The Canadian River Chronicles
Discover the Canadian River in Texas: its geological origins, cultural importance, literary influences, and contemporary conservation efforts.
Land & Ranch
Exploring the Fencing Types in Texas
Discover the different types of fencing in Texas, from barbed wire to water gaps, designed to meet the state’s diverse landscapes and agricultural needs.
The Original Food Truck: The History of the Chuckwagon
Food trucks have become incredibly popular over the past couple of decades and have grown to be a significant part of modern culinary culture. Tracing their origins back to the chuckwagon of the Old West, these mobile kitchens provided essential sustenance to cowboys during long cattle drives.
Wildlife Exemption OR Agriculture Exemption?
Landowners in Texas can benefit from favorable 1-D-1 open spaces land appraisal through agricultural or wildlife management exemptions. Both options require active land management and offer similar tax benefits, but differ in requirements such as livestock production for agriculture exemptions and more flexible fencing and lower cost practices for wildlife exemptions.
Livestock Brand: How to Interpret
A livestock brand is a permanent mark or symbol applied to the hide of animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, or goats, serving as a means of identification and ownership. Livestock owners create unique brands using methods like hot branding, freeze branding, tattooing, ear tagging, or paint, and can register these brands with local or regional authorities to establish legal ownership and prevent theft.
Rotational Grazing vs Continuous Grazing in Livestock
Pros and Cons of both Continuous Grazing and Rotational Grazing.
From Where Do Cowboys Originate?
Cowboys originated in the western United States in the mid-19th century, influenced by Spanish vaqueros who introduced cattle herding skills to the region. As settlers moved westward, they adopted these methods, forming a distinct cowboy culture integral to the American cattle industry.
The Importance of Deworming & Parasitic Control in Livestock
Recent rainfall in Texas has increased parasite rates in cattle, making deworming and parasitic control crucial. These measures protect livestock health, improve productivity, prevent disease transmission, and offer economic and environmental benefits.
The History of Barbed Wire Fencing
Barbed wire fencing has been a cost-effective solution for livestock containment and property protection for many years. Invented by Joseph F. Glidden in 1873, it revolutionized land management in the American West, leading to the end of open ranges and the rise of private farms and ranches. This fencing’s effectiveness and low cost made it popular, resulting in industrial production and international adoption. Today, barbed wire remains widely used in agriculture and security.
Testing Your Hay
Often, newcomers to cattle production hastily buy hay without considering its origin, cutting, or nutrient content. Hay testing is crucial for farmers and livestock owners to ensure optimal feeding strategies and animal health. By assessing hay quality through agricultural laboratories or portable devices, one can determine essential nutrients and make informed feeding decisions. Accurate hay testing leads to better livestock productivity and health.