Farm & Ranch
Ranching Down Under
By Samantha Hall
Goats first arrived in Australia with the early settlers of the 17th century. Goats were originally introduced for their meat, milk and fiber. The domestic goat market collapsed in the 1920s, and some herds were set free to roam the country as they pleased.
Now days, there are roughly 2.3 million feral goats in Australia.
Feral goats can have a negative effect on the environment by depleting the soil’s protective cover of vegetation and breaking up the soil crust with their hooves, which aids in increasing wind and water erosion rates, and, unfortunately, has a significant long term impact on the biodiversity of the goats’ habitat.
If goat numbers are not controlled, the goat population can double every year and a half. Feral goat control is often influenced by market forces. When prices for goat meat are high, goats are harvested; whereas, when the market is on the decline, little goat control occurs.
To continue effectively managing feral goat numbers, harvest cannot rely on market forces.
To read more pick up a copy of the August 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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.
-
Country Lifestyles1 year agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
Equine7 months agoThe Will to Win
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
Country Lifestyles4 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
HOME7 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman
-
Outdoor9 years agoButtercup or Primrose?