With grass-fed beef popping up on menus across North America, and more small-farm owners venturing into this growth area, the time is right for a comprehensive book on how to raise, manage, and market grass-fed cattle.
Grass-Fed Cattle, the newest addition to Storey’s library of best-selling livestock books, covers every aspect of raising and care, including herd selection, breeding, yearly cycles, cultivating and maintaining healthy soil and grass, fencing and pasture rotation, winter grazing, pests and diseases, and necessary equipment.
Author Julius Ruechel, who has been raising beef cattle on his family’s farm since his start as a 4-H member, packs this handbook with everything a farmer needs to know, regardless of herd size and acreage. His advice and systems are applicable to the smallest backyard hobby farms as well as the largest commercial herds and ranches.
In addition to essential farming information, Ruechel devotes a major section of the book to marketing. He discusses niche market opportunities, scheduling the selling and buying of cattle for the greatest profit, finishing the beef and arranging for slaughter, labeling, dynamic marketing, and financial planning and record keeping. He also includes chapters specially addressed to the conventional farmer who is transitioning to natural production, the farmer who is considering leasing or buying land, and the farmer who wishes to pursue organic certification.
The first book of its kind, Grass-Fed Cattle is an indispensable, authoritative reference for anyone interested in raising cattle or looking for a profitable farm venture. |
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 If you only have one book on raising grass-feed cattle this is the one to have |
| Review Date: July 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: C. Noble, |
I've read everything on raising grass-fed cattle from Allan Nation and Jim Garrish to Joel Salatin and I have to say, this is the most comprehensive guide to setting up a grass-fed beef business I've found.
You can only fully appreciate this book if you are actually trying to raise grass-fed animals. Each time I run into a difficulty with my herd or the land my cattle are grazing, I find sound guidance to the problem in this book. For instance, the section on managing the calving season on pasture (a topic I haven't seen mentioned in other books) seems particularly brilliant to me after having spent a day looking for a hidden calf.
If you are just setting up a grass-fed business this is the book to have. Julius Ruechel guides you in putting the pieces of land, vegetation, water, animals, and seasons together with human management to create a system that reflects and capitalizes on the synergistic complexity of nature while fully respecting all of her living components.
The only caution I would add is that it is a big continent, and no book can fully reflect the variations in climate, terrain, and scale found here. So you will need to adapt some of the advice to reflect your local conditions.
I have been reading these reader reviews for years, but this is the first book that has inspired me enough to write a review, so if you are reading Mr. Ruechel, please accept my thanks. I only wish your book had been out when I first entered this business. |
Not a farmer...
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| Review Date: October 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mara, Virginia |
I respectfully disagree with the reviewer that suggests that only other cattle owners can appreciate this book. Personally, I found it fascinating, and I don't have any animal larger than a dog. 'Grass-Fed Cattle' is comprehensive and thorough, explaining not just how to raise cattle on grass (all year round!) but WHY-- which is what makes it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in ecology, human and animal health, and/ or the way we eat. I picked this up just after reading Michael Pollan's 'Omnivore's Dilemma', which talks quite a bit about grass-fed versus corn-fed beef.
There are many aspects to the book that a non-farmer can appreciate. The compexity of such an operation, for one; the level of respect the author has for cows, for another. If you are not already eating grass-fed beef, this book will certainly be a push in that direction. The business perspective is interesting, too; I never realized that it was possible to rent grazing lands or that the cattle market had a 10-12 year price cycle.
Oh, and the few pages on picking out fertile cows and bulls is unintentionally hilarious if you're willing to step back and apply the same criteria to oneself... |
OMG
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| Review Date: July 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Benjamin Hartwell, Gorham, ME USA |
| This book sat way to long on my shelf. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Sometimes it takes someone outside of the industry to be able to step back and see what's wrong. Put your farm back in synch with nature and see your problems reduced and your profit increase. This book is the most well rounded book on every subject I've found. Also great worksheets to make your business plan. |
If you want to raise the best beef in the world, this is your guide
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| Review Date: May 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jeffrey L. Tobey, Caton, NY USA |
| I've been putting off raising beef for years. Now I know just what I want to do. I have a great opportunity because I dont have to correct my calving season. Just water and fences. This book will guide you through all the steps and explain why you should do things. I couldn't put it down. |
I think I could raise some cattle after reading this book
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| Review Date: January 31, 2008 |
| Reviewer: T. Buit, Washington |
| I also do not own any livestock and found this book to be a great read. I had just read The Omnivore's Dilemma (loved it) and wanted to read a book on the subject of grass fed cattle, I found this book and when I saw the mention of The Omnivore's Dilemma on the front cover I knew it was the book to read. I am interested in raising some livestock in the future and want a solid base of knowledge before I start since I have never raised any animals (except of course the usual dog and cat). After reading this I have decided to do many things different than I had previously thought I might. I also have to say I agree with "Mara" another reviewer about the fertile cows and bulls, I did think of that on a number of occasions while reading the recommendations. |
First Time Ranch
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| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Ring, Texas |
My entire family has been involved in Ranching for my whole life, I purchased the book before I even started cross fencing my first ranch. This book gives great advice to properly set up a Ranch, what to do, how to do it, when to do it, etc....It is the most thorough book of the 20 or so I have read to date. I highly recommend this book. Though all the ideas are great and give you good ideas, and best practices, not all of the ideas and tips are feasible for a person who also holds down a full time job and has a ranch on the side. The book is certainly written for the full time rancher
All in all, a great Book. |
Excellent Book
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| Review Date: February 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: thaiteaman, Thailand |
| I'm not a cattleman nor am I an expert of quality bovine literature but this book was excellent. Informative and extremely readable. The author addresses 'every' aspect of grass-fed cattle production. Plus it's filled with plenty of helpful illustrations. Overall a very worthwhile purchase. |
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