The growing trends toward the small farm or urban livestock production comes with great educational needs. Many urban or suburban schools have abandoned ag-related classes and FFA or 4-H options are limited. Parents, grandparents and family members may remember raising poultry, rabbits or small ruminants but those memories may not reflect today’s realities.
Rhonda Crank works through the salt and mineral needs for livestock in small production settings. A lack of salt and minerals affects the animals’ lives and the products we receive from them.
Source: Countryside Daily, November 8, 2017.
University of Georgia Extension Specialist, Johnny Rossi, says sodium in salt is the only mineral for which he believes animals have nutritional wisdom. He says, “They seem to know when they need it and how much they need. Except for their drive to obtain water, there is no greater drive in them than to meet this need.”
INSIGHTS: Consider discussing backyard farmers in team meetings. Use articles like this to educate customers about livestock care. Social media, newsletters and websites are great places to host links to this type of content.