Livestock Supplies
Years ago, I wrote a novel about a woman who inherited a horse ranch from her eccentric uncle. In the process of putting it all together, I did a fair amount of research into ranches and horses. What I didn't research (and should have) is the care of livestock. Horses, cattle, sheep - different species, different needs, different problems.
I mention this because, a few nights ago, I had an idea for another story - about a woman and her daughter, and their collection of animals. This triggered the memory of a baby lamb in my aunt's farmhouse kitchen, next to the stove during one very cold winter. How did my aunt and uncle know how to care for this little creature? What did they feed it? How often? Did it have to have shots? Why wasn't it with the ewe?
Obviously, if I am going to write a story about caring for, in this case, a newborn calf - I need to get educated. So, since I'm really tired of unpacking and putting away, why not start my research?
After a couple of false starts, I found an interesting site that offers cattle supplies and information about why, when, and how to use them. For example, there is an energy supplement to help calves under stress or when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. (An important thing for me to know, since my stories tend to take place on the chilly Colorado plains.) Then, there are pest-control items, grooming tools, feeders, mineral holders, fencing, and on and on and on. It would be impossible to rely on my memory of family farms from almost 40 years ago, so everything becomes important pieces of the whole. As they are for people with real livestock in real fields and real barns.
I'm glad I found Jeffers Livestock, because I need to know more than just what my characters' animals require. I need to know what supplies cost, how and when to use them, and how to get them from the supplier to the barn. Readers who know are not shy about 'educating' lazy authors!
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God Bless!
Jules
