OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH FebruaryOKFR 2020 | www.okfronline.com | Volume 5 Issue 2 The Cowboy Lawyer Brad West FREE 2 | FEBRUARY 2020 OKFR WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2020 | 3 4 | FEBRUARY 2020 OKFR OklahOMA Farm & RANCH OKFR letter from the editor publishing contribution PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JM Winter Andy Anderson Will Chaney EDITOR Tony Dean Savannah Magoteaux Ddee Haynes [email protected] Phillip Kitts Summer McMillen Garrett Metcalf, DVM Happy Valentines production Lacey Newlin D a y t o a l l o f Bryan Painter ART DIRECTOR Rayford Pullen Kayla Jean Woolf our wonderful Pat Reeder [email protected] Hreaders. Janice Russell Beth Watkins Thank you for picking advertising executives Barry Whitworth up this February edition Rosemary Stephens of Oklahoma Farm & COPY EDITORS [email protected] Judy Wade Ranch. Krista Lucas Kathy Miller This is the month [email protected] of love, and we see it distribution everywhere. Bouquets Sherrie Nelson MANAGER [email protected] Pamela Black of roses, hearts, chocolates - they’re all symbols of love and [email protected] affection. administration DISTRIBUTORS Still, we farmers, ranchers, cowboys and cowgirls show love Pamala Black every day. We show it to the animals we care for, and the land we Brenda Bingham Pat Blackburn [email protected] Tina Geurin are stewards of. Yes, we make our living on the land and with our herds, but you can’t convince me that most of us don’t love our land and animals. CONTACT US Out amongst the horses and cattle, I am once again in awe of what Oklahoma Farm & Ranch magazine our God has created. He knew what He was doing when He created 200 Walnut St., Bowie, TX 76230 them. It makes me think of my favorite Dan Seals song, “God Must 940-872-2076, www.okfronline.com Be a Cowboy.” I think God must be a cowboy at heart. in association with He made wide, open spaces from the start. He made grass, and trees, and mountains, and a horse to be a friend, And trails to lead old cowboys home again. God created this all for us, and I love it. OKFR and Post Oak Media are not responsible for omissions or information that has I also love being able to bring this magazine to you each month, been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability and share these great stories from our wonderful contributors. for advertising content. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily I enjoyed getting to visit with Brad West this month for our reflect those of the magazine or its employees. Profile story, “The Cowboy Lawyer.” Most of Brad’s team roper friends don’t know about his alter ego - that of a successful trial ON THE COVER lawyer. Brad and his wife Diane, who live in Shawnee, Okla., raise corriente roping cattle on their ranch. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know more about Brad this month. OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH As always, if you have a story idea for our magazine, feel free to Brad West at his Shawnee, email me at [email protected]. FebruaryOKFR 2020 | www.okfronline.com | Volume 5 Issue 2 Okla., ranch where he and his wife, Diane, have a herd of 140 corriente roping cattle. Along with having a passion for team roping, West is an accomplished trial lawyer. (Photo by Savannah Magoteaux) Savannah Magoteaux Savannah Magoteaux, Editor The Cowboy Lawyer [email protected] Brad West FREE WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2020 | 5 CONTENTS 14 36 40 48 50 High Hopes Let Me Count Will Rogers Tales from an Noble in 2020 the Ways the Cowboy Outdoorsman Learning Rayford Pullen In her humorous Guest writer Pat Read Andy Recognize grafted shares his thoughts column, Beth Reeder shares Anderson’s recount and native pecan about the cattle Watkins shares several great stories about the sometimes trees for orchard industry in 2020 her thoughts on of Oklahoma’s cruel reality of management. Valentines. favorite son. Mother Nature. pg. 12 Controlling Feral Hogs pg. 10 Calf Vigor pg. 30 Brad West pg. 18 Wrangler National Finals Recap 6 | FEBRUARY 2020 OKFR FEBRUARY 2020 | 7 8 | FEBRUARY 2020 OKFR socIALIZING FACEBOOK WALL TWITTER WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2020 | 9 Calf Vigor By Barry Whitworth, DVM / Area Food/Animal Quality and Health Specialist for Eastern Oklahoma The initial overall physical strength and good health of a newborn, referred to as calf vigor, is very important to the future Thealth of a calf. In order for a calf to thrive, it must accomplish several things within hours im- mediately after being born. The calf must be able to sit up (sternal recumbency), stand, locate the teats and nurse. Any delay in nursing will have a major impact on the calf’s future since the im- munoglobulins that are present in a cow’s colostrum are best absorbed in the first four hours of life. Immunoglobulins are what protect a calf from disease caus- ing agents, and the absorption of immunoglobulins rapidly declines 12 hours after birth. Calves that are vigorous at birth have a much better outlook on a healthy future than those that are less vigorous (Courtesy photo) and are not able to stand and nurse advice on when to intervene with and a good candidate for early the chance of survival. soon after birth. a newborn calf. colostrum intervention. Most producers are capable of Assessing a calf’s vigor and In two studies Dr. Homerosky The second predictor producers assessing calf vigor based on the recognizing when to intervene and associates found two good can check for is does the calf have above parameters. Any calf born and help a calf is something all predictors of calf vigor. Consum- a strong suckle reflex? Suckle to a cow that has difficulty birth- producers need to be able to do. In ing colostrum within the first reflex can be determined by in- ing and or a calf that has problems human medicine, newborn babies four hours following birth was serting two fingers in the mouth with the above tests would be a undergo an APGAR test following dependent on calving ease and and rubbing the roof of the calf’s candidate for early intervention. birth. APGAR stands for appear- suckle reflex. Most producers have mouth. A calf that has strong jaw The best treatment for these calves ance, pulse, grimace, activity, and the ability to assess both compo- tone with a rhythmic suckle would is to give the calf two to three li- respiration. The test is given one nents. First, was the calf born in a be determined to have a strong ters of colostrum from the mother and five minutes after birth. The timely manner with no assistance? suckle reflex. The opposite of within the first four hours of life. purpose of the test is to assess how Calves that require assistance this would be considered a weak Any delay in getting colostrum well the baby tolerated the birthing are more likely to have acidosis. suckle reflex and may indicate the into the calf will increase the process and how well the baby is Acidosis is associated with failure need for intervention. chance of the calf having problems doing outside the mother’s womb. of immunoglobulin absorption, In another study, Dr. Murray in life. This does require more An APGAR test for calves similar sickness and death in calves. Dr. found that calves that did not sit work from the producer but should to the one in human medicine Homerosky found a correlation up (sternal recumbency) within pay off with more pounds of beef would give cattle producers a clue between acidosis and the inability 15 minutes of birth had reduced at weaning. when to intervene in a newborn of a calf to withdrawal its tongue absorption of immunoglobulins. If producers would like more calf’s live. Unfortunately, most after being pinched. A producer Also, calves born to cows that had information about calf vigor, attempts to develop such a test for can check a calf for acidosis by difficulty birthing took longer to they should contact their local calves have not been successful; pinching the calf’s tongue. If it stand. These would be clues that veterinarian or local Oklahoma however, there are several stud- cannot withdraw its tongue after the calf will require more care and State University County Extension ies that provide some practical being pinched, it is likely acidotic colostrum intervention to increase Educator. 10 | FEBRUARY 2020 OKFR (Courtesy photo) References Birth in Newborn Beef Calves. The Homerosky ER, Caulkett NA, Veterinary Journal, October 2017 Timsit E, Pajor EA, Kastelic JP, Vol.218: pp.1-6. Windeyer MC. Clinical Indica- Murray CF, Veira DM, Nada- tors of Blood Gas Disturbance, lin AL, Haines DM, Jackson ML, Elevated L-lactate Concentration Pearl DL, Leslie KE. The Effect and other Abnormal Blood Pa- of Dystocia on Physiological rameters in Newborn Beef Calves. and Behavioral Characteristics The Veterinary Journal, January Related to Vitality and Passive 2017 Vol.219: pp.49-57. Transfer of Immunoglobulins Homerosky ER, Timsit E, Pajor in Newborn Holstein Calves. EA, Kastelic JP, Windeyer MC. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Predictors and impacts of colos- Research, April 2015 Vol. 79(2): trum Consumption by 4H after pp.109-119. WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2020 | 11 Shown are feral swine damaging land. (United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) Photo Credit) The Next Step for Pilot Projects By Bryan Painter, Communicationsto DirectorControl for Okla.