Farm & Ranch
Read the Label – Withdrawal Time
By Jessica Crabtree and Dr. Jered Harlan, DVM
While the topic of antibiotic use in animals for consumption leaves people questioning its relevance, veterinarians are working to bridge that gap of understanding. Veterinarians such as Dr. Jered Harlan want producers to administer such medication properly and be educated about the substance so they are able to answer consumers when questions arise.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it their mission to ensure that all antibiotics used are done so in the most cautious way. Now that the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) has been put in place since Jan. 1 of this year, changes have been established such as elimination of the growth promotion use of human medically important antibiotics and expanding the list of feed-grade antibiotics classified as VFD drugs.
Plainly put, the majority of feed-grade antibiotics used in or on animal feeds that have been available to producers over the counter without the approval of a vet will now be subject to VFD drug guidelines.
Therefore, VFD rules allow producers and vets the opportunity to work closely together for the purpose of maintaining the animals’ optimal health. For years producers have been educated on proper methods of antibiotic use and have been held to compliance. The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has been training beef producers about the safe and appropriate use of antibiotics since the 1980s.
To read more pick up a copy of the March 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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