Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

Published

6 years ago

March 25, 2018

NTFR

By Rayford Pullen

I’m so happy spring is here I can’t stop grinning.

Bull decisions are made this time of year that can impact our herds for the next 10 to 20 years if we retain heifers.

While bull suppliers like us focus on producing potential herd sires that are virgins, with calving ease, below average birth weight, good weaning and yearling weights, plus good carcass traits that result in a bull’s calves meeting CAB requirements down the road, most of our customers have their own criteria when selecting a new herd sire.

Our customers want a bull that is gentle, good looking and throws a live calf that will have a good weaning weight. Reading the EPDs on a bull is like reading a Chinese novel for most folks, so in our opinion, responsible breeders make sure the bulls they sell have the traits (EPDs) the customer needs for his operation. This may involve asking questions i.e. are you using him on heifers or cows or both, do you sell your calves at weaning, do you retain heifers, do you retain your calves as stockers, do you send your calves to the feedlot.

To read more pick up a copy of the April 2018 issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

7 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.