covers all the benefits of a well-managed beef herd but also describes a lot of the gotta-do's, such as fencing, feeding, breeding, and processing. If you're concerned about what life with a small beef herd would really be like, check out this book.
Oxen on the Small Farm or Homestead
Oxen, a Teamster's Guide, by Drew Conroy
Drew Conroy is a global authority on modern day oxen: their uses, their training and their continuing practicality for small farms and homesteads. Hate the price of fuel? Consider using oxen instead. Before you do, read this book.
In Praise of Oxen, by Terry James
This book is more about beautiful imagery of oxen on the land, with only short descriptions of the animals, the owners, the techniques or equipment. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful tour through a year of oxen ownership, in a part of North America where oxen are still very much in use. If you want to use oxen, read this book too for ideas about all the different ways they can help the small farm or homestead.
Draft Horses and Draft Horse Equipment
Work Horse Handbook, 2nd Edition, by Lynn Miller
Some will recognize the name of Lynn Miller, who has been the editor and publisher of the well-regarded Small Farmer's Journal for over 40 years. Based in north central Oregon, Lynn has raised, trained and farmed with draft horses for decades. He has also guided uncounted aspiring teamsters in their efforts to bring draft horse power back to the small farm, ranch and homestead. Still a viable, adaptable source of power, and more cost effective when it helps small operations avoid purchased fuel costs. But where to start? This book is an excellent beginning.
Draft Horse Primer: A Guide To The Care And Use Of Work Horses and Mules, by Maurice Telleen
Another legendary voice in the world of draft animal power, Maurice Telleen is not only the author of several draft horse books, but also the longtime editor of Draft Horse World. His Draft Horse Primer is an outstanding introduction and encyclopedic collection to the world of draft horse and draft mule care, equipment, technique, and application for multiple field tasks. I have spent hours pouring through this book not only for technical information, but also inspiration. Sometimes old school is still a really good school. Another excellent addition to the draft horse library of any serious (or aspiring) teamster.
Our Successful Farm and Ranching Books
We released our very first self-published book, The Chicken Coop Manual, in 2014. It is a full color guide to conventional and alternative poultry housing options, including 8 conventional stud construction plans, 12 alternative housing methods, and almost 20 different design features. This book is available on Amazon.com and as a PDF download. Please visit our sister website's The Chicken Coop Manual page for more information.
Rabbit Colonies: Lessons Learned
We started with rabbits in 2002, and we've been experimenting with colony management ever since. Fast forward to 2017 when I decided to write another book, this time about colony management. Rabbit Colonies: Lessons Learned is chock-full of practical information, and is available from both Amazon and as a PDF download. Please visit our sister website's Rabbit Colonies page for more information.
The Pastured Pig Handbook
We are currently working on our next self-published book: The Pastured Pig Handbook. This particular book addresses a profitable, popular and successful hog management approach which sadly is not yet well documented. Our handbook, will cover all the various issues involved with pastured hog management, including case studies of numerous current pastured pig operations. If you have any questions about this book, please Contact Us.