Farm & Ranch
Ranching Down Under
By Samantha Hall
Although the Australian agriculture industry has diversified a lot since the days of Australia, “riding on the sheep’s back,” wool and lamb producers in Australia have managed to maintain their dominance as world leaders in producing and exporting quality wool and lamb meat. The first sheep arrived in Australia in 1788, but it wasn’t until Captain Kent and the ship HMS Supply arrived from South Africa a number of years later with 33 Merino ewes on board that the sheep industry really started to gain any momentum. Still to this day after having been introduced all those years ago for their high quality wool production, Merino is still the most prominent breed of sheep in Australia, producing a high quality natural source of fibre to supply wool markets across the world. Merinos have also proven themselves when crossed with both British short and long wool breeds for mutton and prime lamb meat. To read more pick up the April 2016 issue of NTFR.
Farm & Ranch
Hazards of Backyard Poultry
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.
Farm & Ranch
Ag Elsewhere: Wyoming
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.
Farm & Ranch
Ag Elsewhere: Montana
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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