Archive for the ‘articles’ Category

ProFusion Drench Now at J&N Feed

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

ProFusion Drench significantly improves trace mineral status within 48 hrs of administration, making it ideal for stressful periods when cattle are off feedProFusion™ Drench from Zinpro Specialty Products provides a multi-day supply of essential trace minerals and other nutrients lost by cattle during weaning, shipping, receiving, vaccinating, and other times of stress when cattle are likely to go off feed. Formulated with patented ProPath® performance minerals, ProFusion Drench significantly improves trace mineral status within 48 hours of administration, making it ideal for stressful periods when cattle are prone to go off feed.

ProFusion Drench is available without a prescription at J&N Feed and Seed. Stop by and talk to us about your cattle operation. We’re here to help.  Click here to view the product information sheet.

 

Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees

Monday, January 31st, 2022
Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees. Variations of Crape Myrtle Trees in winter..

Never cap your crape myrtle trees. Above – the wrong way. Below – leave them as trees.

A touchy topic is pruning crape myrtle trees.  Do you prune them? When and how much?

The best time to prune is late winter, February – March.  The goal is to enhance the trees natural form, don’t force it to grow in a small space or prune it into an artificial shape.  Crape myrtles naturally grow as small upright or vase shaped trees with multiple trunks. A well pruned crape myrtle will have the trunks grow upward and outward. Additionally, the branches should fan out rather than growing inward into the center of the tree.

Remove crossing and inward growing branches.

To determine if your crape myrtle needs to be pruned, examine the direction in which the trunks and branches grow. Starting at ground level, follow the trunks upward to where they begin to branch. Focus on the interior of the tree rather than the outer edges. Branches that grow into the center of the tree, crossing over other branches or trunks, should be removed.

To remove a branch, follow it back to where it joins a larger branch or trunk. Take a close look at the point where the branch joins the trunk. You will notice at the point where the two join the branch is swollen or enlarged. This area is known as the branch collar. Using a pruning saw, remove the branch by cutting just above the branch collar rather than flush with the trunk. If the branch was removed at the correct place the branch collar left behind will extend out a centimeter or two from the trunk.

The wrong way to prune.

A misconception that crape myrtles need to be severely cut back in late winter or early spring in order to flower well in summer has led to the unhealthy practice of topping these plants. If necessary, crape myrtles can be reduced in height without being topped.

Topping (buck horning or de-horning) or “crape murder” involves cutting stems back at an arbitrarily chosen height rather than pruning back to a bud, side branch, or main stem. Topping trees and shrubs is harmful in many ways and regarded as an unacceptable practice by trained horticulturists and arborists.   Research shows that stem decay significantly increases when topping cuts are made, and that more dead branches also occur within the canopy.  The trees are more prone to disease as well with topping.

 

Tree Pruning Tips

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

It's pruning season, right?  That depends on what we are talking about. Read our Tree Pruning Tips and find out what and when to prune!It’s pruning season, right?  That depends on what we are talking about. Read our Tree Pruning Tips and find out what and when to prune!

It IS the season to prune hardwood trees such as black walnut, red oak, and white oak.  If you are ready to get out there and prune, but all means, get at it!  Here are some pruning tips:

  • Start at the top and work down. Assist the central leader by assuring its tip or apical bud is taller (higher) than any other leaders or branches that are competing for dominance. Totally remove or at least tip-prune any competitive leaders.
  • Remove no more than one-third of the tree canopy in any single year season. The key to a healthy root system is a healthy crown. If you remove too much of the tree’s ability to make food, root growth will suffer and set the stage for reduced crown growth the following year, which will lead to reduced root growth.
  • Do not prune flat to the stem. Instead, make an angled cut just outside of the branch collar (the donut-shaped growth surrounding the branches’ attachment to the tree) so that the wound is about the same diameter as the branch. Do not leave stubs.

Crape Myrtle Trees – don’t murder them! 

The best time to prune Crape Myrtle trees is late winter, February – March.  The goal is to enhance the tree’s natural form, don’t force it to grow in a small space or prune it into an artificial shape. Crape myrtles naturally grow as small upright or vase-shaped trees with multiple trunks. A well-pruned crape myrtle will have the trunks grow upward and outward, with branches fanning out rather than growing inward into the center of the tree.

The wrong way to prune. A misconception that Crape Myrtles need to be severely cut back in late winter or early spring in order to flower well in summer has led to the unhealthy practice of topping these plants. If necessary, Crape Myrtles can be reduced in height without being topped.

Topping (buck horning or dehorning) or “crape murder” involves cutting stems back at an arbitrarily chosen height rather than pruning back to a bud, side branch, or main stem. Topping trees and shrubs are harmful in many ways and regarded as an unacceptable practice by trained horticulturists and arborists.   Research shows that stem decay significantly increases when topping cuts are made and that more dead branches also occur within the canopy.  The trees are more prone to disease as well with topping.

Fruit Trees – NOT YET! 

WAIT…until the last hard freeze.  We need to wait until winter is almost over and spring is fast approaching. Since our average first frost-free day in Texas is around March 15, this month can be thought of as our early spring month. The best time to prune is late January through February.

Plants that bloom in early spring with the appearance of new leaves should be pruned after they flower. Those that bloom later in the spring or summer should be pruned during the dormant season in January or February.

Have any questions about our tree pruning tips?  Let us know.  We are here to help.

 

 

2022 Young County Jr. Livestock Show

Monday, January 3rd, 2022

The 2022 Young County Jr. Livestock Show kicks off  Wednesday, January 12, through Saturday, January 15, 2022,  in the Main Arena of the Young County Arena.The 2022 Young County Jr. Livestock Show kicks off  Wednesday, January 12, 2022, and runs through Saturday, January 15, 2022,  in the Main Arena of the Young County Arena. Come out and show your support for our local kids at this great event.

Before you head to the arena, stop by J&N Feed and Seed for Sullivan Show Supplies, show feeds by Lindner, Moorman, Honor Show Chow, shavings, and more. Let our experts help you raise a winner in the ring this show season. Good luck to everyone showing this year!

LocationYoung County Arena – 120 Barclay Blvd. Graham, TX

Date: Wednesday, January 12th  through Saturday, January 15, 2022

Click here for the 2022 Young County Jr. Livestock Show Schedule of Events.

Click here for driving directions to Young County Arena.

January Garden Tips

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

January Garden Tips

It may be chilly outside at this time of the year, but winter is a perfect time for a number of outdoor chores. Just consider how much better outdoor chores like soil preparation, planting, transplanting, and pruning can be done without toiling in hot summer temperatures.

January Garden If you need to move a plant to a different spot in the landscape, this is the month to accomplish this job. Most plants move best when they are fully dormant as a result of prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Remove some of the top growth to compensate for the inevitable loss of some of the roots. Once the plant is moved, water thoroughly, apply root stimulator, and a few inches of mulch over the root area.

January is a great month to accomplish pruning of fruit trees. Annual pruning keeps the harvest within reach, thins crowded branches, allowing more light to penetrate developing fruit and stimulates new growth for next year’s crop. Shade trees can also be pruned at this time.

Fruit trees and vines can be planted at this time as the ground usually does not freeze here in north Texas. You can also prepare the soil for new flower, rose or shrub beds by mixing plenty of organic material like compost or a flower or shrub mix. This way the soil is ready for immediate planting when temperatures get a little warmer.

Fertilize pansies to keep them actively growing. Houseplants can be fertilized with reduced rates of water-soluble fertilizer this month. Do not over-water your houseplants.

Birds of all kinds appreciate a constant source of seed, suet and water during the winter and you will enjoy the activity they create in your backyard. Just remember once you start feeding, you should keep it up through the winter.

Cattle Feed Booking at J&N Feed

Thursday, October 7th, 2021

Winter cattle feed booking is now available at J&N Feed and Seed. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Stop by the store now and lock in your feed price for the winter month contract season. Make sure you get the BEST available nutrition for your animals at the BEST price booking with J&N Feed and Seed.  Please call the store at 940-549-4631 or stop by for current pricing.

J&N Feed and Seed
450 Pecan St
Graham, TX 76450-2524
(940) 549-4631

At J&N Feed and Seed we’ve got the quality feeds and the booking proposition you need to stay on top of the cattle business.

 

Show Pig Feed Programs

Monday, September 13th, 2021

Take a look at Purina’s Show Pig Feed Programs to be successful in the show ring. Shop J&N Feed, your certified purina dealer for Honor Show Chow.Take a look at Purina’s Show Pig Feed Programs to be successful in the show ring. Training a pig to eat can seem silly. They should come by this habit naturally, shouldn’t they? The answer is yes, for the most part. It is the pig’s natural behavior that must be changed in order to reach its full genetic potential. This is why determining the proper feeding program will allow your pig to look its best on show day.

Show pig self-feeding behavior 

The average show pig will consume 11 to 13 meals per day when offered feed from a self-feeder. Typically, self-feeding pigs will consume these meals during daylight hours. Pigs are diurnal (most active during daylight hours). Researchers have found that continuous lighting does not affect total feed intake per day.

Factors that influence intake patterns of self-feeding pigs include:

  • Number of pigs per feeder
  • Total space per pig
  • Availability/form of water

These factors will not influence the quantity of feed consumed per day unless feeder access is impacted. That is if there are too many pigs per feeder space or too many pigs in a given pen space. If that is the circumstance, pigs will demonstrate nocturnal feeding patterns. This means that they will rise during the night to consume a sufficient amount of feed to meet their energy requirements. Of course, other factors come into play during self-feeding, such as social order, speed of consumption, and timid and/or aggressive eaters.

Additionally, the social order of pigs dictates which pig(s) will be dominant at the feeder. You will see that dominant pigs are the more aggressive eaters. For example, if you were to hand-feed six pigs in the same pen you would find that a number of them will eat aggressively, while subordinates will eat timidly. This behavior will directly affect their growth rate. Competition at the feeder not only speeds up the time it takes to eat a meal, it can also influence the quantity consumed as well.

Water and eating habits 

Water intake is incredibly important to the health of your pig and is directly related to feed consumption. If you find that your show pig is not meeting its daily feed requirements, your first instinct should be to assess its water source. Pigs should always have access to water that is clean, fresh, and abundant. Feeding pigs without providing an adequate amount of water or providing low-quality water will always result in an unsatisfactory outcome. Water is also useful in getting pigs to eat faster and larger meals. Adding enough water to a pig’s meal to produce a paste-like consistency will increase the speed at which a meal is consumed. By providing enough water from a clean source, you can help ensure that your pig will consume enough feed.

Show pig feeding methods

In order to train your show pigs to consume the desired amount of feed in only two meals per day, your effort must be to overcome their natural instincts and eating habits/behaviors. Three feeding methods are most commonly used in preparing a pig for show:

  1. Self-feeding: the pig decides when and how much to eat per day
  2. Hand-fed: the owner decides when and how much the pig will eat per day.
    • Two meals per day; morning and evening
  3. Combination self-feeding/hand feeding: the pig is generally fed through a self-feeder until it reaches 100 to 150 pounds and is then hand-fed until show time

It is crucial that when limiting growth rate that your pig is already trained to consume two, 10-minute meals per day. If not, it can be frustrating to get pigs to consume the amount and type of feed products that you want them to consume.

Hand-feeding versus limit feeding show pigs

It is important to note that hand feeding is very different from limit feeding. When a show pig is hand fed, then the exhibitor or pig’s owner determining how much feed to place in a feeder (of any type) per day. Limit feeding is giving the pig less than it wants to eat per day (usually somewhat less than 90% of what normal feed intake).If you give a 100 lb. show pig 4 lbs. of feed in the morning, there is feed remaining in the feeder that evening, and you give it an additional 2 to 4 lbs.; you are not limit feeding. The pig is determining how much it will eat per day, which is considered self-feeding. If you are feeding in this manner and attempt to include Powerfill show feed supplement as a topdress, your show pig will more than likely reject it. The pig should clean up each meal in 10 minutes or less. As a result it becomes much easier to introduce topdress, Powerfill, beet pulp, and other supplements. HIGH OCTANE® Powerfill™ is very different in taste and texture when compared to pelleted showpig feeds. Powerfill contains ground beet pulp which causes it to be a bit gritty. Pig owners sometimes feel that their pigs do not like Powerfill. However, a distaste for this product usually occurs when a pig has been taken off of full feed and introduced to HIGH OCTANE® Powerfill™ on a “cold turkey” basis. Naturally, a pig will refuse to eat when HIGH OCTANE® Powerfill™ is introduced in this manner.

Training your show pig

It is much easier if you train the pig to eat at an early age (or lighter weight). If you wait until the pig is heavier (over 200 lbs.) and older, training will be a challenge. The end goal is to feed that pig what you want, not what it wants. Of course, it is a challenge to introduce a new feeding program to your show pig at times. Instead of giving your pig the choice to eat how much and what kind of feed (or topdress) it likes, give it one choice and allow it to eat or be hungry. For example, if you decide to transition a pig from self-feeding to limit feeding with HIGH OCTANE® Powerfill™ in the diet (along with pellets), you will want to follow these steps:

  1. Remove the self-feeders and replace with hanging feeders
  2. Remove the feeder 10 – 12 hours prior to the first hand-fed meal
  3. Reduce the initial meal to a half serving – Ex: if you want to feed 2 pounds per feeding, offer 1 pound at this meal
  4. Give the show pig 10 minutes to eat, and then remove any remaining feed
  5. Repeat step four for the second feeding – Note: meals should be 10 – 12 hours apart at the same time(s) each day
  6. When the pig consumes all of the feed offered, increase the next feeding to a full meal
  7. If the pig is eating slowly, hand or limit feed another pig in close proximity. This will help to get the first pig to increase the speed of intake

Note: you want the second pig to make the first pig eat faster, but not have access to it’s feed. Make sure there is a barrier between the pigs, but one that they can see through

This technique is critical. To help fulfill the genetic potential of your show pig you may need to tweak the diet several times in a short period. If you see that a pig is in need of muscle, cover, rib shape or fill, you must be able to control what the pig takes in. At times, these dietary changes must be done daily until you have the pig headed in the direction you desire. If the pig constantly balks at what you are attempting to feed, it cannot look the best on show day. Keep in mind that the pig’s appearance as it steps into the show ring is of vital importance. Getting the pig to peak physical appearance depends upon what it eats and how it eats. You have a great deal of influence over what the pig looks like as it is being judged. You should train the pig to respond to your direction in the show ring, as well as training the pig on how to eat. Stop by J&N Feed and Seed and talk to us about your show pig feeding program. As your certified Purina Dealer, we carry the full line of Honor Show Chow feeds. Let us help you raise a winner.

Source: Dr. Kevin Burgoon, Ph.D.
Senior Nutritionist, HONOR® Show Technical Solutions

Hay-Rite Alfalfa Cubes & Mini Alfalfa Cubes

Sunday, March 14th, 2021

Hay-Rite Alfalfa Cubes and Mini Alfalfa Cubes are now available at J&N Feed and Seed. At J&N we strive to bring you the freshest feed and nutrition options for your horse. Hay-Rite alfalfa cubes offer tremendous quality put in every bag to help your horse look and perform better.

HAY-RITE alfalfa is grown on high desert farms located in southern Utah, CERTIFIED Noxious Weed-Free, and contains NO beetles. It’s always sun-cured, chopped, and cubed in the field, the “Superior Way” to make cubes. Learn more here.

HAY-RITE cubes are 100% Natural with NO dyes, chemicals, mold retardants, preservatives or flavorings added; only sun-cured WESTERN alfalfa enriched with Bentonite minerals to increase absorption of nutrients, detox the digestive system, and improve cube quality.

Hay-Rite Alfalfa Cubes and Mini Alfalfa Cubes now available at J&N Feed and Seed.Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein No Less Than 16%
Crude Fat No Less Than 1.4%
Crude Fiber No More Than 30%
Moisture No More Than 12%

Ingredients:
Sun-Cured Alfalfa Hay
Bentonite Minerals Added

All Natural – No Chemicals – No Dyes

Feeding Guidelines:
Recommended feed amounts are 1% to 2% of the animal’s total body weight, fed daily.

Feeding at ground level is recommended for horses. Cubes may be softened with water for seniors or animals with dental problems. Hay-Rite Premium Alfalfa Cubes can be used as a complete source of protein and roughage for most horses and other livestock. Stop by J&N Feed and Seed and find out more about Hay-Rite and grab some bags for your horses.

Purina EquiTub Supplement with ClariFly

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021

Pick up Purina EquiTub supplement with ClariFly & say goodbye to flies, and hello to gastric health + optimal body condition.Calling all horse owners, we’ve brought in the Purina EquiTub supplement with ClariFly! Say goodbye to flies, and hello to gastric health + optimal body condition.

Equitub is a premium self-fed supplement that provides gastric support, fly control, and consistent nutrition in an easy-to-feed and convenient form. Purina’s innovative horse tub combines these 3 supplements into a single product:

  1.  ClariFly® larvicide is expelled in manure, where it helps control house and stable fly populations by interrupting their life cycle.
  2. Outlast® gastric support supplement promotes gastric health and proper pH.
  3.  Amplify® high-fat nugget to support endurance and bloom.

Find out more about this product here Purina EquiTub Supplement with ClariFly.

Shop local, shop J&N Feed and Seed for Purina Horse Feed & Supplements and all your horse supplies.

Winterize your Chicken Coop

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

when will pullet start to lay eggs- https://www.jandnfeedandseed.comWinter is upon us and egg production tends to slow down in late fall due to the shorter days. Lighting is a huge component to this decrease as well as the temperature drop. A laying hen’s endocrine system is stimulated by light so the shorter days slow egg production or can stop it completely. Some flock owners look at winter as a dormant break for their laying hens.  Other owners like to keep the production throughout the winter months. In order to do this, hens need more than 14 hours of light during the day.

Lighting:

A nine-watt compact fluorescent bulb is all that’s needed for a typical backyard coop. Plug the light into a timer and have it come on early enough in the morning to give the birds 15 hours of daylight, and egg production will be improved through the shorter days of winter.The light needs to light up the largest area possible. Clean the lamps once a week to keep them clean to output as much light as possible.

Heat Lamps:

Start this process in late fall since the lighting changes at that time. Make sure to hang the lamp or bulb up in the coop where the chickens can’t snuggle up to the lamp and cinge there feathers. Make sure the light reaches the whole coop and offers heat throughout.

Other Tips on Winterizing:

Keep the coop dry and clean. The best way to do this is to keep make sure the coop will not have standing water if rain comes. Make sure to replace the bedding with dry bedding each week.

Bedding also provides insulation for the chickens. Cover large holes where drafts or critters can enter. Be careful not to cover up all the holes so proper ventilation can occur.

Freezing temperatures can freeze up the water source. Think about getting a heated water source or pour fresh water each day.

It’s important to gather eggs daily because those can freeze as well.

Throw down extra feed or corn before they head to roost at night. This will provide energy and keep them warm at night.

Your flock needs some time and attention during the winter months to keep up with egg production. The extra work is worth it! You’ll have a full carton of eggs all winter!