Animal Production

Maintenance of Natural Sustainable Riparian Communities Fact Sheets Series

A graduate student from North Dakota State University created these five extension fact sheets after monitoring and reporting on the riparian ecosystem associated with the Middle Sheyenne River, a perennial stream in eastern North Dakota.

Talking Chicken: Practical Advice on Heirloom Chickens & Eggs

Farmer Rancher grant recipient, Kelly Klober, provides valuable insight into rare, heritage and heirloom breed selection, chick raising, breeding and marketing to help producers start their own fully sustainable heritage chicken flock and raise eggs and meat for family or small farm business.

Patch Burning for Cattle and Prairie: Doing Well by Doing Good

Kansas rancher Jane Koger, who raises 125 head annually in a cow/calf herd, is trying an ambitious new strategy to protect the rare prairie ecosystem on her ranch. The resulting "patch burning" system she developed with conservation organizations, along with help from a SARE grant and her Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office, seems […]

Perfecting the Day-Range Pastured-Poultry System

Raising poultry on pasture instead of in a barn or other permanent structure is an increasingly popular enterprise for hobby and small farmers across the country. This bulletin features the Day-Range system, which consists of a mobile pen that is kept inside a fenced area. The birds are free to roam within the fenced-area during the day and are put in the mobile pen at night if predators are a problem. The mobile pen is moved daily to prevent accumulation of manure and the fence is moved as necessary to provide access to fresh pasture.

Poultry Your Way

Poultry Your Way is for anyone interested in commercially raising, processing, and marketing poultry. It is designed to help you consider alternatives, and to help you make decisions about which alternative(s) will be most compatible with your family and business goals.