By: Martha Crump

Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.

A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.

Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”

In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.

When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

By: Krista Lucas Wynn

Makenzie Mayes has had a year she will not soon forget. The cowgirl, who grew up near Winnsboro, Texas, has found herself at the top of the standings in the United Professional Rodeo Association.

“She loves to run barrels and is just a winner,” she said of her horse, Rousey. “She has been the biggest blessing to me.”

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

By: Dr. Matthew Garcia, M.S., MBA, PhD | Director, TCU Ranch Management

As agricultural producers, I think there are many times when we are reactive rather than proactive.

We manage a production situation without managing our agricultural system in those scenarios. Agricultural operations are very diverse and made up of multiple resources that are directly linked.

Nothing in our systems operates independently, and a management decision affecting one resource will have subsequent impact on a subsequent upstream of downstream resource.

While I fully understand that situations come up that we must immediately deal with, I think that we are sometimes very reactive and don’t consider the upstream or downstream effects on multiple facets of our operations.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.