Farm & Ranch
Spring calving is in full swing
By Rayford Pullen
Spring calving is in full swing here at Pullen Angus. Our goal is to have all our calves on the ground before April 1. While we don’t normally accomplish that feat, we keep trying. In my previous article I mentioned that the April born calves were 111 pounds lighter than our calves born in February and March. That’s enough incentive for us with calf prices as good as they are. Also, since we retain heifers every year and want those resulting calves born during February and March, older heifers are more apt to breed during the April 15-July 1 breeding season we use for heifers.
The moisture we have received to date is setting us up to have a really good spring. (Fingers crossed on this one.) Since the drought began in earnest in 1995, we have had years when spring failed to happen. It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years. Heck, we have kids out of high school now who think today’s weather pattern is normal. Won’t they like it when and if we ever return to normal precipitation?
To read more pick up the March 2015 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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