Farm & Ranch
AgriLife Today promoting hurricane safety for livestock
By: Paul Schattenberg
Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Andy Vestal, 979-862-3013, [email protected]
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts have produced videos and publications to help ranchers and other horse and/or livestock owners prepare for a hurricane.
“The week of May 7-13 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week and AgriLife Extension is helping promote it by reminding Texans to be mindful of what they need to do to be ready in the event of a hurricane,” said Dr. Andy Vestal, AgriLife Extension specialist — emergency management, College Station.
He said one way people can prepare for a disaster is to be informed by reading and following the advice in preparedness publications available through the Texas EDEN website at http://texashelp.tamu.edu, as well as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore at https://www.agrilifebookstore.org/.
“Even with modern technology, it’s almost impossible to know any earlier than about a week out if a hurricane is heading your way,” he said. “That’s why it’s especially important for people who live in coastal areas and own livestock to start making preparations well in advance.”Vestal said hurricane season begins around June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.
Vestal said those who own horses and other livestock will benefit from videos made by AgriLife Extension experts and available on YouTube.
The first is Evacuating Horses, which features former AgriLife Extension horse specialist Brett Scott. This video can be found at: http://bit.ly/2r3TnhV.
Two additional YouTube videos feature Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station. Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock Owners: Video 1 can be found at http://bit.ly/2q6PLy7. Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock Owners: Video 2 can be found at 2http://bit.ly/2pBkQqq.
Vestal said the AgriLife Extension publication Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock Producers by Dr. Joe Paschal, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Corpus Christi, is also available on the Texas EDEN and bookstore sites.
“This guide shows how to help protect livestock from injury should a hurricane occur and briefly covers vaccinations, barn preparation, livestock evacuations, feed and hay, and water storage,” he said.
Vestal said additional AgriLife Extension hurricane-related resources can be found on Texas EDEN at http://bit.ly/2q8Lp8c.
“Texas EDEN and bookstore websites have additional information on disaster preparation and recovery, most available free of charge,” Vestal said. “There are also e-book format downloads for mobile devices for these publications. These materials contain useful information provided by the agency and other Texas A&M University System experts, as well as experts from state and federal agencies and the national land-grant university Extension system.”
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Find more stories, photos, videos and audio at http://today.agrilife.org
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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