Agriculture Commons^™

Retaining Heifers: Is It Worth It?, Tonya L. Meyer

Center for Agricultural Profitability

Replacing females in the beef cow herd plays a pivotal role in a sustainable and profitable cow-calf operation. Analyzing the cost of raising replacements versus purchasing them can help make informed decisions. If retaining replacements, cattle producers must consider both the costs and potential returns associated with raising and integrating these heifers into the breeding herd. This article offers some key financial considerations.

The Changing Cost Of Cattle Transportation, Elliott James Dennis

Center for Agricultural Profitability

Diesel is one of the primary inputs in the transportation of goods throughout the United States. Livestock hauling is no exception. Feeder cattle are generally transported long distances in the fall as they move from summer grazing to placement in backgrounding operations or directly into feedlots. Cattle, and other livestock in general, can handle transportation stress fairly well – to a point. Trucking feeder cattle long distances can impact animal health outcomes, and improper animal handling can lead to bruised or injured cattle. These negative impacts can generally be offset by appropriate stocking densities, proper trailer ventilation, correct animal handling …

Farmers’ Adoption And Perceived Benefits Of Diversified Crop Rotations In The Margins Of U.S. Corn Belt, Tong Wang, Jin Hailong, Yubing Fan, Oladipo Obembe, Dapeng Li

Economics Faculty Publications

Monoculture and simplified two-crop rotation systems compromise the ecosystem services essential to crop production, diminish agricultural productivity, and cause detrimental effects on the environment. In contrast to the simplified two-crop rotation, diversified crop rotation (DCR) refers to rotation systems that contain three or more crops. Despite multiple benefits generated by DCR, its usage has dwindled over the past several decades. This paper examined determinants of farmers' adoption decisions and perceived benefits of DCR in the west margins of the U.S. Corn Belt where crop diversity has declined. We analyzed 708 farmer responses from a farmer survey conducted in the eastern …

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Services & Programs Webpages, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshots of various University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpages featuring announcements regarding various programs, services, and publications provide by the Cooperative Extension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Farming & Livestock Webpages, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshots of various University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpages featuring guidance and resources regarding farming and livestock during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forage News [2019-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Climate Change: Are Livestock a Problem
• Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
• Get the Most from Grazing Cornstalks
• The More You Know, the Smarter You Grow
• Wendell Berry Center hosts First Grazing School
• USDA Hay Markets - October 22, 2019
• Publication of the Month: Using Dry Lots to Conserve Pastures
• Kids these Days...

Market Goat Nutrition - Quick Tips, Joshua Dallin, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This fact sheet offers quick tips for goat nutrition.

Market Steer Nutrition - Quick Tips, Joshua Dallin, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This fact sheet offers quick tips for market steer nutrition.

Market Lamb Nutrition - Quick Tips, Joshua Dallin, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This fact sheet offers quick tips for market lamb nutrition.

Forage News [2019-08], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Reclaiming Rundown Farms - Western KY Summer Forage Tour
• Oats for Fall Pasture or Hay
• KFGC Central KY Field Day
• The Birth of a Rotational Grazing System
• Caldwell County Horse Farm to Host Field Day

User Guide For The 4-H Livestock Weight Calculators, Cody Zesiger, Joshua Dallin, Matthew D. Garcia, Nicole Reed

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is a user's guide for the 4-H livestock weight calculators.

Ruminant Bloat, Austin Sears, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes bloat, a non-infectious disease common among the ruminant species, including types and clinical signs, prevention, and treatment.

Intermountain Beef Cow/Calf Management Calendar, C. Kim Chapman, Matthew D. Garcia, Ryan Larsen, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This calendar gives beef cow/calf management tips for nutrition, animal health, finance, and public lands information for each month of the year.

Raising Replacement Ewes For Dairy Sheep Production, Jacob Hadfield, Allen Young

All Current Publications

This fact sheet explains how producers who are seeking more milk production yield, along with more economic value from their replacements can do these three different ways: a) manage replacement rate; b) improve nutrition; and c) optimize reproduction.

Applying Principles Of Crossbreeding To Maximize Hybrid Vigor, Matthew D. Garcia, C. Kim Chapman, Deric Despain

All Current Publications

This fact sheet explains how crossbreeding can be a powerful tool to improve the productivity and profitability of a beef cattle operation when it is used correctly.

Colostrum: The First Meal, Sara Menchu, Allen Young

All Current Publications

The first milk produced after calving is known as colostrum. It is important for calves to consume adequate amounts of colostrum as soon as possible, and this fact sheet tells why, including its quality and quantity.

Forage News [2019-03], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Novel Tall Fecue Workshop - March 20
• Round Bale Binding Materials Evaluated
• Impact of Tedding on Alfalfa Silage
• Spring Grazing School April 23-24
• Spring Fencing School: 3 Dates, 3 Locations

Medication Darts Are Gaining In Popularity - Do They Affect Meat Quality? Are There Risks?, David J. Wilson, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

Livestock, such as beef cattle or post-weaned dairy cattle that are not yet milking, are often relatively “tame” (sometimes the term tame may not apply very well) and can be readily approached within a few feet. However, without adequate restraint facilities or enough personnel, actually treating the livestock is often difficult and can become frustrating and dangerous to people and animals. A solution to this problem, which is being rapidly and increasingly adopted, is the use of medication darts. Nevertheless, many in the cattle industry are raising some concerns. What are some of the characteristics of medication darts? Is there …

Proper Care And Management Of Common Health Concerns With 4-H Goat Projects, Karah Nay, Deric Despain

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to give youth and their parents a basic guide of what signs and symptoms to watch for to prevent illness or death. It includes instructions on how to take vitals, how to assist the veterinarian when called, the compiling of materials for a first aid kit, proper antibiotic administration, vaccinations, and preventive practices that the youth can implement while caring for their animal.

Market Goats: Tips For Beginning A Livestock Project, Deric Despain, Karah Nay, Kevin Heaton

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide several tips for beginning a market goat 4-H youth livestock project. 4-H market goat projects are gaining popularity, as seen by the increased level of competition and 4-H livestock shows.

Environmental And Animal Benefits When Beef Cattle Consume Condensed And Hydrolysable Tannins, Elizabeth K. Stewart, Juan J. Villalba, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the environmental and animal benefits when cattle consume condensed and hydrolysable tannins, and includes producer concerns.

Jr. Livestock Show: "Market Goats", Deric Despain, Karah Nay, Kevin Heaton

All Current Publications

This fact sheet gives information for junior livestock show goats.It includes information of market goat breeds, selecting goats, traits for selection, structure and confirmation, and tips for showing goats.

Caring For Horses In Cold Weather, Karl Hoopes

All Current Publications

This fact sheet gives tips for providing a suitable environment for horses to live outside in the winter and remain comfortable and healthy,

Starks, Rick (Fa 1052), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1052. Paper titled “Early Farm Tools and Implements” in which Rick Starks visits the Penns Chapel community, a rural hamlet located near Bowling Green, to witness how residents use traditional farming equipment such as plows, wagons, and mills to create sustainable and cooperative environments.

Cross-Species Transmission Potential Between Wild Pigs, Livestock, Poultry, Wildlife, And Humans: Implications For Disease Risk Management In North America, Ryan S. Miller, Steven Sweeney, Chris Slootmaker, Daniel A. Grear, Paul A. Di Salvo, Deborah Kiser, Stephanie A. Shwiff

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Cross-species disease transmission between wildlife, domestic animals and humans is an increasing threat to public and veterinary health. Wild pigs are increasingly a potential veterinary and public health threat. Here we investigate 84 pathogens and the host species most at risk for transmission with wild pigs using a network approach. We assess the risk to agricultural and human health by evaluating the status of these pathogens and the co-occurrence of wild pigs, agriculture and humans. We identified 34 (87%) OIE listed swine pathogens that cause clinical disease in livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans. On average 73% of bacterial, 39% of …

Collection Of Biological Material For Commercial Genomic Testing In Beef, Matthew D. Garcia, Kevin Heaton, Linden Greenhalgh

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes collecting biological material for commercial genomic testing of beef cattle. It includes a description of materials needed, methods of collecting including blood, ear notching, or tissue collection, and how to ship and store samples.

Livestock-Livelihood Linkages In Uganda: The Benefits For Women And Rural Households?, Elizabeth Ransom, Carmen Bain, Iim Halimatusa'diyah

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Livestock are an important component of rural households and gendered livelihood practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Widespread within the development literature is the belief in the livestock ladder, with poorer households often owning small stock and wealthier households owning large stock, with the assumption that poor households can utilize livestock to build their asset base and overtime this would allow poorer households to expand from small stock to large stock, in so doing climb the livestock ladder. There is also an assumption in the literature that women are more likely to oversee small stock. In addition, some well-known agricultural development programs …

Understanding The Semen Evaluation Portion Of The Breeding Soundness Evaluation, C. Kim Chapman, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet explains the semen examination section of the bull breeding soundness evaluation form. It indicates what each category on the form is, why it is important, and what the requirements are for a bull to be considered a satisfactory breeder.

Impacts From The Use Of Antibiotics In Livestock: Methods Of Transmission Of Antibiotic Resistance From Livestock To Humans, Kristin M. Walden

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Antibiotic use in livestock production has been around since the 1950s. Antibiotic feed is used in livestock and other meat producing animals for three reasons: illness prevention, illness treatment, and growth promotion. Unfortunately, since the time that antibiotics were first invented, antibiotic resistant bacteria have become a threat to public health. There are many studies showing methods of transmission of antibiotic resistance from livestock to humans. Antibiotic resistance can spread from livestock to soil, water, insects, and food, which ultimately comes into contact with humans. A proposed study to measure antibiotic resistance when eliminating antibiotic feed will provide a hypothesis …

Genetic Testing For Defects And Performance Measures In Junior Livestock Show Hogs, Kevin Heaton, Kelby Howard, Joshua Dallin

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the sampling, testing, and the genetic test results from the 2015 Kane and Garfield County junior livestock market show hogs.