Darrin (@DmanUS)

Something not talked about enough in animal tending is poo'ology (I'm sure it has some fancy name, but I ain't fancy) My visiting sister asked the question, "do the chickens eat the goat poo?" And I answered "yeah" and dove on it. I pointed out brown watery chicken poo and the tiny goat poo BB's in it Vs nice pasty half white half brownish poo. Which prompted her to ask how often I look at poo. Daily, I pick up each animals poo and break it between my fingers for examination. This allows me to firmly diagnose and monitor for parasites, and/or treatment. I don't have to do every animal, since they eat and sleep together. But it's one of those daily chores often not talked about. The feel and smell of healthy cow pies is distinct, kind of alfalfa'y with a smooth non gritty texture, even if I'm not feeding alfalfa. I would say cow pies are largely dictated by the minerals we feed. Protien, selenium, iron ect all change the exit product. I've picked up from serious cow punchers, who can look at it by color and judge nutrients and by that last little poo part and how it ends. Instead of being a nice triangle ending, it kind of trailed a little - too high of protien in the mineral block/bucket, plus that poo was a little too blackish. Poo'ology hehehehe