Farm & Ranch
Ranchers, more than cowmen, but stewards of the land
By Lindsay Allen
Dr. Larry Redmon, professor and associate department head and extension program leader for the department of soil and crop sciences at Texas A&M University, said a cowman’s number one goal when it comes to his soil is protecting this valuable resource from erosion loss. While some soil erosion may be natural, an accelerated form of erosion is not.
Removing any protective layer from your pastures, such as trees, thick leaf layers and dense grass, which all protect the soil in its natural state, could speed up the erosion process. Poor grazing management is another area that could take a toll on the soil and increase erosion. Redmon said appropriate stocking rates are critically important when it comes to providing the necessary levels of forage residues remaining in the pasture in an effort to reduce and protect the soil from erosion loss.
When taking soil samples and tests, Dr. John Lory, University of Missouri Extension, recommends the sampling area be divided into pastures that have similar characteristics and should not exceed 20 acres. To read more pick up a copy of the September 2016 NTFR issue.
By Heather Welper
Husband and wife duo, Heather and Calvin Welper, are the Co-Owners and Operators or Two C Livestock, located in Valley View, Texas.
The pair’s operation has a show cattle focus where they raise and sell purebred heifers of all breeds and club calf Hereford steers.
When it comes to show cattle, the Welpers know a thing or two including how to prepare for the cold winter months and the Texas major show season run.
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 Hannah Claxton, Editor
As the sun rises each day, so do the dozens of mouths that Meghan McGovern is responsible for getting fed. Rather than the sounds of a rooster crowing, McGovern hears the bellows and bleats of a variety of exotic deer, the chortle of kangaroos, the grunts of water buffaloes, and the chirps of a lemur.
Nestled against the banks of the Red River, the Double M Ranch and Rescue, with its high game fences and deer sprinkling the landscape,s its in stark contrast to the surrounding ranches.
“Having deer is kind of like eating potato chips- you can never actually have just one,” said McGovern with a laugh.
McGovern has several herds to take care of- fallow deer, axis deer, water buffalo, goats, and bison. In smaller numbers, there’s also a few kangaroos, a lemur, a potbelly pig, a pair of zebras, a watusi, and a few horses.
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 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.
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