Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…

Published

3 years ago

April 13, 2021

NTFR

By Rayford Pullen

The feed wagon is now parked. I never thought April would make it after the winter we have all endured and as mentioned before. Despite April 15 being tax day, it also is usually my favorite day of the year as it relates to the bountiful grasses and legumes we have. If your calves are at least six to eight weeks old they will be able to take full advantage of this wonderful forage quality, and their mommas will be giving as much milk as they are capable of producing while getting into prime condition to rebreed. Life is good.

We will soon be vaccinating our calves for blackleg, deworming them and giving them their first vaccination for the virus complex including IBR, PI3, BVD, etc. Our cows will be getting their vaccinations for lepto-vibrio and dewormed. We like to use a white dewormer in the spring for both cows and calves as from past experiences, our calves will normally be 50 plus pounds heavier if they receive their dewormer at two to three months old in early spring.

To read more pick up a copy of the April 2021 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.