Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
By Rayford Pullen
I’ve always liked the saying “It’s ok to be in a rut if you are headed in the right direction,” and it seems that sometimes we’re in that rut but cannot figure out which direction we are headed. That’s why another favorite saying “Don’t get so busy chopping trees that you forget to sharpen your ax” also reminds me just because we have it figured out today doesn’t mean we’ll have it figured out tomorrow because of this rapidly changing world. In other words, where are you going and how will you know when you get there?
I’ve been waiting about six months for spring to arrive, and as I’ve mentioned in prior articles, April 15 is normally my favorite day of the year due to the abundance of grasses and legumes in our pastures. Winters seem to get longer and longer each year, and the cost associated with supplemental feeds and proteins seem to get larger and larger, so in the meantime, we’ll concentrate on getting the most out of the livestock we raise so we can do it all over again.
To read more pick up a copy of the April 2019 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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