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Work with vet to establish heifer vaccination plan

Veterinarians are a great resource when establishing a vaccination plan on your farm. A heifer’s destination might lead to different immunity goals depending on if they become replacements or head to a feedlot.

Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence on Animal Performance

Research has been done to investigate the influence that stockmanship has on disposition and animal performance and more is being done. Good stockmanship and low-stress handling methods include utilizing the animals’ natural tendencies to the handlers’ advantage while working or handling cattle.

Annual Forages Provide Options

Perennial pastures can benefit from incorporating annual forage into the management plan. Annual forages can be a tool to control weeds, improve overwintering damaged areas, and increase the length of the growing season.

Three Stages of Bovine Parturition

There are three stages to the birthing process, or parturition: dilation of the cervix, delivery of the calf, and delivery of the placenta. Knowing the normal birth process will help you decide whether or not to intervene.

Planning Ahead for Newborn Calf Processing

During the dark and cold of winter, it can be uplifting to think about the new season just around the corner. Spring represents new growth and renewal. The same is true of calving season for our beef operations. While in practice our beef calving seasons vary greatly in timing from farm to farm, it’s always […]

A New Cheese on the Block

It may be common knowledge Wisconsin leads the United States in cheese production, but did you know that Wisconsin is the leader in sheep milk and cheese production? Sheep cheese is not a new culinary concoction, rather a 4000-year-old tradition staking a claim amongst Wisconsin’s dairy producers, cheesemakers, and cheese lovers. Wisconsin’s sheep milk is […]

Parasite Management for Small Ruminants in Grazing Systems

Gene Schriefer, former University of Wisconsin Division of Extension Agriculture Educator from Iowa County will discuss how to optimize the utilization of forages to meet the nutritional needs of sheep and goats by properly planning grazing systems with forage production, carrying capacity, and paddock size in mind.

Avian Influenza Concerns: Don’t Let Your Biosecurity Guard Down

There have been several confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in eastern Canada and in a number of U.S. states. Several wild ducks and one commercial turkey flock have tested positive for the virus in the United States. Outbreaks in Canada have affected both commercial and exhibition poultry flocks.  Wild birds infected with […]

Strategic and Cost Effective Mineral Nutrition for Sheep

Dr. Whit Stewart Assistant Professor and Extension Sheep Specialist from the University of Wyoming joins the UW-Madison Division of Extension’s 2022 Small Ruminant Webinar Series. Dr. Stewart outlines and supports with research, the mineral needs of sheep during the different stages of production and the various regions of the US. Stewart provides insight into how soils affect mineral levels in forages and how testing forages allows producers to balance rations to meet nutritional needs.