A case in point: shortly after we moved here, we asked three area vets (one equine practitioner, two general practice vets) if selenium deficiency might be a problem on our farm. They assured us it isn't.

Then one of our little ewes gave birth to a lamb that was clearly suffering from white muscle disease (caused by a lack of selenium in the diet). We treated him with Bo-Se and it took awhile but he recovered nicely.

When we asked our County Extension agent about it, he said we are indeed selenium deficient! He explained that in northern Sharp County (where we live) soil quality varies greatly from farm to farm. He has maps that indicate areas deficient in essential minerals including selenium. So, thanks to his knowhow we treat our ewes with Bo-Se (injectable selenium-vitamin E) twice a year and avoid a great deal of heartbreak.

Now he's the first person we contact for area-specific farming advice!

Sue  

Oh no! Could you visit the County Extension office in a neighboring county with land conditions like your own? I've done that before just to get a second opinion. Most offices are great about handling walk-in visits from out-of-county visitors.

Apart from that, a vet might be able to advise you, or possibly an experienced keeper of the type(s) of livestock you'd like to keep.

It's impossible for someone out of your area to give you accurate information. For example, we kept four (fat) horses on two acres of lush Minnesota pasture all summer and here, we have rocky 29 acres that provides pasture only three months of the year before we have to supplement with hay. I've heard it takes 30 acres to feed a cow in some parts of the country. Things vary hugely from place to place.

Sorry I can't be more help.  :o/

Sue