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 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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