Farm & Ranch
Reticulo-peritonitis : Hardware disease
By Lindsay Allen
“Hardware disease,” also known as traumatic reticulo-peritonitis or traumatic reticulo-pericarditis, depending on which chamber of the stomach the foreign object lands, is a result of debris entering the digestive track of cattle and creating the potential for the object to pierce through the stomach walls and perhaps even the chest cavity and heart sac.
Heavy rains bring lots of silt and debris and the movement of water brings the movement of other items too, like nails, short pieces of fencing wire, small metal pieces, and other sharp objects.
These objects can linger and be found in winter feeding, too, when pastures are baled and foreign objects are picked up in the process. Items can be leftover from projects like fence or barn building, also.
Like most things in life, prevention is the best approach. Dr. Tom Troxel, professor and associate department head at the University of Arkansas, recommends producers walk their pasture and hay meadows after each rain, as the rain will wash away more of the silt and more likely expose foreign objects, which can even include sharp rocks.
To read more pick up a copy of the November 2016 NTFR issue.
By: Martha Crump
Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.
A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.
Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”
In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.
When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
Since their introduction to the U.S. in the early 1900s, Old World Bluestems such as King Ranch bluestem and Dahl bluestem have become established on farms and ranches from the Rio Grande to Nebraska. With such a wide range of adaptability, these species are subjected to a wide range of management, depending on location and the goals of the rancher.
Due to the aggressive nature of OWBs, producers in far South Texas have been trying to find a way to eradicate OWBs in their pastures. Texas AgriLife Extension bulletin “Introduced Bluestem Grasses: Management on Native Lands” describes several methods being used in the effort to rid pastures of OWBs. In 2016, one project involved using chemicals, plowing, mowing, reseeding, summer burning, and combinations of these practices.
To read the about the researchers findings and hear Tony’s take, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Watching our pastures over the years, I have noticed our forages quit growing when nighttime temperatures begin hitting that 45-degree mark, and in North Texas, that will usually be around October 20.
While growth stops, our forages will still be high quality which allows our momma cows to gain weight for another 40 days or so.
Getting these cows in better condition is key to getting them through the winter and breeding after they calve.
Read more in the October issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available online and in print. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive NTFR in your inbox each week.
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