Farm & Ranch
The Dr. McDonald column – Sugar Cookies and Bartering for services
By Dr. Steve McDonald, DVM
I have, at different times in my career, bartered for various things instead of expecting money in return for payment of veterinary services. I most commonly took hay for vet services. It was a rewarding situation, and I was able to defray winter feed costs while allowing some clients to use extra hay as a bartering item. A few bales in return for a calf pull, a herd palpation job, or just about anything else worked well for all. A certain amount of trust was necessary, and the client had to believe he was getting his money’s worth in cash equivalent, as did I. I’ll say, no one ever tried to palm off bad hay on me.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2017 NTFR issue.
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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