Farm & Ranch
Ranch, Rodeo and Randomness
By Pepper Stewart
In recent weeks I’ve been visiting with cattle growers to see what topics are floating around the coffee shop.
“If documenting your cattle got you more money, why would you not do it?”
The reviews are mixed. They are anywhere from keeping the government off their farm, size of their herd, to even the age of the cattleman. The one thing we all agreed upon was that getting top dollar is everyone’s goal.
Over the past few years, cattle associations have tried to come up with a uniform way to trace cattle from birth to the table. Herd management is at the top of the list.
While talking with cattle growers, each had their own way to keep records on their cattle. The tried and true method—that most people discussed as the most effective—was that of the good ol’ notebook, pencil and paper.
The use of a computer program and online filing was mentioned a few times for record keeping. A couple of the cattlemen said they don’t keep any records or have a vaccination program.
Just like a box of apples, it only takes one cow to not be vaccinated and undocumented to ruin the market for the rest of us. Cases such as this are why it is important to know where the cattle come from as they travel from birth to the plate.
To read more pick up a copy of the February 2019 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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.
By Tressa Lawrence
Babies are tucked away in every nook and cranny. Many ranchers across Wyoming have baby animals popping up all over this time of year.
By Lindsey Monk
Another load of grain in to keep feeding the calves until the green grass can really start popping.
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