Spring has sprung and green pasture is coming on like gangbusters in most parts of the country. For most of us, this is good news because green grass relieves some pressure from searching for quality hay at a reasonable price. Of course, with the rising cost of fertilizer, it may be hard to decide which is the lesser of two evils: high-priced hay or high-priced fertilizer. However, if you have pasture and intend to utilize it for horses, there are some things to consider.

Keep in mind that going from dry hay and grain to lush, green pasture is a drastic change in diet and may increase the risk of founder or colic. Horses that are in the pasture full time, will gradually become accustomed to the emerging green grass as it comes up. But horses that haven’t had green grass should only be allowed to graze for an hour or two at first, then gradually increase grazing time by an hour every couple days until the horse is out full time. It is also a good idea for horses to have eaten dry hay prior to turnout so they are not overly hungry. Individual horses will have different tolerance levels to the diet change and the nutritional profile of the grass, so a slower introduction is usually better.

Spring pasture often looks beautiful and nutritious but can be very high in water and low in fiber content. In this stage of maturity, pasture may not meet a horse’s minimum requirement for dry matter intake and it may be necessary to provide 10–15 lbs. of dry hay per day until the pasture matures. Even when the pasture is sufficient to maintain horses in good body condition with no supplemental grain, there will still be nutrient deficiencies. Providing a forage balancer product such as Purina® Enrich Plus™ will supply a balance of protein, vitamins and minerals to compliment pasture. This product is formulated to meet nutrient requirements of mature horses with 1–2 lbs. per day, whereas most feeds are formulated to be fed at a minimum of 3.5–4 lbs. per day.

Pasture simulates a natural environment for horses and is considered healthy from a nutritional standpoint and from a low-stress, mentally healthy perspective as well. You may have enough pasture to serve both functions but in many cases, available pasture is simply a place to run around and nibble for a few hours a day. You have to consider how many acres and the number of horses you have to determine if you have enough pasture to provide adequate grazing for the grass to play a significant role in your horses’ diet.

The very best pastures may support one horse per acre, but most conditions will require closer to 2–3 acres to sustain one horse grazing full time. The effective stocking rate will depend on the type of grass, fertilization and rain fall. For shorter varieties of grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, pasture must grow 3–4 inches tall to provide adequate forage for horses. Taller grasses, including Coastal bermudagrass, should sustain a height of 6–8 inches. Stocking rates may be improved if there is an option to rotate pastures.  Grazing tall forage varieties down to 3–4 inches and shorter varieties to 2 inches in height, then rotating to another pasture for four weeks can help maximize grazing potential of available acreage. Rotating pastures is also a good way to reduce the risk of internal parasite infestation. A good rule of thumb is that if you can see manure piles in your pasture and if horses are grazing close to those manure piles, your pasture is overgrazed and horses should be removed to let it recover.

Source: Karen E. Davison, Ph.D., Equine Nutritionist and Sales Support Manager, Purina Animal Nutrition

Onion sets and bulbs have arrived at J&N Feed and Seed.  We’ve got 1015 Super Sweet, White Bermuda, and Yellow Granex. Once you get them home, it’s time to get them into the ground.

The soil should be worked to a depth of 8-10″ and should have good drainage and be in full sun. Spread about 2 pounds of fertilizer (10-10-10 or 10-20-10) over a 100 square foot area and mix into the top 3-4″ of soil. Pick out the best-developed plants and plant 3/4″ to 1″ deep and 2 to 3 inches apart.

Onions require a high source of nitrogen. A nitrogen-based fertilizer (ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate) should be applied at the rate of one cup per twenty feet of row. The first application should be about three weeks after planting and then continue with applications every 2 to 3 weeks. Once the neck starts feeling soft do not apply any more fertilizer. This should occur approximately 4 weeks prior to harvest. Always water immediately after feeding and maintain moisture during the growing season.

For weed control, a pre-emergent herbicide (DACTHAL) should be applied prior to planting. This will provide weed control for approximately one month after planting. Other products such as GOAL and BUCTRIL, can assist in weed control during the growing season. Always follow label instructions. For organic gardeners, a rich compost high in Nitrogen should be incorporated into the soil. Unfortunately, there is not any product available to assist in weed control so the only method will be cultivation. While cultivating be careful not to damage the onion bulb. As the onion begins to bulb the soil around the bulb should be loose so the onion is free to expand. Do not move dirt on top of the onion since this will prevent the onion from forming its natural bulb. Start early with cultivation practices.

Onion harvest should occur in May and June or when the onions have matured to the desired size. Pull the onions, leave laying in the row for 1-3 days for drying, clip the tops and roots and store in a cool dry place until needed.

Wondering what to do with the old Christmas Tree?  Consider Christmas tree recycling.

Give it to the birds!
Move the tree outside and create your own backyard bird buffet!

Find a place outside where the tree is sheltered from the winds, and stand it upright instead of on its side.  Birds prefer a tree that is off the ground and way from predators.  Attach it to a pole or fence if necessary.

Get the entire family involved, especially the kids.  If you have pinecones have them add peanut butter to the pinecones and then hang them in the tree.  Or roll the peanut butter pine cone in bird seed, or press dried cranberries, raisins, or sunflower seeds into the peanut butter.  Other ideas include stringing popcorn and cranberries and hanging the strings in the tree.

Cardinals, finches, and grosbeaks love popcorn. Cedar waxwings and robins will appreciate cranberries and raisins. Another idea is to cut an orange in half, take out the pulp, and fill it with homemade suet. This provides a good energy source for woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches.

Looking for wild bird seed?  Come see us, we have a great selection of bird seed and houses.

Create a fish habitat.
Sink your tree in a pond (with permission, of course). In deep water, old trees become habitats for fish and aquatic insects. In shallow wetlands, trees can act as barriers to sand and soil erosion—though currently only the State of Louisiana has a tree-based restoration project in place.

Mulch your tree.
Cut off the boughs and place them on the ground like a blanket to protect plants that are susceptible to windburn, plants that are marginally hardy in your area, and plants that might come up early and be nipped by a late spring frost, such as fall-planted pansies or early emerging perennials.

City Recycling.
Find out if your town or city has a special day for picking up Christmas trees or a place where you can take them after the holidays.

With the Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and Houston Stock Show’s around the corner, many student’s are working on with their animals as they prepare for the stock show season. Here are seven stock show preparation tips to consider as you work with your animal.

Diet: Watch and control your animals diet. Inconsistent feeding can lead to problems in consumption and growth.

Always watch your animals diet.  45-30 days out from the show, look to see if your animal on track. Do they  need to gain more weight, loose weight or do you need to hold them? The answers to these questions will help you determine if it’s time to cut back on feed, increase it or introduce supplements to their diet.

Coat Care: Your animals coat and skin condition are an important part of their show ring success. Know what the requirements are your animal and make sure they are clipped correctly.

Organization is key!  Be prepared to answer questions the judges may ask you. Know your animal’s weight, breed & feed. Once at the show, know your schedule and class.

Showmanship: The time you spend working with your animal now will pay off in the show ring. Be prepared to answer questions on animal care, feeding strategies, weight, and breed. Dress appropriately and neat!  Judges look at you as well as the animal. Nice shirts, clean jeans, and belts to hold up those pants. Be polite and respectful.

Judges: Each judge is different. Find out who the judge is, the information is available to you via the county extension office or the show rule book. Learn what is important to them. Understand their preferences, do your homework.

Be prepared:  If you are traveling to an event consider putting together a check list for you and your animal. What do you need to bring with you and what should you do to get ready? When at the show, make a list of what you should do to prepare you and your animal. Keep all your equipment and show supplies together. A little preparation goes a long way in easing the stress for you and your animal.

Ask questions:  The road to show ring success is long and requires discipline. You are bound to have a question along the way regarding care and feeding of your animal. Ask questions, it’s the best way to learn. Talk to your Ag teacher, local feed store or county agent, they are wealth of information and are happy to help.

The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) will take effect January 1,  2017, and affects how distributors sell feed-grade antibiotics, and how you, the customer,  will purchase these products. Rest assured, you will still be able to purchase these products from J&N Feed and Seed.

If you’re not familiar with the Veterinary Feed Directive, here’s a quick overview from the FDA. Over the past several years, the FDA has taken important steps toward fundamental change in how medically important antibiotics can be legally used in feed or water for food-producing animals. Now, the agency is moving to eliminate the use of such drugs for production purposes (i.e., growth promotion and feed efficiency) and bring their remaining therapeutic uses in feed and water under the supervision of licensed veterinarians – changes that are critical to ensure these drugs are used judiciously and only when appropriate for specific animal health purposes. The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) final rule is an important part of the agency’s overall strategy to ensure the judicious use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals.

J&N Feed and Seed is ready to work with you and your veterinarian to acquire the feeds you need to keep your livestock healthy. Questions? Please give us a call at (940) 549-4631 if we can answer any questions regarding the new changes coming in 2017.

Quick Tips For Healthy Pets In The New Year. With the New Year here, it’s time to take stock and make improvements in our lives and our pets lives.  Here are some ideas and tips to hopefully enhance the health and add some fun to your pets’ lives.

Pets can suffer from overeating and lack of exercise just like humans. But there are more things to consider than diet and exercise when it comes to being a good example for our pets. Here are a few tips to help your pets be happier and healthier in 2016.

1) Exercise

Regular exercise has the obvious health benefits, but it also is a great time to bond with our pets. A simple daily walk helps a dog learn proper manners, provides some good quality time, and does wonders for the human counterpart, too! Keeping pets at the proper body weight reduces the risk of heart and joint problems, diabetes, and a host of other poor health conditions.

2) Health Check Up

A regular visit to your veterinarian is the best way to stay ahead of potential problems. Annual examinations of teeth, heart/lungs, and body condition overall will be less costly than waiting for a problem to develop and your pet suffering needlessly from complications of preventable problems. Having a good “baseline” of information about your pet also gives the veterinarian something to compare against and determine exactly what is wrong when something isn’t quite right with your pet.

3) Good Nutrition

Like humans, pets who eat poor quality food just do not have the health reserves that those that a good balanced diet. Poor skin, hair coat, muscle tone, and obesity problems can be a result of a poor diet. Also, pets are not humans — a diet rich in table scraps is not a healthy one, and can lead to problems such as obesity and pancreatitis.

4) Good Grooming

No one wants to be around a stinky pet. Regular grooming — bathing, toe nail clips, brushing teeth and hair coat, parasite control — not only make the pet more pleasing to be around, it is much healthier for the pet! For skin and coat problems that don’t resolve with regular grooming, please see your veterinarian — there may be an underlying medical condition affecting the skin, coat, or toenails.

5) Safety

Keeping pets safe is something most pet owners take for granted. However, take a moment to assess the toxic chemicals used in your house and yard. Are they necessary? Are all safety precautions followed? Where are household chemicals stored? Can your pet access these items? If toxins such as rodent poisons are used, can your pet access the rodents? Think too about enclosures for pets — is the fencing secure? Can your pet get caught or hooked up on the fence, a tree, etc. and choke or be stuck out in the weather when you are away?

6) Information

Being informed is the best way to keep track of our pet’s health and well-being. If possible, keep a medical log of your pet’s vet visits, medications, special needs, etc. to help keep track of your pet’s medical history. Knowing what is normal and not normal for your particular pet will assist your vet figure out what is wrong in the case of illness.

The Internet is a wealth of information, but caution is advised when seeking out a diagnosis or medical assistance via the web. Just as in real life, there is good information and bad information out there. The only way to get an answer/diagnosis is through a thorough physical examination, review of medical history, and possible lab work performed by your veterinarian.

7) Love and Attention

This is probably obvious, but too many pets are left outside in all kinds of weather, with very little human contact. Same goes for inside pets — those who are largely ignored for lack of time and busy human schedules. Take the time to focus on your pets and create/nourish that human-animal bond!

 Maintenance

This refers to the more “unpleasant” aspects of pet care — the litter box scooping, yard clean up, cage cleaning, and fish tank maintenance. A clean environment for our pets is a healthy one! Poor sanitation can lead to behavior problems (i.e. litter box avoidance) and health problems such as skin infections and the spread of communicable diseases.

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM