Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
By Rayford Pullen, [email protected]
Since I last checked in with y’all, we’ve had a few hurricanes, fires across the Northwest, flooding and several natural disasters across Texas and the United States. What’s been amazing to me is the fact that folks from all walks of life and all parts of the country have stepped up and answered the call for help. It makes me proud to see all the folks who care about and help others they don’t know and will probably never meet.
This is not new; it’s just what folks like you do when others are down and out no matter the reason why. Way to go and thank you to all those who have shown up and helped whether it was through donations of time, energy or finances. Makes you feel better inside and that’s where the action is.
Fall arrived earlier than normal this year at least temperature wise, and it was really a boom for cattle performance since forages were much more nutritious and, as a result, our cows look great headed into winter and our weaning weights were great. I haven’t compiled this information on our herd yet but will be doing so in the coming weeks and will share with you in future articles.
Our fall calving cows and heifers have been really busy putting calves on the ground and so far, so good, and as I stated in earlier articles, calf birth weights are five or six pounds lighter in the fall than in the spring. I don’t have a good explanation for that; that’s just been our observation comparing same sire calves born in the spring and fall.
To read more pick up a copy of the October 2017 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.
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