Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
By Rayford Pullen
There are 75 days until our first average freeze date here in North Texas, which normally occurs around November 15. Although grass growth is little or nothing after nighttime temperatures begin hovering around the 45-degree mark, our forage quality is still good for a few weeks after the first freeze of the year.
Around our place, we plan on supplementing protein around December 15 and continue until mid-March, or approximately 100 days. We are still looking at our options for this winter regarding feed source; i.e., cubes, liquid, etc. We know anything we can do to lower our overhead is vitality important to our bottom line.
Forage growth has been phenomenal across most of Texas this year so our stockpiled native grasses will be our main hay source this year, which also helps with the bottom line. The winter pasture we will be planting, Nelson ryegrass, will be stockpiled until mid-January and February for our first calf heifers and developing virgin heifers.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 2021 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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