Farm & Ranch
What to expect when your cow’s expecting
By Jessica Crabtree and Dr. Jered Harlan
As a cattle producer, your ultimate goal is bred cows, successful pregnancies and deliveries with weaned calves at the end with little to no problem at each stage. That is in a perfect world. Reality is, problems can occur before pregnancy, during the pregnancy and after the pregnancy. The majority of these issues come on rapidly and require rapid treatment. Fortunately, if tended to early, little to no permanent damage on subsequent breeding occur.
Pre-calving problems range from vaginal/rectal prolapse to ketosis/pregnancy toxemia. Prolapse occurs when the tissue around the birth canal becomes relaxed as the cow begins the last third of gestation. Due to increased pressure in the abdominal cavity, the vagina or rectum will protrude. If that tissue is trapped outside the birth canal, it will swell and become infected. The bladder may also become trapped, making it impossible for the cow to urinate. This is more common in older cows or even first-calf heifers. To read more pick up the January 2016 issue of NTFR. 
Abnormal calving positions. (Courtesy photos)
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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