Numbered Publications: ASC
ASC-198: Selecting Ducks
Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | May. 19, 2025 (Minor Revision)
As with many domesticated species, ducks are selected for different purposes, primarily meat or egg production. They are also valued for their feathers and down. It is important to choose a breed of duck that best suits your particular needs.
ASC-271: The Impact of Heat Stress and Fescue Toxicosis on Beef Cattle Reproduction
Tyler Purvis, Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | May. 19, 2025 (New)
Heat stress is a common problem facing beef-cattle producers throughout the United States, and in 2003 was estimated to cost the U.S. beef industry $369 million dollars annually. Heat stress occurs when an animal is creating and absorbing more heat than they can dissipate, which increases core temperature and physiological stress. Common symptoms of heat stress include increased respiration rates, panting, or standing in water such as ponds or puddles. Heat stress results in negative impacts on growth, health, and reproduction. Cattle can have reduced conception rates, growth rates, and milk production during the summer. During severe heat stress, conception rates can fall to 10%-20% or lower compared to 40%-60% conception rates observed in cooler months.
ASC-268: Managing and Mitigating Equine and Nuisance Wildlife Interactions
Fernanda Camargo | Feb. 24, 2025 (New)
Many of the resources used to care for horses and other domestic animals can also be attractive to a variety of wildlife. These resources include easily accessible feedstuffs, water, and shelter in the forms of barns, storage sheds, or shade trees. Some of these uninvited guests can bring unintended consequences to your property, like disease, hazardous terrain created by burrows/holes, property damage, and feed and water contamination.
ASC-270: Overview of the Mineral Nutrition of Yaks
Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin, Darrh Bullock, Les Anderson, Michelle Arnold | Feb. 12, 2025 (New)
Mineral nutrition is a critical aspect of livestock management, particularly for yaks grazing on the challenging terrains of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau or the diverse range conditions of North America. As these animals adapt to their environments, understanding their mineral requirements becomes vital for ensuring health, productivity, and overall well-being.
ASC-267: Controlling the Calving Season
Les Anderson, Katherine VanValin, Darrh Bullock, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Kevin Laurent | Dec. 11, 2024 (New)
In 2017, the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), a USDA source for cattle production statistics, reported that less than half of cow-calf herds across the country had a defined calving season. One reason is that most herds surveyed (85%) had fewer than 50 cows and therefore the cattle enterprise was likely not the primary source of income for these producers. Two common arguments against having a controlled breeding and calving season are, “I do not have anywhere to put the bull,” and “I like having a calf ready to sell whenever I need it throughout the year.”
ASC-262: Increasing Calories in Your Horse’s Diet and Other Tips
Fernanda Camargo | Oct. 14, 2024 (New)
Not all horses are made the same. With hundreds of different breeds and uses, a lot of caring horse owners may become overwhelmed and not fully understand the different demands of each individual horse, resulting in some horses with sub-optimal body condition scoring. If you have a horse that needs to gain weight, here are some practical tips that will help you achieve your goal.
ASC-266: Reproduction in the Bull
Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Oct. 11, 2024 (New)
The fertility of the herd bull is essential to a successful cow-calf operation. In many respects, it is more of a concern than the fertility of a single cow. Sub-fertile bulls create lower calving rates and can be responsible for poor herd-weaning weights: For every heat cycle a female fails to conceive, there is a corresponding decrease in calf weaning weight from 25 to 45 pounds because of a younger calf being weaned. It does not take long to realize that poor fertility or infertility of a bull can be extremely expensive to the cow-calf producer.
ASC-265: Estrus Synchronization Protocols for Beef Females
Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Oct. 11, 2024 (New)
Artificial insemination (AI) can be an effective tool for beef producers to use to make faster genetic progress in the herd. Unlike the dairy industry where cattle are handled multiple times a day, incorporation of AI can be difficult because beef cattle are not handled often or easily. Decades ago, scientists began developing methods to control the expression of estrus to decrease the amount of labor and time required for AI. An understanding of estrus synchronization protocols can be beneficial to producers considering using AI in their genetic program.
ASC-263: Converting from Year-round to Controlled Calving
Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Ben Crites, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Jul. 19, 2024 (New)
In the United States more than half (55%) of all beef cow-calf operations do not have a defined calving season. Typically, in these operations, bulls are not removed from the herd and remain with the cows the entire year. This "uncontrolled breeding" results in cows calving over several months or, in some cases, cows calving every month. Calving year-round presents many challenges in herd management and decreases productivity. In some cases, producers have an off-the-farm job and limited time can be left to dedicate to the cowherd. In these scenarios, it is crucial to maximize time and labor efficiency.
ASC-264: Artificial Insemination in Beef Cattle
Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Jul. 19, 2024 (New)
Successful artificial insemination (AI) breeding programs depend on adequate facilities, good herd health programs, sound nutritional management, using experienced and well-trained technicians, high fertility semen, and the ability to observe or synchronize a fertile estrus. Most problems and(or) failures in AI programs are associated with poor nutritional development in replacement heifers, inadequate body condition of cows at and after calving, failure to identify or control estrus in females, and/or failure to breed them at the proper time. Rarely is infertility the result of poor-quality semen or technician error.
