Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
The rain came and it was good.
While we all had our share of challenges during the May and June rains, it seems as though the entire state was refreshed. For those who had livestock losses, and those were common during all the flooding, it may be hard to comprehend the good the rains have brought.
Our cities, both large and small for the most part, had their municipal surface water replenished to the point that water restrictions in most of our area have been dropped and the lakes, not only used for a water source but recreation as well, have returned to business as usual. Being located close to Wichita Falls, we have really been watching how those folks have coped with lake levels in the 20 percent range. Will we ever look at our water supply the same? I doubt it, and I hope not. If you are like me, the measures we took to conserve water during the drought will hopefully become part of our daily lives. Being on well water, like us and the majority of our neighbors, we wonder how the aquifers have fared. I’m sure the major aquifers are being monitored but I have not heard any reports on them. It will be interesting to see how they fared. To read more pick up the August 2015 issue.
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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