Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
By contributing writer Rayford Pullen
The rain finally arrived the middle of March in North Texas on just about the same day we are supposed to have our last spring freeze, March 15. Time will tell.
The weather has certainly been on the strange side with thunder and lightning in both February and March. And with Easter coming rather late this year, who knows, we may be in for another round of cold air in April.
Around our place it has been busy with lots of calves having been born and hopefully all should be here before the end of March. As noted in an earlier article, calves born after April 1 in North Texas, at least on our place, will not wean off as heavy as those born before then which is due to the fact that when the calf’s rumen begins functioning at around eight weeks of age, it will be June and the high quality spring forage will only be around for another six weeks.
With the momma’s milk production and forage quality both declining with the onset of hotter temperatures, lower gains will be the result. Calves born just two weeks prior to this time will have about a 50 pound weight advantage resulting in an extra $100 at sale time. Late-born calves cost you money. To read more pick up the April 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
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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