Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
By Rayford Pullen
There are 75 days until our first average freeze date here in North Texas, which normally occurs around November 15. Although grass growth is little or nothing after nighttime temperatures begin hovering around the 45-degree mark, our forage quality is still good for a few weeks after the first freeze of the year.
Around our place, we plan on supplementing protein around December 15 and continue until mid-March, or approximately 100 days. We are still looking at our options for this winter regarding feed source; i.e., cubes, liquid, etc. We know anything we can do to lower our overhead is vitality important to our bottom line.
Forage growth has been phenomenal across most of Texas this year so our stockpiled native grasses will be our main hay source this year, which also helps with the bottom line. The winter pasture we will be planting, Nelson ryegrass, will be stockpiled until mid-January and February for our first calf heifers and developing virgin heifers.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 2021 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.
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