Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
By Rayford Pullen, [email protected]
Since I last checked in with y’all, we’ve had a few hurricanes, fires across the Northwest, flooding and several natural disasters across Texas and the United States. What’s been amazing to me is the fact that folks from all walks of life and all parts of the country have stepped up and answered the call for help. It makes me proud to see all the folks who care about and help others they don’t know and will probably never meet.
This is not new; it’s just what folks like you do when others are down and out no matter the reason why. Way to go and thank you to all those who have shown up and helped whether it was through donations of time, energy or finances. Makes you feel better inside and that’s where the action is.
Fall arrived earlier than normal this year at least temperature wise, and it was really a boom for cattle performance since forages were much more nutritious and, as a result, our cows look great headed into winter and our weaning weights were great. I haven’t compiled this information on our herd yet but will be doing so in the coming weeks and will share with you in future articles.
Our fall calving cows and heifers have been really busy putting calves on the ground and so far, so good, and as I stated in earlier articles, calf birth weights are five or six pounds lighter in the fall than in the spring. I don’t have a good explanation for that; that’s just been our observation comparing same sire calves born in the spring and fall.
To read more pick up a copy of the October 2017 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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