Farm & Ranch
Dry Valley Dairy
By Jessica Bartel, editor
In today’s society it has become more important for the agriculture industry to educate its consumers. The head of the household, mother, makes the decisions on what her family eats and drinks. It’s become more apparent that these super-moms are making more healthy-conscious decisions for their family. At Dry Valley Dairy, Charles Steadham and his family make the effort to cater to those looking for un-pasteurized milk and grass fed beef.
In March of 2011 the Steadhams started milking Jersey cows and in June of that same year they started selling their milk. Prior to that, the Steadhams milked Holsteins and sold their milk commercially for 20 years. Selling 80-100 gallons per day, the Steadhams sell fresh raw milk from pastured Jersey cows. Raw milk, as Charles put it is, “Just the way it came from the cow! Jesus made milk!”Raw milk is not pasteurized with cream and butterfat still intact. Butterfat contains vitamins A and D needed for absorption of calcium and protein found in the water fraction of milk. Without them, protein and calcium are more difficult to utilize.
Butterfat is rich in short and medium chain fatty acids, which protect against disease and stimulate the immune system. To read more pick up the September 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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