The Immune System
“The immune system.” When captured in these three words it sounds simple, almost straightforward—a single entity or, at the very least, a tightly coordinated set. Is it that simple? Not at all. Coordinated? Well, yes and no. To begin to sort it out, let’s meet a few of the key players. Natural killers A wide variety of white blood cells emerge from stem cells in the bone marrow. Natural killer (NK) cells need help identifying diseased cells in the body…
New Approaches To Worming
The following article was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Some of this material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Organic Research and Education Initiative under award number 2016-51300-25723. Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an…
In Control Of Our Impulses
What defines success when we are working cattle? Years ago success for me was just getting the job done. Now, success is about specific outcomes I want to achieve. At the end of the day, regardless of techniques, do’s and don’ts or rights or wrongs, they are all academic if the outcome isn’t achieved. The outcome I strive for now is calm, relaxed cattle. When I pressure cattle to ask them to move or turn, slow down or speed up,…
A Brave New World
Following the global outbreak of COVID-19, we know that many farmers (particularly those who supply the hospitality sector) lost the majority of their markets almost overnight. We also know some farmers with established home delivery services, online sales or farm shops have been inundated by desperate customers. At the same time, many of the services and supply chains that farmers rely on—think animal feed or veterinary services, slaughter facilities and outlets like farmers’ markets—are at risk of disruption. Survival mode…
Meet The Farmer: Lazy Ways
Margot Heard raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW cattle at Lazy A Ranch in Austin County, Texas. She manages British White and Akaushi cattle on two properties totaling approximately 500 acres, selling high-quality grassfed beef through an online store. Educational activities sit at the very heart of the ranch. How did you get into farming? My father was a farmer and designed the first feedlot in Texas in the 1950s. As a child my favorite place was the…
