The first edition of this book was published in 1998. I wrote it to help stockmen (first-time cattle owners as well as old hands) deal with the various aspects of raising beef cattle. Much of the information in the original edition is still valid today, while other information has changed as our knowledge of certain subjects (certain diseases, for example) has expanded. Whether you are raising one steer or 500, this new and revised edition brings you the most up-to-date and helpful information on cattle breeding, health, and care.
My husband and I have spent a lifetime with cattle. We both grew up on ranches and have spent the past 43 years of our married life raising cattle together. On our ranch in central-eastern Idaho, we typically calve out about 170 beef cows each year. No matter how many years of experience we have, however, there is always more to learn. Even though we’ve had help from a number of veterinarians, university professors, textbooks, and other sources, our cattle have always been our best teachers. Much of what I’ve written about here has been gleaned from working with our own herd, augmented by information gathered during 40-plus years of interviewing numerous breeders, beef cattle specialists, and researchers around the country for cattle-care articles in livestock publications. It is my hope that this book will be a helpful edition to your livestock library.