Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile back at the ranch..

Published

7 years ago

February 27, 2017

NTFR

By Rayford Pullen

If it’s not broke, do all you can do to prevent it from getting broken. This is in response to my bull buyers who are buying bulls to replace bulls with a broken, or at least a severely damaged penis. There are things we can do, in my opinion, to minimize the possibility of this occurring. Why does this normally happen in pastures where multiple sires are turned in on a group of cows? Why are young, or at least younger bulls, more apt to have this happen?

In my personal experience, when you put a younger, lighter weight bull into a pasture with an older, heavier bull, you are more than likely going to have the younger bull get injured. Why? Size and experience are on the side of the older bull and when he comes strolling along and sees the younger bull messing with one of his girls, he will ram the younger bull in his penis with his head while he is in the process of breeding and the damage is done.
The younger bulls on our place where this has happen to them will then retreat to a secluded area and stay there since they are now unable to breed a cow. Mission accomplished on the part of the older bull.

To read more pick up a copy of the March 2017 NTFR issue.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

2 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.