Targeted Extension Programming for New and Beginning Beef Cattle Producers Through a Multi-night Lecture Series

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Kim K Mullenix ◽  
Luke L Jacobs ◽  
Landon Marks ◽  
Gerry Thompson ◽  
Paul Vining ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Knowledge Gain ◽  
Great Level ◽  
Herd Health ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Cattle Management ◽  
Calving Season

Abstract An introductory level-based educational program was developed for stakeholders interested in learning more about the basics of beef cattle management systems in Alabama. The Beef Systems Short Course was designed to 1) introduce concepts related to best management practices in beef operations to producers and 2) to create awareness among producers about educational services offered through Alabama Extension. Ten Beef Systems Short Courses were offered in fall 2019 and winter 2020 throughout Alabama. There were 136 participants enrolled in the program statewide. Eight topics were taught over a four-night time period (2 topics per meeting; 45 mins each). Topics included: Forages; Nutrition; Herd Health; Reproduction; Animal Identification, Genetics, and Records; Environmental Stewardship; Economics; Meat Science. A post-program survey was conducted to evaluate 1) potential change in knowledge and intent to adopt beef cattle management practices (n = 130 responses). Seventy percent of the producers in the program had less than 10 years of experience in the beef business, and the majority of these were part-time farmers (55%). Overall, producers were highly satisfied with the program with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 (Likert-type scale) across program topics, and 81% of participants planned to begin the adoption one or more of the management practices shared at the program in the next 12 months. The top three practices producers planned to implement included 1) establishing a calving season, 2) proper identification of livestock, and 3) improved forage management strategies. Participants reported significant knowledge gain across topics presented ranging from a 45 to 76% increase in understanding of practices. Notably, 55% of the participants reported that this was their first time attending an Extension program, demonstrating a great level of effectiveness in this program reaching new clientele. 100% of the participants indicated that they planned to attend Extension programs and use available online decision-making resources in their operations in the future. The total economic impact of the program was $525,450, with an estimated return on investment of 6:1.

Sarasota Bay: Protection of a Natural Resource

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 91-99
Author(s):  
R. A. Wagner ◽  
M. G. Heyl
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Sarasota Bay ◽  
Potential Benefits

As part of the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) evaluation of environmental problems, modeling tools were used to estimate pollution loadings from diverse sources, including surface runoff, baseflow, wastewater treatment plant discbarges, septic tanks, and direct deposition of rainfall on the bay surface. After assessing the relative impacts of the pollution sources, alternative management strategies were identified and analyzed. These strategies focused primarily on future development, and included structural and nonstructural best management practices (BMPs), as well as a regional wastewater treatment plan. Loading reductions, along with planning-level cost data and estimates of feasibility and other potential benefits, were used to identify the most promising alternatives.

scholarly journals Farm practices as they affect NH3 emissions from beef cattle

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Sheppard ◽  
S. Bittman
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
The West ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Using Data

Sheppard, S. C. and Bittman, S. 2012. Farm practices as they affect NH 3 emissions from beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 525–543. Beef cattle farms in Canada are very diverse, both in size and management. Because the total biomass of beef cattle in Canada is larger than any other livestock sector, beef also has the potential for the largest environmental impact. In this study we estimate NH3 emissions associated with beef cattle production across Canada using data on farm practices obtained from a detailed survey answered by 1380 beef farmers in 11 Ecoregions. The farms were various combinations of cow/calf, backgrounding and finishing operations. The proportion of animals on pasture varied markedly among Ecoregions, especially for cows and calves, and this markedly affected the estimated NH3 emissions. The crop components of feed also varied among Ecoregions, but the resulting crude protein concentrations were quite consistent for both backgrounding and finishing cattle. Manure was stored longer in the west than in the east, and fall spreading of manure was notably more common in the west, especially when spread on tilled land. The estimated NH3 emissions per animal were relatively consistent across Ecoregions for confinement production, but because the proportion of animals on pasture varied with Ecoregion, so did the overall estimated NH3 emissions per animal. Temperature is a key factor causing Ecoregion differences, although husbandry and manure management practices are also important. Hypothetical best management practices had little ability to reduce overall emission estimates, and could not be implemented without detailed cost/benefit analysis.

scholarly journals 184 Review of animal welfare data for cattle and swine

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 13-14
Author(s):  
Michelle S Calvo-Lorenzo
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Herd Health ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Transport Losses

Abstract Interest in the topic of animal welfare continues to grow as knowledge about the quality of life of food animals evolves. Improving management practices that enhance welfare conditions for livestock requires tools that allow livestock caretakers to assess and address animal welfare conditions effectively and practically on farms. Over the past several years, Elanco Animal Health has developed analytical resources for beef cattle and swine producers to inform them on trends associated with finished cattle mobility and mortality, and transport losses in marketed swine. This presentation will share findings from Elanco’s databases and the published literature to inform and foster discussion important to livestock welfare advancements. Relative to finished cattle mobility, data captured from 11.5 M head (2015–2019) demonstrate that cattle mobility continues to trend positively with approximately 90% of cattle observed with normal mobility conditions at packing plants (Edwards-Callaway et al., 2017); however, mortality trends and veterinary medical charges are higher over the past 5 years (2014–2018) when closeout data from 41.8 M head of beef cattle are evaluated across U.S. feedlots. Relative to market weight pig transport losses, an industry survey of 310 M pigs (2012–2015) indicate that averages for total dead pigs, non-ambulatory pigs, and total losses were 0.26%, 0.63%, and 0.88%, respectively (Yoder et al., 2017), which is similar to reported values in the literature (Ritter et al., 2009). Collectively, this information is important for measuring continuous improvement and determining where opportunities exist to evaluate management practices associated with herd health protocols, seasonal impacts, handling, and transport conditions. Animal welfare challenges are a non-compete issue for the livestock industry, and tools to assess these welfare topics are key to the enhancement of current practices and development of novel approaches to positively impact the role that livestock caretakers have on animal welfare.

scholarly journals Validation of Nursery and Greenhouse Best Management Practices through Scientific Evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 700-715
Author(s):  
Rachel Mack ◽  
James S. Owen ◽  
Alex X. Niemiera ◽  
David J. Sample
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Greenhouse Growers

Nursery and greenhouse growers use a variety of practices known as best management practices (BMPs) to reduce sediment, nutrient, and water losses from production beds and to improve efficiency. Although these BMPs are almost universally recommended in guidance manuals, or required by regulation in limited instances, little information is available that links specific BMPs to the scientific literature that supports their use and quantifies their effectiveness. A previous survey identified the most widely used water management, runoff, and fertilizer-related BMPs by Virginia nursery and greenhouse operators. Applicable literature was reviewed herein and assessed for factors that influence the efficacy of selected BMPs and metrics of BMP effectiveness, such as reduced water use and fertilizers to reduce sediment, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) loads in runoff. BMPs investigated included vegetative zones (VZs), irrigation management strategies, and controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs). Use of vegetative buffers decreased average runoff N 41%, P 67%, and total suspended solids 91%. Nitrogen, P, and sediment removal efficacy increased with vegetative buffer width. Changes in production practices increased water application efficiency >20% and decreased leachate or runoff volume >40%, reducing average N and P loss by 28% and 14%, respectively. By linking BMPs to scientific articles and reports, individual BMPs can be validated and are thus legitimized from the perspective of growers and environmental regulators. With current and impending water use and runoff regulations, validating the use and performance of these BMPs could lead to increased adoption, helping growers to receive credit for actions that have been or will be taken, thus minimizing water use, nutrient loss, and potential pollution from nursery and greenhouse production sites.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Bare-Ground and Plastic Mulch Cabbage Production in Florida

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Charles Barrett ◽  
Andre Luiz B. R. Da Silva ◽  
Christian Christensen ◽  
Gary England
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Nitrogen Losses ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Best Management

This new 9-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department focuses on the nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for green fresh-market and processing cabbage head production in Florida. This publication aims to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to optimize economic yield while minimizing nitrogen losses to the environment. Written by L. Zotarelli, C. E. Barrett, A. L. B. R. da Silva, C. T. Christensen, and G. K. England.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1428

Generalized Management Strategies to Delay Herbicide Resistance: A Simulation Approach

Weed Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argen M. West ◽  
Anthony L. Altieri ◽  
Steven A. Cryer
Keyword(s):  
Herbicide Resistance ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Parametric Uncertainty ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Weed Population ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Herbicide Management

AbstractWeed species develop resistance to herbicides through the repeated use of the same herbicide mechanism of action (MOA). Farmers often resort to different MOAs once a weed population has become resistant to the MOA that resulted in a resistant weed population. Delaying herbicide resistance is of great importance to growers due to the limited number of commercially available MOAs. Resistance may occur through monogenic or polygenic traits, and various academic and industrial modeling tools have been developed to help infer cause–effect from multiple interacting factors that may not be intuitive. This work explores various best management practices in delaying weed resistance, and we give details for monogenic and quantitative polygenic resistance models and investigate combinations of management strategies that lead to maximizing the product life span for a herbicide. Management practices under parametric uncertainty are provided to showcase how various practices can be used to extend lifetime product performance before resistance is manifest. Penalty functions associated with choosing a unique management strategy, based upon grower constraints, are the subject of a companion manuscript.

scholarly journals The prevalence ofEscherichia coliO157.H7 in dairy and beef cattle in Washington State

1994 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. Hancock ◽  
T. E. Besser ◽  
M. L. Kinsel ◽  
P. I. Tarr ◽  
D. H. Rice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Feeding Management ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Cattle Management

SUMMARYEscherichia coliO157.H7 was found in 10 of 3570 (0·28%) faecal samples from dairy cattle in 5 of 60 herds (8·3%). Several tentative associations with manure handling and feeding management practices on dairy farms were identified. Faecal/urine slurry samples, bulk milk samples, and milk filters from dairy herds were negative forE. coli0157.H7.E. coli0157.H7 was also isolated from 10 of 1412 (0·71 %) faecal samples from pastured beef cattle in 4 of 25 (16%) herds. The prevalence ofE. coli0157. H7 excretion in feedlot beef cattle was 2 of 600 (0·33 %). The identification of cattle management practices associated with colonization of cattle byE. coli0157.H7 suggests the possibility that humanE. coliO157.H7 exposure may be reduced by cattle management procedures.

Distribution of Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) and Relationship to Cropping Systems in The Central Valley of California

Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley D. Hanson ◽  
Anil Shrestha ◽  
Dale L. Shaner
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Perennial Crops

Horseweed is an increasing problem in perennial crops and noncrop areas of the Central Valley of California. Similar to the situation in glyphosate-tolerant crops in other regions, glyphosate-based weed-management strategies in perennial crops and noncrop areas have resulted in selection of a glyphosate-resistant horseweed biotype in California. Research was conducted to determine the level of resistance to glyphosate in horseweed using an in vivo enzyme assay and to determine the distribution of the resistant horseweed biotype in central California. The resistant biotype was 4.8-fold more resistant to in vivo glyphosate exposure compared with the susceptible biotype, although enzyme function was inhibited in both biotypes at high glyphosate concentrations. An intermediate in vivo glyphosate dose was used to discriminate between glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible individuals in a roadside survey conducted in 2006 to 2007. Overall, 62% of the individuals tested from the Central Valley were classified as resistant to glyphosate. Resistant individuals were found at most locations throughout the Central Valley, although the proportion of resistant individuals was slightly lower in the northern-most area. No correlation could be made between proportion of resistant or susceptible individuals and land use patterns likely because of long-distance seed dispersal or different selection pressure for resistant biotypes on field margins compared with that within fields. Horseweed with an economically significant level of resistance to glyphosate is already widely distributed in the Central Valley of California. Grower awareness of the problem and adoption of best management practices are needed to minimize the effects of horseweed in this highly productive and diverse agricultural region.

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