ASC-196: Selecting Geese

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | October 31, 2013 (New)

Size, behavior and egg production vary according to breed, and the right breed of goose for your flock will depend on what you intend to use them for. This publication will help you decide on the right breed for you.

ASC-209: Raising Guinea Fowl

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | October 31, 2013 (New)

Guinea fowl are rough, vigorous, hardy, and mostly disease-free game birds. They are increasing in popularity for a variety of reasons.

ASC-197: Selecting Turkeys

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | October 31, 2013 (New)

Raising wild turkeys is illegal in some states, including Kentucky. The prohibition includes domestic strains of wild birds. The law is meant to protect native populations of wild turkeys. Learn more about selecting the right breed of turkey in this publication.

ASC-210: Processing Chickens

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore, Steve Skelton | October 31, 2013 (New)

When processing poultry, remember that you are producing a perishable food product that will eventually be consumed by people. The goal is to produce a safe, nutritious product.

ASC-194: Poultry Production Troubleshooting

Jacquie Jacob, Tony Pescatore | May 1, 2013 (New)

When investigating a problem with a poultry flock, the questions in this publication can help you determine the cause and possible solution.

ID-212: Using DHIA Records for Somatic Cell Count Management

Donna Amaral-Phillips, Michelle Arnold, Jeffrey Bewley | April 26, 2013 (New)

DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) records are an essential part of dairy herd management for many progressive dairy operations. However, for producers new to DHIA, interpreting the meaning of all this information can be a bit overwhelming. Even producers who have been DHIA members for many years may not fully understand all the value that DHIA records can provide for SCC management. What follows is a description and interpretation of SCC-related information available to dairy producers on DHIA test reports.

ID-213: 2011 Kentucky Compost Bedded Pack Barn Project

Jeffrey Bewley, Randi Black, George Day, Joe Taraba | April 26, 2013 (New)

Kentucky dairy producers are adopting compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) as dairy cattle housing at a rapid rate. When properly managed, as an alternative dairy housing system, CBPs may decrease somatic cell count (SCC), increase production, and reduce lameness. Because the system is relatively new, however, many questions remain regarding best management practices and key factors for success. University of Kentucky dairy scientists and agricultural engineers conducted a comprehensive observational study of Kentucky CBPs from October 2010 to March 2011. The goal of this research was to determine key management concepts that determine success or failure in the compost-bedded pack system.

ID-202: Feedlot Design and Environmental Management for Backgrounding and Stocker Operations

Steve Higgins, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Sarah Wightman | March 21, 2013 (New)

Kentucky's cattle industry represents the largest beef cattle herd east of the Mississippi, ranking eighth in the nation for number of beef cows. This industry is extremely important to Kentucky's economy. This publication discusses site evaluation strategies, production area management techniques, and a variety of facility types for intensive cattle production that preserve natural resources and improve production.

ASC-207: Stall Bases: Are Your Cows Comfortable?

Jeffrey Bewley, Barbara Wadsworth | March 18, 2013 (New)

Cow comfort generally refers to minimizing animal stress in order to maximize milk production and animal well-being. Lying behavior plays a critical role in the production, profitability, and well-being of dairy cattle. The potential economic impact of increased production, reduced lameness, improved milk quality, reduced culling rates, and increased longevity are immense.

ASC-208: Pre-Investment Considerations for Precision Dairy Farming Technologies

Jeffrey Bewley, Karmella Dolecheck | March 18, 2013 (New)

Precision dairy farming involves the use of technologies to measure physiological, behavioral, and production indicators on individual animals. The primary goals of precision dairy farming are to 1) maximize individual animal performance, 2) detect diseases early, and 3) minimize the use of medication through preventive health measures.