Farm & Ranch

Ranching Down Under

Published

8 years ago

January 26, 2016

NTFR

By Samantha Hall

Over the years Australia has had many different pests that have affected the rural industry in one way or another—from grasshoppers to mice to cane toads and rabbits, all of which have been able to be maintained, and in some areas eradicated. However there is one pesky problem that is a little harder to control: dingos, wild dogs, and their hybrid.

Dingos first originated in Asia 14,000 years ago and were brought to Australia by the Aboriginals 4,000 years ago. In 1788 when Europeans settled in Australia they brought with them domestic dogs, which over the years started to run free with the dingos that had long since escaped their Aboriginal masters. The dingos and the domestic dogs started to breed, and continue to do so today.

Almost all habitats in Australia are suitable for wild dogs, including bushland, coastal zones, grazing and cropping land, sandy and stony deserts, alpine regions and even urban residential areas. To read more pick up the February 2016 issue of NTFR.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

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.