Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
By Rayford Pullen
It is time to turn the page and begin a new chapter we’ll call 2017, full of hope, promise and opportunities. Let’s just hope we recognize these when they are presented and use them as we continue down the cattle trail.
The recent cattle market reminds me of a cartoon I saw many years ago where the cowboy was visiting with his banker and the banker tells him he has good news and bad news regarding his loan.
The cowboy is all ears as the banker tells him the good news is “the cattle market is higher” but the bad news is “it’s not high enough.” This is where we seem to find ourselves when it comes to income versus overhead and our ability or inability to show a profit, which leads us to making decisions regarding our own operations.
As seed stock producers, we find ourselves in the precarious position of trying to do what’s best for us and our customers when it comes to investing in genomic testing and using the current technology available to us to hopefully enhance our ability to make sure we are producing the kind of bulls our customers need and or want.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2017 NTFR issue.
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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