Farm & Ranch
Sir Sidney Kidman “The Cattle King”
By Samantha Hall
Sidney Kidman was born in a small town in southern South Australia on the of May 9, 1857.
He was the third of three boys born to his parents who were farmers who had moved to Australia from Suffolk, England in 1849. Kidman’s father died while he was only six months old. Kidman left home not long after finishing primary school with five shillings (about a nickel) to his name and mounted on a one eyed horse. Kidman worked for drovers and graziers all across South Australia and Western New South Wales learning the ins and outs of the cattle industry and the land from both white and Native stockmen.
He even tried his hand in the shearing sheds as a roustabout. Following the discovery of copper in the western New South Wales town of Cobar in 1870, Kidman put away enough money to establish a butcher’s shop in the township to supply meat to the miners who were flooding into town.
In 1878 Kidman received an inheritance of 400 pounds from his grandfather, and he continued to work his butcher shop and began trading cattle and horses with his 400 pounds. He eventually had such an impressive string of horses put together that he was able to supply the British Army based in India with horses.
In 1886 Kidman purchased his first cattle station “Owen Springs” on the Hugh River southwest of the town of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (right in the center of Australia). He was by then a renowned bushman and excellent cattleman who had a detailed knowledge of the country he resided on. Kidman’s land holdings continued to grow, making it possible for him to move cattle from drought affected areas to better feed and the ability to sell cattle in higher markets. Due to his expanse of land, Kidman was able to survive the depression and the otherwise crippling drought of 1902.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe 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.
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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