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Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…

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By Rayford Pullen

The feed wagon is now parked. I never thought April would make it after the winter we have all endured and as mentioned before. Despite April 15 being tax day, it also is usually my favorite day of the year as it relates to the bountiful grasses and legumes we have. If your calves are at least six to eight weeks old they will be able to take full advantage of this wonderful forage quality, and their mommas will be giving as much milk as they are capable of producing while getting into prime condition to rebreed. Life is good.

We will soon be vaccinating our calves for blackleg, deworming them and giving them their first vaccination for the virus complex including IBR, PI3, BVD, etc. Our cows will be getting their vaccinations for lepto-vibrio and dewormed. We like to use a white dewormer in the spring for both cows and calves as from past experiences, our calves will normally be 50 plus pounds heavier if they receive their dewormer at two to three months old in early spring.

To read more pick up a copy of the April 2021 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Farm & Ranch

Acorn Toxicity

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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.

brown acorns on autumn leaves, close up
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Farm & Ranch

Silver Bluestems

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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.

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Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

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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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