Farm & Ranch
The invention that changed the West
By Jessica Bartel, editor
There are many collectors in the world who value such items as marbles, stamps, coins, baseball cards, trinkets, even shoes. Each separate item holds a numerical value as well as value to the collector. But, what if the piece were an historical item? Something that there was little recognition of and to find an example would be so rare and would mean you are a master collector? State, national and international clubs have developed over the years for collectors of barbed wire and barbed wire tools. Some may be surprised, but hunting precious, dated and sometimes never-before-found pieces of barbed wire can become an enchanting adventure.
Avid barbed wire collector and current president of the International Barb Wire Collectors Association, Bill Marquis has collected barbed wire for more than 50 years. Marquis began collecting the wire at age 15. Since then he has written a tool fencing book and assisted in other publications. There are many subjects associated with the domestication of the Wild West. Those things include the infamous Colt 45 and windmills, but perhaps barbed wire had the most altering and lasting affect.
With more than 11,000 different types of barbed wire, there are less than 400 patents with variations to each. To read more pick up the September 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.
Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Tressa Lawrence
Babies are tucked away in every nook and cranny. Many ranchers across Wyoming have baby animals popping up all over this time of year.
By Lindsey Monk
Another load of grain in to keep feeding the calves until the green grass can really start popping.
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