04/08/2013 - Farm Animal Upchuck
My question this week is a good one: Can farm animals vomit? That is, can they really vomit—not eject stomach contents at will, like llamas and alpacas can do, or dribble throat contents if we choke.

04/01/2013 - Using Plants as Medicine for People and Animals
Last week, I told you about how Mom gathers and feeds wild blackberry leaves to my girlfriends and our pregnant ewes. But blackberry is only one of thousands of plants used in herbal veterinary medicine.

03/25/2013 - Blackberry Leaves for Pregnant Livestock
Mom was gazing out the window at the snow this morning and wondering when spring will come to the Ozarks. She wants to gather wild blackberry leaves for our ewes because she fed last year's supply to my girlfriend, Katy.

03/18/2013 - The Facts on Fishers
“Mondays with Martok” reader Karen Surprenant submitted this question that I'm really excited about answering this week: “How can you deter Fishers? I'm having a big problem with them.”

03/11/2013 - Working Goats
Last week, Katy the Alpine goat gave birth to my newest kids. They're a boy named Ranger and a girl named Rapunzel. They're cute! Ranger is so colorful that Mom says he's going to become a working goat and pull her wagon and cart—maybe even go in parades!

03/04/2013 - Goat Health: Copper Deficiency
Hi Martok, I'm a Pygmy goat wether and my brown coat is rough and turning light orange on my legs and tail! My mom suspects a copper deficiency, but I frequently nibble on a low-protein, loose mineral for goats, which contains copper. ...

02/25/2013 - Angora Goats: Equipment and Shearing
My question is from Julie Anne Lail who says, “Martok, what can you tell me about the difficulty and equipment that will be going into the Angora goats we are planning to purchase? Will it be difficult to learn how to shear?”

02/19/2013 - Takin’ Pills
Have you ever tried to give your dog or goat or horse a pill? Most of us animals don’t like pills, so I bet it was a job.

02/11/2013 - Nature's Cleaning Crew: Vultures
Sometimes people ask our mom, “What is your favorite bird?” They think she’s kidding when she says “the vulture,” but she’s not.

02/04/2013 - Track Nature with a Calendar
Mom was looking at her calendar today. She checked it against her 2011 and 2012 calendars, and guess what? The frogs should start serenading us this month!