Caring for Compromised Cattle Assessing Animals at Risk

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Producers work hard to ensure that the animals in their care are properly cared for throughout all stages of production. Unfortunately, it is a fact of farming that some animals will become injured or ill to the extent that they are ‘compromised’ or ‘at risk’.
This would include animals that are non-ambulatory, unable to stand without assistance or to move without being dragged or carried, regardless of size or age. This guide will assist dairy, beef and veal producers to recognize health-related problems and respond to them in a responsible manner. Producers are encouraged to work with their herd veterinarians for early intervention culling decisions. In addition to the decision tree on page 4, producers should simply ask themselves
three questions before loading an animal:
■ Can it walk?
■ Will it be able to walk off the truck at the final destination?
■ Would I eat it?

If any question generates a a

Diagnosing Problems in the Grow-Finish Phase of Production

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It has been said all-to-often, but it remains true, that the grow-finish phase of production is, by far, the financially most important phase of a commercial swine operation. It is the stage where most production costs are incurred. Relative to other production phases, grow-finish contributes the largest portion of total feed cost/market pig, the greatest single cost of production. And, since the growing pig spends more time in this phase than in any other phase of production, grow-finish also incurs the highest facility cost/pig, the second greatest production cost. Relative to weaned pig and feeder pig enterprises, the grow-finish enterprise has the greatest pig-to-pig variation in revenues. Inherent with this variation, is a greater opportunity for revenue enhancement than occurs with the sale of either weaned pigs or feeder pigs .
Both production costs and market revenues for the grow-finish phase are driven by biological performance. If pigs grow slowly, facility utilization drops, resulting in higher facility costs/pig. Throughput of the operation, called capacity utilization, is also reduced with slow growing pigs, since either fewer pigs can be grown in the facility or pigs have to be sold at lighter weights. When pigs inefficiently convert feed to gain, feed costs, on both a per pig and per kg basis, are increased. On the revenue side, variation in the growth performance of pigs results in increased market sort loss and variable carcass quality, causing premiums to suffer. Thus, for both cost and revenue reasons, it is essential that the factors influencing the biological performance of the growing pig be understood.

Nutrient Management Practices in Alberta

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Albertaa

Enviro- Loan

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Good environmental practices can be profitable in the long term. Thata

Farm Animals: Who Cares? – Farmers & Ranchers: Caring for our animals 24/7

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Less than three percent of Canadians are involved with farming today. That leaves many people with questions about the facts on farm animals. No one knows better than the people who care for their animals 365 days a year. As farmers and ranchers, we choose to work with animals because we enjoy it. Although farms and ranches are getting larger, they are still operated with the same care, commitment
and values of the generations who came before us. Look inside to find out more about us and the latest on farm animal care in Canada.

C H A P T E R 9 : INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND RESEARCH

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The view that the Panela

Variable Rate Manure Spreader: Technology to Validate a Nutrient Management Plan

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Federal and state regulations require reporting of manure application to cropland and imply that calibration of equipment must be carried out to some (unspecified) level of accuracy. Furthermore, there are areas within many fields where application of manure is not allowed at all; automatic shutoff of equipment when entering those setback areas is needed. To control for all of the factors involved, a variable flow control is necessary as they can reduce the time spent in field calibration, give more accurate results with as-applied verification, reduce commercial fertilizer inputs and provide a higher level of accountability in implementing nutrient management plans. The objectives of this project were to 1) develop a reliable, low-cost prototype variable rate slurry application rate control system for a vacuum loaded tanker and 2) develop a rational strategy for determining the expected accuracy of a variable rate manure delivery system.
The prototype developed could be used for existing tankers or for towed-hose applicators as an add-on lower cost control system linking ground speed sensing with magnetic flow meter installations. The pneumatic pinch valve might also be used as a A

Linking Corn Production, Climate Information and Farm-Level Decision-Making: A Case Study in Isabela, Philippines

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Corn is the second most important crop in the Philippines in terms of total area planted
and overall value next only to rice. Yellow corn is the most important corn type in the
Philippines, and is primarily used as feed especially for poultry and swine. In 2003,
more than 844 885 ha of agricultural land in the Philippines were planted to yellow
corn.
Isabela is the top corn-producing province in the Philippines contributing 17% or
536 353 tons of the countrya

Turning Community Concerns Into Sustainable Solutions

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The following projects were funded by the Triple S Hog Manure Management Initiative during its three-year history. Many of these will provide long-term and sustainable solutions to problems associated with hog manure odour, storage and utilization.
-Three-Stage Manure Treatment
-Application of Hog Manure to Perennial Forages
-Odour Measurement
-Liquid Manure Injection System
-Straw Cover on Hog Lagoons
-New Design for Manure Storage Tanks
-Remote or Field Storage With Relocatable SlurryPool
-GIS Technology for Selecting Sites
-Negative Air Pressure Cover for Earthen Storage Sites
-Compressed-Air Agitation System
-Training for Hog Barn Employees
-Manure Expos Lead to National Conference on Livestock and the Environment

An Analysis of the Horticulture Industry as a Potential Value-Added Market for Compost

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