Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch
By Rayford Pullen
Fall is upon us once again, and around here we have winter pastures, weaning spring-born calves and assessing winter needs on our mind. While winter is officially only three months long, like the other seasons, it seems as though winter is much longer due to the extra time and expense it requires to keep our cattle going and growing until spring comes a knocking again.
At our address, we had a wonderful grass year with our native grasses waist high, our cattle in great shape and our spring-born calves really turning it on. Since we rely on our native grasses as our winter hay source, at this time it looks like we will be in great shape.
We basically have a continuous grazing operation although we do defer grazing on some of our pastures each year to keep them healthy and growing.
Excess forage availability for the cattle seems to be the reason they are doing well this year. There is no cure for overgrazed pastures other than rainfall and rest, and we have certainly had our share of overgrazing the past few years during the droughts, and it certainly showed up in our lower weaning weights.
“The Time It Never Rained,” a book authored by Elmer Kelton and written about dry times in the San Angelo area, included a passage, “some areas of the state have several droughts during the summer, while others have several summers during the drought.” I know we have all learned some tough lessons that will stick with us for years to come with the availability of water for livestock and people being ranking right at the top of those lessons.
What’s ahead? Here’s my take on what’s going to happen in the next few months and years. Take it with a grain of salt and don’t bet the farm on it, but at least come up with your own thoughts and make plans accordingly.
Cattle prices will, in my opinion, recover from the lows of this past spring but may not be around too long. I believe producers will need to get options on their cattle so as not to let this opportunity slip by. Are we headed for a recession? If so, interest rates will go up and for those operating on borrowed money, our cost of production will go up and the price of cattle will retreat.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 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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