Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
By Rayford Pullen
In our area of the world, I’ve always considered January 15 through February15 as the worst part of the winter where gains are hard to come by due to calories being spent on just keeping warm with little left over for gain.
Having our cattle in really good condition as the result of a late freeze in the fall allowed extra time for gain in our cow herd after weaning spring born calves while forage quality was good. As a result, we expect these cattle to be in better condition when they calve this spring (in the middle of winter) and subsequently have fewer calf health problems with the cows breeding back more quickly.
We will probably feed our cattle like we always have but with them in such great shape, they will remain in better shape throughout the winter.
Somewhere along the line in my lifetime, I read that cows will normally lose approximately 150 pounds during the winter without sacrificing production but if they are not in above average condition going into winter, then that’s not weight we can afford to give up.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2020 NTFR issue. To subscribe 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.
By Rayford Pullen | [email protected]
Spring has sprung and hopefully the rains will continue where our country will heal from the previous droughts and our grasses will thrive. We are especially hopeful for the Panhandle of Texas where our neighbors and friends have been dealt a deadly blow to homes, ranges, livestock, and people. Keep them in your prayers as they will not be able to return to normal for many years if at all. Having lost their ability to benefit from this great cattle market is a double whammy for all of them.
Now is the time of year when we need to take care of business as it relates to our new calves that have been hitting the ground this spring. First and foremost is vaccinating for Blackleg followed by deworming with a white wormer and the IBR complex. Blackleg is a soil-born disease and with pastures extremely short this spring our calves have been grazing the green grass as soon as it shows itself, making them even more vulnerable to picking contaminates from the soil.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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