Numbered Publications: ASC
ASC-255: A Guide to Body Condition Scoring Yaks
Les Anderson, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Mary McCarty | May. 1, 2023 (New)
Having issues with cows breeding back and raising a calf every year? Are your heifers taking longer to reach puberty than you think they should? Are some calves born weak and not able to stand quickly? Reproduction is closely associated with body-fat stores and muscling. Fat cells produce a hormone, leptin, that plays a role in the hormonal cascade regulating reproduction. Learning how to assess body reserves or condition as a management tool can help improve your reproductive efficiency and farm profitability.
ASC-252: Traveling with Your Horse: Trailer and Truck Packing
Fernanda Camargo | Jan. 12, 2023 (New)
Horse people love to go places with their horses. It is exciting and fun, and overall, it can be a great bonding experience - especially if you remembered to pack everything you need.
ASC-253: Traveling with Your Horse: First-Aid Kits
Fernanda Camargo | Jan. 12, 2023 (New)
While some people may say that horses will get into trouble at every chance they get, it is more likely that horses will react to any situation based on their fight-or-flight responses. Instead of quietly lying down and waiting for help like other herbivores might, they panic more easily and may get themselves in deeper trouble. Of course, there are horses that are accident-prone, and no matter how clean and free of debris their environment is (including pastures, stalls, and barns), they still manage to injure themselves.
ASC-251: Traveling with Your Horse: Caring for Your Horse Away from Home
Fernanda Camargo | Jan. 12, 2023 (New)
Any time spent with horses is enjoyable, but there is something particularly fun about taking your steady steed on an off-farm adventure. Traveling with your horse, whether to a show, trail ride or other experience, is a great way to show off your horseback riding skills, to test what you and your horse have learned in training, and certainly to socialize with other horse-loving friends.
ASC-250: Reemergence of Bedbugs as Poultry Pests
Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Dec. 2, 2022 (New)
It is estimated that one of every five Americans has had a bedbug infestation at home or knows someone who has. However, today bedbug infestations are not limited to just homes. Cage-free poultry houses have been found to have problems with bedbugs, and the incidence continues to rise. This makes bedbugs another important external parasite for which poultry producers need to be wary.
ASC-232: Raising Replacement Pullets for Small-Scale Egg Production
Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Oct. 27, 2022 (Minor Revision)
Poultry producers who raise their own replacement pullets have better control over the growth, condition, and development of the flock. The quality of the pullet flock will have a direct effect on the subsequent level of egg production. The two most important quality factors for a replacement flock are proper body weight and uniformity. Pullet weight at 6 weeks of age has been shown to influence subsequent egg production. Once the pullets start to lay, it is too late to solve problems from poor nutrition or management during the pullet rearing period.
ASC-249: Reading the Fine Print: Understanding Mineral Tags
Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Jul. 18, 2022 (New)
Among the variety of supplementation options currently available for beef cattle operations, a mineral can be one of the most challenging to select. Mineral tags contain important information regarding the contents of a mineral supplement and are regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Understanding the information on a mineral tag will aid in the comparison of multiple products and help to ensure the selected mineral product will meet the needs of specific animals.
ASC-248: Vitamin Supplementation for Beef Cattle
Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Katherine VanValin | Jul. 18, 2022 (New)
Beef cattle have defined requirements for vitamins. In some instances, vitamin supplementation may be necessary to avoid deficiencies. Vitamins are classified into two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins include the B vitamins, such as riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin, as well as vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Supplementation for beef cattle generally focuses on vitamins A and E. This is because the rumen microbes synthesize the water-soluble vitamins and vitamin K in sufficient quantities to avoid deficiencies. Vitamin D requirements can often be met by exposure to the sun and would therefore only be of concern for cattle in confinement housing.
ASC-246: Properly Maintaining a Backyard Poultry Facility
Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Aug. 2, 2021 (New)
It is important that you properly maintain the poultry facility so that you do not attract rodents, flies, or create an odor problem. These are the three main reasons that non-poultry enthusiasts give for not wanting backyard flocks in their communities and neighborhood.
ASC-247: Broodiness in Chickens
Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | Aug. 2, 2021 (New)
Broodiness is the term used to describe a hen that is preparing to naturally incubate eggs and raise newly hatched chicks. When broodiness occurs in a hen certain behavioral changes may be evident. These changes include increasing the time spent in the nest, being overly protective of the eggs and nest, changes in the consumption of feed and water, and the stopping of egg production.
