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Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

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By Rayford Pullen

This spring calving in the middle of the winter is for the penguins. While I have mostly been an advocate of spring calving, calving in the fall when the temperatures are a lot milder is looking better and better all the time, but there’s just one catch, and that is you basically have to give up half a year’s calf crop to get it done, and it doesn’t make really good financial sense from that perspective to move calving from spring to fall.

I’ve been thinking a little about what’s going on in this cattle market, and I guess I’ll just keep on thinking about it because I have not come up with any answers. We now have a new president, and we are anxious to see what impact that will have on commodity markets as well as the stock market. There is one thing for sure and that is it will be different, good for some, bad for some, and neutral for others, about the way it has always been. We will just continue to do business as usual, looking for opportunities along the way and hoping we recognize them when they show.

Calving in the winter is certainly stressful from a temperature standpoint where temperatures can range from 10 to 75 degrees, and while we don’t expect any calving issues, we do try to keep a closer watch over our first calf heifers with the first check around 8 a.m. and the last check about 11 p.m. We try to keep them in traps near our routine high traffic routes so we can observe them several times per day.

To read more pick up a copy of the February 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Country Lifestyles

Wichita Falls Area Cattlewomen

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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.

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Farm & Ranch

Grazing North Texas: Managing Old World Bluestems

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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.

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Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

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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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