Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
By Rayford Pullen
We made it to another spring. Winter feeding is over, our cows have calved, the bulls are turned out and now we turn our attention to our forages, specifically weed control, this time of year. We will also be working calves for the first time this month, and I will discuss our program a little later in the article.
Cockleburs, pronounced “cuckleburrs,” have become a real nemesis the past few years following the drought. These sunflower and daisy kin folk have really given us fits and have been hard to control since they have basically germinated all summer long with the wonderful rains we have had.
So this year, we are going to wait a little longer than normal to apply herbicides in an effort to control this particularly robust critter.
Not only do they shade out our grasses, but the burrs themselves can create breeding problems for bulls if allowed to accumulate on his business end. Calves, being closer to the ground, will also get their hides full of these seed and makes working them a real hazard. If you have a good remedy other than spraying two or three times a year, let me know. I am open to suggestions.
To read more pick up a copy of the May 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call us at 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.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
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: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
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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