Farm & Ranch

I Left the USA Again

Published

5 years ago

June 3, 2019

NTFR

By Pepper Stewart

First, let’s take a look back at a little story from 2014 and now an update.

We never take group tours, just grab a map, pin some places and go. Most of June 2014 my wife and I took a little trip to England. Yes, the country. Like most Texas cattlemen, I have not had the opportunity for worldwide travel, as there are always cows needing tended to and horses to feed. During my rodeo days, the extent of my travels was Texas (13 hours to cross) and Oklahoma, but nothing like what I was about to experience.

For those who have been to England, or travel the world often, this might seem silly to you, but for me it was scratching a lot of firsts off my list. During our travels we stayed in a few places from downtown London to spending time in York, then in North Yorkshire on a sheep and cattle farm. From the people we stayed with and others we met, most of them were nice and got a kick out of the Texas accent.

With my wife being a history buff, this was mainly a trip to places off the beaten path. We walked through castles filled with history. Some were just ruins, and others had been well maintained with people still living in them.

To read more pick up a copy of the June 2019 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

1 week 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.