Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch …
By Rayford Pullen
It’s that time of year again when we get past Thanksgiving and are headed full steam into the Christmas season, the end of the year, and doing what we need to do tax-wise. I guess this time of year can be the best of times and the worst of times depending on what situation you find yourself in this year.
At Pullen Angus, we’re getting ready to start our winter feeding program that for us is a protein supplement along with a standing hay crop consisting of little bluestem, switchgrass, big bluestem, Indian grass and another dozen or so native grasses that have done exceptionally well this year. While we do a little pasture deferment each year, our primary program is continuous grazing with some rotation, depending on the year and our current grass inventory.
We are very fortunate in our area of the country not to need to feed hay, which is dictated by not overstocking and getting decent rainfall. If we can continue to get these good rainfall years, we should also be able to cut our weed control back since the healthy native grasses will shade out the weeds.
Due to the many droughts and wild fires we have had since 1996, we are just not getting our grasses back in great shape.
Let’s hope we get back to a more normal weather pattern in the years to come. What’s next for our program? During this time of year, we are in the process of deciding which bulls to artificially breed our cattle to, which bulls to use for clean-up and making sure we have the semen on hand.
To read more pick up a copy of the December 2017 NTFR issue.
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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