Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile back at the ranch

Published

5 years ago

February 27, 2019

NTFR

While it’s the dead of winter, spring calving is under way and keeping those newborns alive and doing good can often be a challenge, particularly with first calf heifers. The biggest challenge is for calves born during cold and wet weather that are unable to maintain body temperature.

On our place we have done and tried many ways to get the body temperature back to normal as quickly as possible and after a year of battling this problem, we elected to purchase a warming box that is completely enclosed and equipped with a forced air heater.

Ever since we bought this device, the winters have been relatively mild and it has only seen action on one occasion. It did its job in about a minute and the calf was rip raring to go.

Before we purchased this tool, we did several things. First, drying the calf off as soon after birth as possible, next, putting the calf in the floorboard of the pickup with the heater on high and then, if needed, putting the calf in the bathtub in warm water. This can be particularly dangerous if you do not have your wife’s blessing before bringing the calf into the house and placing it into the bathtub because in most cases, there will be a significant mess made.

To read more pick up a copy of the February 2019 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

5 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.