Effectiveness of Cooperative Extension Manure Management Programs

Equine farms are increasing in number in many areas of the United States. Unlike traditional farming operations, equine farm managers may be less likely to use and are less connected to extension services. A manure management survey was mailed to 2000 New Jersey equine farms during the winter of 2006 to 2007; 472 surveys were returned (24% return rate). Respondents were asked from where they get manure management information; 27% received information from Rutgers Cooperative Extension, whereas 21% get information from a feed dealer, 6% from another retailer, 19% from the internet, 39% from magazines, 47% from other horse owners, and 25% from other sources. Veterinarians were not a variable in this survey; although they are a source of equine information, it is unclear how reliable a source they might be about manure management. They can play a role in manure management programs, particularly referral to other sources of information. Data were modeled to compare extension against all other sources and develop a prediction of where respondents receive information. This model had a predictive accuracy of 70.03% and R² of 0.08 (P > .10). This model showed that those receiving information from extension were likely to have 21 to 40 acres of pasture, were likely to spread manure on 6 to 10 acres, and likely to soil test regularly. Results indicate that cooperative extension was not the first or second information source for horse producers, although larger farms and those that soil tested on a regular basis were more likely to use extension services (P < .05).     

Dietary and Manure Management Practices on Equine Farms in Two New Jersey Watersheds

Equine farms are increasing in number in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. These farms may influence environmental quality owing to manure collection, storage, spreading, and disposal practices. A manure management survey was mailed to 700 New Jersey equine farms during the winter of 2009-2010 (these farms were located in two watersheds). Two hundred forty-two surveys were returned; 10% were training or performance farms, whereas the remainder (90%) were breeding, boarding, or pleasure farms. There were differences between the two watersheds in turnout time, pasture acreage, use of drag harrows, and income. Respondents answered questions about diet and environmental management on farms. Seventy-eight percent had bunk management plans. Forty-seven percent disposed of waste feed in a manure pile, 35% left it on fields or paddocks, and 18% put it in a dumpster. Twenty-six percent engage a professional for feeding advice (21% veterinarians, 2% extension, 3% nutrition consultants). Most respondents did not have a regular feed management plan. Sixty-two percent of all farms spread manure on-farm. Of those who spread, 29% have >8.09 hectares (20 acres) for spreading. Ninety-six percent of respondents stored manure >100 ft from water or wetlands. Comparison of cross-tabulations indicates a strong relationship (P < .01) between rotational grazing and the use of a sacrifice or exercise area. Eighty-eight percent of respondents using sacrifice areas also rotationally graze. Results indicate future outreach programs should focus on feed management, manure storage location, rotational grazing, and the use of sacrifice areas as part of a pasture management program.     

Farm level and geographic predictors of antibiotic use in Sri Lankan shrimp farms

Black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon farming is important for Sri Lanka's rural development plans. Consumer confidence is critical for the development and maintenance of export and domestic shrimp markets. Public concern about the use of antimicrobial drugs and chemicals on shrimp farms, however, could threaten market access. We sought to identify high-risk areas and farm-level risk factors for antimicrobial use to inform the core messages and strategic placement of extension programs to help farmers develop best management practices for antimicrobial use. We undertook a survey of 603 operating farms within the Puttalam district over 42 weeks. Lower stocking density and early harvest were associated with a lower risk of antimicrobial use, whereas standard management practices, including water treatment, feed supplements, probiotic use, pond fertilizing, disinfectant use, and pesticide use, were associated with increased risk. Spatial cluster detection found three significant clusters of antimicrobial-using farms. Antimicrobials were more likely to be used in areas with lower farm density. Some of our counterintuitive findings are discussed from a socioecological perspective. A comprehensive understanding of why antimicrobials are used on shrimp farms requires an evaluation of the physical, epidemiological, and socioeconomic factors.     

饲料原料粉碎过细引起猪胃肠溃疡的病例分析

笔者在养猪技术服务过程中发现一个现象：农村相当多的中小型养猪场的饲料生产车间，基本是所有阶段的猪只仅使用一个规格的玉米筛片，而且是选择最细（大多孔径为1.5 mm）的筛片来破碎饲料原料，也有的是部分小型饲料加工厂的老板为迎合部分使用者"饲料粉碎越细，消化利用率越高"的需求而为之。这种做法是不讲究科学的表现，也是对猪的身体健康十分有害的，作为饲料生产厂家不按科学要求生产饲料，这也是对养猪用户及其不负责任的具体体现。文章就"饲料原料粉碎过细引起猪胃肠溃疡"的典型案例进行简单的描述与分析，以期对部分中小型猪场饲料粉碎工艺提供技术及理论依据。     

BSE, feed and cattle in Switzerland: is there a spatial relation?

Cross-contamination of cattle feed with meat and bone meal (MBM) allowed in feed for other species is regarded as the current hypothesis for the infection pathway of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) cases occurring after the implementation of a ban on feeding MBM to cattle. This study was aimed at establishing a spatial relation between BSE cases in Switzerland and the findings of MBM in cattle feed. A cluster analysis and a cohort study were performed. Two hundred sixteen BSE cases born after December 1990 and detected until August 1st 2005, screening data of 504 feed producers between 1996 and 2001 and population data from the Swiss 2001 cattle census were included. The cluster analysis showed feed producer, positive for MBM contaminations in cattle feed, as possible cluster centres for BSE cases. In the cohort study, farms within a radius of 2 and 10 km around positive feed producers showed significantly higher odds to have a BSE case than the control group. The odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were 2.23 (1.26-3.93) for the 2 km radius and 1.38 (1-1.9) for the 10 km radius. The results provide evidence for a spatial relation between cross-contamination and BSE occurrence. These findings support the hypothesis of cross-contamination to be an important route for BSE transmission after a feed ban.     

A survey of manure management on pig farms in Northern Vietnam

Animal manure can provide nutrients for crop and fish production and input for biogas production but, if managed inappropriately, can also have a negative impact on the environment. The objective of this survey was to provide information about pig production and manure management practices in the Northern part of Vietnam in order to identify and prioritize research needs for future improvements in pig manure management. A survey was conducted by in-depth interviews on 54 pig farms in two Northern Vietnamese provinces, Thai Binh and Bac Giang. In addition to the survey, also key informant responses were obtained in the two provinces to help identify problems with existing manure management. The survey showed that large-scale pig producers (> 100 fatteners or 20 sows) had more pigs per hectare than medium-scale (19–99 fatteners, 5–19 sows) or small-scale (< 19 fatteners, < 5 sows) producers. Biogas was produced from 43% of the total manure produced on all surveyed farms, and was used for cooking. The proportion of total manure applied to crops was only 5% in Thai Binh and 35% in Bac Giang. Large-scale producers tended to operate smaller fishponds, and medium-scale farms operated larger ones. The farmers were of the opinion that fish in ponds fertilized with pig manure grew significantly faster than did fish in ponds supplied with other feed or types of fertilizer. Twenty percent of pig producers reported that they raised pigs just to provide manure to feed their pond fish. A large proportion (19%) of the total manure produced was discharged into public sewage systems, rivers and lakes. Of the 54 householders interviewed, 46 believed that animal manure caused serious damage to the environment. Farmers interviewed had little or no expertise in handling liquid manure, composting solid manure, or reducing contamination by means of microbial reduction of pollutants during manure management. In general, specialized pig production is seen as a commercial operation, while manure management remains non-commercial. The survey implied that more information to farmers, as well as stronger regulation of manure management, is needed in Vietnam.     

Farm Level and Geographic Predictors of Antibiotic Use in Sri Lankan Shrimp Farms

Abstract

Black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon farming is important for Sri Lanka's rural development plans. Consumer confidence is critical for the development and maintenance of export and domestic shrimp markets. Public concern about the use of antimicrobial drugs and chemicals on shrimp farms, however, could threaten market access. We sought to identify high-risk areas and farm-level risk factors for antimicrobial use to inform the core messages and strategic placement of extension programs to help farmers develop best management practices for antimicrobial use. We undertook a survey of 603 operating farms within the Puttalam district over 42 weeks. Lower stocking density and early harvest were associated with a lower risk of antimicrobial use, whereas standard management practices, including water treatment, feed supplements, probiotic use, pond fertilizing, disinfectant use, and pesticide use, were associated with increased risk. Spatial cluster detection found three significant clusters of antimicrobial-using farms. Antimicrobials were more likely to be used in areas with lower farm density. Some of our counterintuitive findings are discussed from a socioecological perspective. A comprehensive understanding of why antimicrobials are used on shrimp farms requires an evaluation of the physical, epidemiological, and socioeconomic factors.

Received June 10, 2011; accepted December 6, 2011     

Critical Control Points for Profitability in the Cow-Calf Enterprise

Financial, economic, and biological data from cow-calf producers participating in the Illinois and Iowa Standardized Performance Analysis programs were analyzed. Data were collected from 1996 to 1999; each herd-year represented one observation. The database consisted of 225 commercial herd observations (117 Iowa; 108 Illinois) and ranged from 20 to 373 cows. Analyses were conducted on financial and economic costs of production. Each observation was analyzed as the difference from the mean for that given year to eliminate environmental and cattle cycle effects. The dependent variable used as an indicator of profit was return to unpaid labor and management per cow (RLM). Independent variables were feed, operating, depreciation, capital, hired labor costs, calf weight, calf price, cull weight, cull price, weaning percentage, calving distribution, herd size, and investment. Family labor was used in the economic analysis. All financial factors analyzed were correlated to RLM (P<0.10) except cull weight and cull price. All economic factors analyzed were correlated to RLM (P<0.10) except calf weight, cull weight, and cull price. A financial prediction equation using eight variables accounted for 82% of the variation among farms. For both economic and financial analyses, feed cost accounted for over 50% of the variation among farms. In the financial regression model, depreciation cost was the second critical factor accounting for 9% of variation in RLM followed by operating cost (5%). Calf weight was the fourth indicator of RLM in the financial model (5%). Cost factors accounted for more variation in RLM than production, reproduction, or producer-controlled marketing factors. Feed cost was the most critical control point, as it accounted for 50% of the variation in profit among the herds.     

Epidemiological approach to the association between economic efficiency and productivity on swine farms in Prince Edward Island.

Regression analysis was used to determine the ability of a number of biological parameters to predict economic efficiency. Detailed feed, financial, and production records were maintained by a random sample of eighteen Prince Edward Island (PEI) swine producers (each producing over 1000 market hogs per year). Relative economic efficiency of the operations was measured using return to management and labor (RML). Of the routinely monitored biological parameters, RML on PEI farrow-finish operations was best predicted (R2 = 64.8%) by: marketed per square meter per year (p = 0.008) and marketed per sow per year (p = 0.096). Regression of fixed costs revealed that biological parameters had limited ability to predict fixed costs per hog on farrow-finish operations (R2 = 30.7%). The only parameter contributing to the prediction of the fixed cost component of RML was feeder hog density (p = 0.077). The variable cost component of RML on farrow-finish operations was predicted (R2 = 94.3%) by feed cost per kg gain (p = 0.000), and marketed per sow per year (p = 0.044). The routinely recorded biological parameters on feeder farms had only limited ability to predict RML in this study (R2 = 43.7%). The only parameter of any importance was marketed per square meter per year (p = 0.106). Prediction of the fixed cost component of RML on feeder farms (R2 = 67.4%) was best realized by measuring feeder hog density (p = 0.045). The variable cost component of RML on feeder farms was reasonably well predicted (R2 = 74.7%) by feed cost per kg gain (p = 0.012). Although this parameter is difficult to monitor from records currently maintained on most farms, it points out the need to monitor feed consumption on swine farms.     

Feeding cotton products to cattle.

Despite the potential for gossypol toxicosis (particularly in pre-ruminants) and risk factors associated with impaired fertility in bulls, cottonseed products offer a safe alternative feed for cattle producers when fed at recommended levels. Beef producers seeking to lower production costs should consider using cotton byproducts in their feeding programs. If carefully incorporated, cotton byproduct feeds can reduce feed costs while maintaining or increasing the level of cattle performance. Cottonseed meal will remain a standard protein supplement for beef cattle throughout the country. Whole cottonseed has much potential for Southern producers near cotton gins if it is purchased in a timely fashion and fed according to recommendations. Cotton gin trash, cottonseed hulls, and cotton textile mill waste also have potential economic benefits, especially to producers located near cotton and cottonseed processing facilities.     

畜禽维生素需要量的影响因素

畜禽维生素需要量是指畜禽维持正常生命活动、生长发育和繁殖活动所需的维生素。但随着畜牧场的规模化和集约化发展,饲料供应商或畜禽生产者对畜禽维生素的供给可能不适应实际畜禽对维生素的需要量。本文综述了影响畜禽维生素需要量的因素,即畜禽体因素、药物与饲料中的成分和维生素的稳定性,为畜禽的维生素供给提供参考。     

Survey of veterinary extension in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To assess veterinary extension in the United States as perceived by veterinary extension personnel. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: Extension veterinarians in the United States. PROCEDURE: 2 surveys were designed and mailed to extension veterinarians listed by the USDA and the American Association of Extension Veterinarians. RESULTS: 34 states had > or = 1 extension veterinarian. The majority (> 60%) of extension veterinarians did not commit time to resident education and were not involved in research activities. Paradoxically, 23% of responding extension veterinarians did not report extension work. Programs for food animal producers, horse owners, and companion animal owners were provided by 100, 63, and 37% of states, respectively. Continuing education (CE) programs were provided for food animal veterinarians, equine veterinarians, and companion animal veterinarians by 96, 63, and 52% of states, respectively. Challenges facing veterinary extension included limited recognition of veterinary extension activities by universities, lack of university personnel to support CE programs, and decreased support for companion animal extension programs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Extension veterinarians need to identify and clearly articulate the mission of veterinary extension, develop more collaborative programs across regions, and continue to serve as catalysts to bring diverse constituents together. Extension veterinarians must distinguish their mission not solely as information transfer, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways outside of extension, but as a coherent and consistent program of education and policy developed on a national level and distributed locally.     

Prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis and usage of caseous lymphadenitis vaccines in sheep flocks

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), determine the current usage of vaccines against CLA and to measure the effectiveness of these vaccines on sheep farms. DESIGN AND POPULATION: A survey was undertaken on 223 sheep flocks in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. METHOD: The prevalence of CLA was measured by conventional inspection techniques at abattoirs in lines of sheep that could be traced back to a farm. Managers of the flocks were sent a questionnaire about their vaccine practices, management practices and knowledge of CLA. RESULTS: The average prevalence of CLA in adult sheep in these flocks was 26% and varied from 20% in Western Australia to 29% in New South Wales. About 43% of sheep producers used CLA vaccines; only 12% used them as recommended. Awareness of CLA was highest in Western Australia. More producers would use CLA vaccine if they knew the prevalence of CLA in their flock and producers obtained most information about CLA from vaccine resellers. CONCLUSIONS: Only 10 to 15% of producers are currently achieving effective CLA control through the use of recommended CLA vaccination programs. In Western Australian flocks more than 25% of effectively vaccinated ewes will be sent to abattoirs in the 2 to 3 years after this study. However, large decreases in the prevalence of CLA can be achieved by about 70% of producers by either making adjustments to their vaccination programs or buying a vaccine with a CLA component. Two or three key facts on effective CLA vaccination could be made available at the point of sale of vaccines and from abattoirs that reported the prevalence of CLA to farmers.     

机械打梱包膜青贮技术

玉米秸秆机械打捆包膜技术可实现青饲料收获（切碎）、打捆以及对成型的饲料进行拉膜包膜,整个工作流程可在田间一次完成。该技术为玉米青饲料提供了一种先进的储藏技术,适合我国大部分畜牧场和奶牛场使用,具有良好的社会效益和经济效益,推广应用前景广阔。     

Integrated parasite management: products for adoption by the Australian sheep industry

The increasing cost of production loss caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) highlights the importance of good control programs. However, the endemic nature of anthelmintic resistance also reminds of the need for nonchemical options. Both chemical and nonchemical control options need to be integrated into regional parasite management programs (IPM) with the emphasis on component options determined by factors such as major GIN species, regional climate, property size and enterprise structure. The Integrated Parasite Management of Sheep project was established to develop and demonstrate regional parasite control programs, that integrated chemical and nonchemical options, for the main sheep-producing regions of Australia. The project included research about the ecology of the main endo and ecto-parasites of sheep and a national survey of parasite control practices by sheep producers. IPM approaches developed for two contrasting regions of Australia are discussed. Barriers for the adoption of IPM programs include perceived complexity associated with a multi-component approach, time requirements and difficulty. Facilitating the industry adoption of IPM programs is discussed with relevance to the use of small group extension and involvement of the commercial sector. Perceptions of complexity of IPM may be managed by facilitating adoption of components in a step-wise process such that learning outcomes accumulate over time. Extension efforts must address the needs of industry sectors other than sheep producers and explore user pay approaches. The success of these approaches will depend on the relation of the extra profit to producers, through adoption of IPM programs, with remuneration sufficient to attract a commercial service.     

饲料无抗，绝不仅仅是饲料的问题

2019年7月9日,中华人民共和国农业农村部(以下简称农业农村部)发布第194号公告,自2020年7月1日起,饲料生产企业停止生产含有促生长类药物饲料添加剂(中药类除外)的商品饲料。然而,自瑞典饲料禁抗以来至今的30多年里,各国并未找到在效果、成本和性价比方面能够与抗生素相匹敌的添加剂或替代物。因此,我国饲料无抗的推动与实行,需要养殖生产现场、饲料营养、养殖现场兽医团队等多方面的联合与推动,尤其需要养殖方的正确认知与生产现场管理的调整与改变,饲料营养配方的调整与优化以及猪群整体的生态适应,即养殖方和饲料方都需对饲料无抗短期内产生的问题和结果树立正确的科学认知、心理预期和接受度。欧洲的饲料禁抗经验告诉我们,在饲料无抗和养殖现场不群体给药保健的情况下,依然可以实现现代化规模养猪的高效率生产和养殖经济效益,但这需要政府、养殖方和饲料企业在一段时间内的共同调整、配合与努力。     

Paratuberculosis on small ruminant dairy farms in Ontario,Canada: A survey of management practices

A cross-sectional study was undertaken (October 2010 to August 2011) to determine the risk factors for dairy goat herds and dairy sheep flocks testing positive for paratuberculosis (PTB) in Ontario, Canada. A questionnaire was administered to 50 producers during a farm visit in which concurrently, 20 randomly selected, lactating animals over the age of 2 years underwent sampling for paratuberculosis testing. Only 1 of 50 farms (2.0%) was closed to animal movement, whereas 96.6% of dairy goat farms and 94.1% of sheep farms purchased livestock from other producers. Only 10.3% of dairy goat, and no dairy sheep farms used artificial insemination. Manure was spread on grazing pastures by 65.5% and 70.6% of dairy goat and dairy sheep farms, respectively. Because of the high true-prevalence of paratuberculosis infection detected, no risk factor analysis could be performed. This study demonstrates that biosecurity practices conducive to transmission of PTB are highly prevalent in Ontario small ruminant dairy farms.     

Nutritional Quality of Recycled Food Plate Waste in Diets Fed to Swine,

Food waste samples were collected approximately bimonthly from five different New Jersey farms that feed food waste to pigs. All of these farms feed food waste collected from various institutions (restaurants, casinos, military bases, hospitals, and nursing homes) and often supplement with other byproduct feeds such as bakery, fish cannery, or vegetable processing wastes. A total of 63 samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient content in laboratories at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Results from all five farms indicated that food plate wastes often have an acceptable nutritional profile. Crude protein averaged in excess of 20% and EE over 25%. Fiber levels were low and most minerals were borderline, if not adequate, for growing pigs. However, the low DM (27%) and the high variability of nutrients (CV often near or in excess of 100%) were significant limitations. For individual farms, DM percentage was always low, EE was high, and CP was variable. Mineral levels also varied from farm to farm. Calcium averaged 1.69% in food waste collected by Farm 1 and 0.36% in food waste collected by Farm 2. Several of the trace nutrients (copper, iron, zinc) were also variable. Zinc samples averaged 28 mg/kg on Farm 2 and 146 mg/kg on Farm 1. Zinc levels in food waste fed on Farms 2 through 5 were all inadequate when compared to NRC levels for growing pigs. Essential amino acids were, on average, equal to or above NRC levels required for growing pigs, except for lysine levels in food waste, which were below requirements on Farms 1 and 2. Results from this work have helped to develop a nutrient profile of the food waste currently fed to swine in the state of New Jersey and have been shared with individual producers. Food waste, although often of ample nutritional quality, is limited by its low DM and variable nutrient content, and should be monitored regularly and supplemented accordingly in practical feeding situations.     

A Survey of Small-scale Broiler Production Systems in Botswana

Aspects of husbandry, productivity parameters, diseases, marketing and farmer attitudes in small-scale broiler farms in Botswana were studied using a questionnaire-based survey. The number of broilers per production cycle in small-scale operations ranged from 100 to 2000, with an average of 640. On average, small-scale producers had 4-5 production cycles per annum with an interval of 2-3 weeks between batches. The average marketing age was 48.3 days at a live weight of 1.79 kg and a carcase weight of 1.42 kg. The average feed conversion ratio was estimated to be 2.72 (kg feed/kg live weight) and the average mortality was 9.15%. Overall, the performance indices of broilers under small-scale farm conditions were much poorer than those obtained elsewhere under improved management conditions, but these lower performance levels are suggestive of the potential that exists for further improvement. The survey also identified several areas of concern that constrain the realization of the full potential of this sector. Factors contributing to the poor performance under small-scale farm conditions are complex, but feed supply and quality, chick quality and farmer training appear to be areas for immediate improvement.