CCE Livestock Program Workteam
News, Updates & Recent Publications
Dealing with Marek's Disease in Chickens
Marek's Disease is one of the most common flock illnesses. It is economically devastating for unvaccinated commercial flocks, and emotionally tough for small flock owners with unvaccinated flocks. However, with attention to flock health and vaccination of new arrivals, it can be easily managed.
So, What Adds Value to a Beef Calf?
With the costs of doing business going up, farms that raise beef calves need to take steps to help increase the return on investment from their feeders. This can be achieved through pre-conditioning, or setting their animals up for success when moved to the feedlot. The move to the feedlot from a pasture-oriented home is a huge change, and while there will naturally be depressions in rate of gain, there are also chances for increased illness and death of animals that are not pre-conditioned. No one wants an animal to die while in their care - both from welfare and financial standpoints. While some market channels don't pay high premiums for pre-conditioning, others will because they understand the value added by the farmer from birth through the pre-weaning period.
Equine Seminar Series - Fall ‘22
A virtual series hosted by Cornell’s Equine Hospital, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State 4-H Horse Program.
The Pros and Cons of Seeding Pasture with Big Box Store Mixes
As we work in our barns or sit in our houses, looking upon our fields encased in snow, we're reflecting on the year and making decisions as to which pastures we're going to renovate or improve. Once those well thought out decisions have been made, we go to order seed, only to find that prices have skyrocketed. There is also very little seed available. Both are a result of last year's drought in Oregon, where much of our pasture seed comes from. This wasn't in the plan! What do we do now?
Prevention of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Ratities
Avian Influenza is a highly contagious poultry virus that has the potential to cause large financial losses to the U.S. poultry industry. A highly pathogenic strain (HPAI), H5N1, last hit the U.S. in 2014-2015, and was considered the nation's largest animal health emergency. Over 200 cases of the disease were found in commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and wild birds. More than 50 million birds were affected and subsequently died or were euthanized on more than 200 farms in 15 states.
Tips for Successful Frost Seeding
Frost seeding is a low input and low disturbance method of improving pastures and hayfields. If potential pitfalls are addressed prior to seed getting on the ground, it can result in a more productive stand. Below are some tips to help you have the best success with frost seeding.
Dealing with Lice on our Ruminant Species
There are a few parasites that producers will interact with over the course of keeping stock. One of those is the humble louse. Lice are small, about the size of a pinhead, and can be hard to spot unless either a.) you're looking for them or b.) they're in such large numbers that they are causing discomfort to the animal.