Farm & Ranch
Parting with Pathogens that cause BRD
By Jessica Crabtree & Dr. Jered Harlan
As Texas temperatures drop and rise, the unpredictable weather is not exactly conducive to keeping cattle healthy. A range of things can happen at different stages of their lives; however, at the top of that list is bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD is the general term for respiratory disease in cattle and is defined as a disease complex.
BRD is caused by a range of factors; however, it can be singly or by a combination. BRD is a major cause of economic loss. It can affect the lower respiratory tract/ lungs with pneumonia or the upper respiratory tract with rhinitis, tracheitis and bronchitis.
BRD is typically caused by a variety of pathogens, both viral and bacterial. Viral include Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Parainfluenza 3 (PI3), Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR). Bacterial Pasteurelle multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni and Mycroplasma bovis. To read more pick up the November 2015 issue of NTFR.
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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