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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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PR-824: 2022 Cool-Season Grass Horse Grazing Tolerance Report

Jimmy Henning, Laurie Lawrence, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Dec. 14, 2022 (New)

Cool-season forages such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and orchardgrass are dominant pasture grasses for horses in Kentucky. Variety evaluations for yield have been carried out for many years, but little work has been done to evaluate varieties of these grasses for persistence when subjected to close, continuous grazing by horses.

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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.

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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.

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ID-217: Forage-Related Disorders in Cattle: Nitrate Poisoning

Michelle Arnold, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Megan Romano, Ray Smith | Oct. 24, 2022 (Minor Revision)

Nitrates are natural constituents of all plants. Under normal conditions, plants take up nitrate through their roots and transport it to the leaves for use in photosynthesis. However, photosynthesis decreases under adverse environmental conditions (e.g., drought; leaf damage due to disease, hail, frost, insects, or herbicides; cool and cloudy weather; and other plant stressors). When photosynthesis is reduced, nitrate transportation to the leaves slows also. Potentially toxic nitrate concentrations can remain in the lower stalks and stems.

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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.

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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.