How To Protect Your Livestock From the Heat

How To Protect Your Livestock From the Heat

Many believe that livestock animals can withstand uncomfortable temperatures because they’ve evolved to live outdoors. However, this idea is only partially true. Just like people, animals can become very ill and even die from heat exposure caused by extreme temperatures. Whether cattle, pigs, goats, horses, or other animals, your animals will need adequate protection in order to survive and thrive. Learn how to protect your livestock from heat stress to keep them comfortable, happy, and, most importantly, healthy.

Provide Adequate Shelter

Unfortunately, giving your animals a singular shaded area isn’t enough to keep them cool. Often, the danger arises when animals start to bunch up, as this increases body heat and defeats the shaded area’s purpose. A good shelter should have fans, adequate ventilation, plenty of floor space, and be high enough to allow air movement.

Consider building earth mounds to keep animals apart. If you’re struggling to find a solution that ticks the boxes, you can convert fabric storage buildings into livestock shelters. If you’re looking to save a little extra cash, one of the environmental benefits of fabric buildings is their ability to utilize natural airflow to cut down on energy costs.

Adjust Their Diet Accordingly

Naturally, livestock animals will drink more water the hotter it gets, and they’ll need a bit of a diet and schedule change to maintain their body temperature. They’ll need about double the amount of water, so extra tanks may be necessary. Additionally, tanks and waterlines should remain in the shade and shouldn’t go above 80°F. There should also be enough trough space for each animal. As an estimate, cattle need about 2-3 inches of trough space per head.

In terms of diet, keep in mind that the digestion process increases body heat. Feeding a small portion in the morning and a bigger portion in the evening helps animals stay cooler when night comes around. Ultimately, you should avoid moving and handling animals as much as possible during the hottest times of the day, which is typically from about 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Consider adding more fat and fiber to their diet to decrease the heat created in ruminant animals during the fermentation process.

Offer Various Cooling Options

The best way to protect your livestock from heat is to provide them with various cooling options. While having enough ventilated shelter space is important, animals can’t stay in one place all day and will want to move when their body heat makes the space too warm. Sunshades, portable shade structures, sheds, and canopy trees are all excellent options that give animals a choice in case their current spot becomes uncomfortable.

Consider running water along the roofs of shaded housing to cool down the area or run water on the ground to keep hooves cool. You may also want to think about spraying down some of the animals with water during the hottest hours of the day. Alternatively, if you want to cool down the ambient temperature, running mist sprinklers in and around the shaded housing will do the trick.

Remember, livestock animals can become just as uncomfortable and sick as humans if exposed to the heat for too long. Give them plenty of shade and water, and look for signs of heat stress throughout the day.

Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Tractor Running Like New

Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Tractor Running Like New

The word “tractor” comes from the Latin word “trahere,” which quite literally translates to pull or drag, and that’s exactly what tractors do. They provide the machine power necessary to drag, pull, and push and are the driving force behind the agricultural industry. With all those expectations to live up to, tractors need proper care and upkeep to get the job done. For it to help you keep your farm running, you need to keep that motor humming. Let’s take a look at a few maintenance tips to keep your tractor running like new.

Check Your Fluids

There are quite a few different fluids that keep your tractor running. You need to check transmission, hydraulic, engine, and brake oils. If any of your fluids are low, or you notice sludge buildup from old oil, now is the time to clean and top off your fluids.

It’s critical for you to review your OEM’s instructions, as it will tell you what kind of fluids and oils you need to use for your make and model. For example, two of the most common tractor engine oils are 15w50 and 10w30. While these lubricants look and act very similar, there are many differences between 15w50 and 10w30 oil, and they’re not often interchangeable. Use the wrong fluid, and you put your tractor’s engine health at risk.

Inspect Your Battery

The longer your tractor has been idle, the more important it is for you to check your battery. The battery will likely discharge on its own, and the parts surrounding it can erode. If you don’t take the time to charge your battery, trying to start up your tractor can put a serious strain on your alternator. Once you’ve charged it, check the connection points for damage, corrosion, and buildup. If you tend to leave your tractor idle for extended periods, consider removing the battery leads so that it won’t discharge while not in use.

Monitor Tire Pressure

The lower your tire pressure, the more energy your engine uses. And the more energy your engine needs, the more fuel it burns. Low tire pressure is a fast way to lose fuel efficiency, and with fuel prices increasing, this is a quick way to spend a lot. You should check tire pressure at least once a week, but ideally, you’ll check it after every use. While tractors certainly aren’t fragile, driving over crops or rough terrain can puncture tires and cause slow leaks that you won’t notice until you spend more money on fuel.

Clean the Air Filters

Tractor engines, among virtually all automotive engines, rely on a complex combustion process to run, and what does a spark need to light? Oxygen. The slower or less consistent the combustion process is, the more unused fuel sits in the combustion chamber. In this way, your tractor’s engine needs to breathe if you want to maintain your engine’s efficiency. To avoid this, check your air filters after every 50 hours of use. If your filter is clogged or dirty, replace it as soon as possible.

Following these maintenance tips is a guaranteed way to keep your tractor running like new. Remember always to check your OEM’s instructions. From there, you’ll be on your way to having a tractor that’ll last you for years to come.

Reasons Why You Might Want a Magazine Holster

Reasons Why You Might Want a Magazine Holster

As a firearm enthusiast, you likely have all the standard bells and whistles that many gun owners already have. However, one piece of gear that many people tend to overlook is the magazine holster. There is a good reason for this, though. Most people who own a firearm don’t need quick access to a second magazine while shooting. However, there are some situations in which buying one or two of these can be beneficial. That’s why we’re here to go over some reasons why you might want to get a magazine holster for yourself.

You Have a Job in Law Enforcement

The people who most commonly use magazine pouches are police officers and other individuals who work in law enforcement. When your job is to serve and protect, you need to be able to do so effectively, which means having quick and easy access to additional rounds if necessary.

While many districts will provide their officers with magazine holsters, not all of them will, so you might need to buy a few on your own. Even if your district does provide pouches, they will most likely only be for your standard-issue sidearm. If you also carry a rifle while on duty, you’ll need additional holsters that can hold larger magazines.

You Conceal Carry Often

While it makes sense for police officers to have multiple magazine pouches, they’re certainly not the only people who could benefit from them. Normal civilians who practice concealed carry could also benefit from at least one magazine holster.

Even though you shouldn’t have to burn through a whole clip to protect yourself, it never hurts to be prepared. Having fast access to another magazine can help save your life if it ever comes down to it. Fortunately, some magazine holsters are made specifically for concealed carry, making them easier to hide. You’ll just need to know the common magazine pouch materials, so you can decide which will feel the most comfortable for you to wear.

You’re an Avid Hunter

Finally, we have the avid hunter. While not all hunters will find a magazine holster necessary, there are some reasons why you might want one if you go hunting often. Even though hunters usually aren’t firing off multiple rounds at a time, it’s not uncommon to empty a whole clip while on a long hunting trip.

One could argue that keeping an extra magazine in your pocket or hunting bag will work just fine. However, if you run out of rounds when your prey is still in sight, having quick access to a fresh mag will come in handy. Also, by always carrying your extra ammo on your hip, you will ensure that you have it with you when necessary. This will be extra helpful if you ever need to fight off a wild predator.

How To Tell if Your House Has Sewage Backflow

How To Tell if Your House Has Sewage Backflow

Sewage backflow is a common problem in homes, but it’s not always easy to identify. Sewage backflow occurs when wastewater flows backward into a home’s plumbing system. This can lead to many costly and unpleasant issues.

Fortunately, there are some signs to tell if your house has sewage backflow. Let’s explore these signs and how you can properly address them.

Unpleasant Smells

One of the first things to look out for is any strong or foul odors from drains or pipes inside your house. Smells are a tell-tale sign of potential sewage backflow since the smell of wastewater will be noticeable before anything else. If you notice any strange smells coming from your plumbing fixtures, it would be wise to have a professional inspect them immediately.

Slow Drains

Another sign that you may have sewage backflow is slow draining water in sinks and tubs. When sewer lines become clogged with debris, wastewater may start flowing backward and cause drains to become blocked more quickly than normal. Other issues can also cause slow drains, such as tree roots growing into the pipes. But if it happens often, it could point toward more serious problems, such as sewer backup or leakage.

Pooling Water

Gurgling noises coming from your drains also indicate possible sewage backflow in your home. These noises occur when air bubbles form in the pipes due to blockages or breaks in the line, preventing proper drainage. Another symptom associated with gurgling noises is pooling water near toilets or sinks where drainage should occur normally—this could mean an issue with the line leading away from your house. This issue needs attention as soon as possible.

Sewage backflow can cause several unpleasant issues in your home and can be one of the reasons your sink is making a gurgling sound or your toilet is overflowing. It’s important to know what signs to look out for so that you can identify potential problems early on and act accordingly.

Unpleasant smells from drains or pipes, slow-draining water, and gurgling noises are just a few signs that something might be wrong with your plumbing system. Don’t ignore them!

Activities To Plan for Your Next Camping Trip

Activities To Plan for Your Next Camping Trip

With spring finally here, it makes sense that you want to plan your first big camping trip of the season and get back out in the woods. While camping trips are great for sleeping out in nature and enjoying the warmth and comfort of a campfire, there’s so much more to do. Here are some fun activities to plan for your next camping trip to try and mix it up a little bit.

Make It a Fishing Trip

Few things allow you to enjoy the peacefulness of nature more than fishing. Whether you prefer to sit on the shore or head out on a boat, the serenity of fishing turns any camping trip into a more memorable experience. Depending on where you’re camping, you can catch bass, trout, catfish, and other tasty fish that are perfect for roasting over the campfire come dinnertime.

Nature Trails

Exploring nature trails is always an excellent activity to plan for your next camping trip. Many established trails exist to take you through fantastic scenic views and take in everything the area has to offer. If you’re not one for hiking, one of the many benefits of owning your own golf cart is that you can take it through a wide enough trail. For more hardened outdoorsy types, you may opt to skip the trail altogether and explore the wilderness to your heart’s content.

Wildlife Scavenger Hunt

There’s a certain majesty to discovering animals in their natural habitat. Many campers turn their trip into a game by seeing what creatures they can find throughout the weekend. Plan ahead and learn what types of wildlife are in your region to turn the trip into a giant scavenger hunt. Some of the most common animals to watch out for are deer, foxes, wild hogs, and the many interesting and exciting species of birds you’re likely to encounter out in the woods. Whether you want to focus on larger animals or primarily explore birdwatching is up to you.