Farm & Ranch
Spring calving is in full swing
By Rayford Pullen
Spring calving is in full swing here at Pullen Angus. Our goal is to have all our calves on the ground before April 1. While we don’t normally accomplish that feat, we keep trying. In my previous article I mentioned that the April born calves were 111 pounds lighter than our calves born in February and March. That’s enough incentive for us with calf prices as good as they are. Also, since we retain heifers every year and want those resulting calves born during February and March, older heifers are more apt to breed during the April 15-July 1 breeding season we use for heifers.
The moisture we have received to date is setting us up to have a really good spring. (Fingers crossed on this one.) Since the drought began in earnest in 1995, we have had years when spring failed to happen. It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years. Heck, we have kids out of high school now who think today’s weather pattern is normal. Won’t they like it when and if we ever return to normal precipitation?
To read more pick up the March 2015 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.
Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Tressa Lawrence
Babies are tucked away in every nook and cranny. Many ranchers across Wyoming have baby animals popping up all over this time of year.
By Lindsey Monk
Another load of grain in to keep feeding the calves until the green grass can really start popping.
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