Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile…back at the ranch
By Rayford Pullen, [email protected]
Winter arrived and with it came the challenges for those of us in the cattle business as it relates to taking good care of our livestock, specifically those of us that calve in the spring.
As we discussed in the past, our spring calving occurs during the middle of winter and with that, as has been the case the past few years, weather extremes present some real challenge we face in getting our new-born calves up and going.
Cold weather combined with wet weather presents some real challenges in getting new-born calves off to a good start. One thing we are doing here at Pullen Angus is creating an area devoted to those new-born calves to get them dry and their body temperature up to ensure their survival. This will include a lighted area out of the weather, dry bedding, a heat source and a good supply of old towels. Not all calves will have issues getting up and going, but in the case of first-calf heifers, we seem to have a few more issues since some of these new moms are not as familiar as mature cows in drying their calves and getting them nursing ASAP. To read more pick up the February 2016 issue of NTFR.
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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