Publications, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)

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Browsing Publications, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) by Department "Animal and Poultry Sciences"

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    Ag Commodities - VCE Showcasing Scholarship Poster
    Arnold, Sandy; Baker, Karen (2017-02-22)
    Youth are our future. Agriculture is our lifeline. Extension merges these two vital topics together through the 4-H Agriculture Commodities Tour, bringing awareness of the necessity for both to meet on an intimate real-life, out-of-classroom experience. Despite the continual and increasing demand for educated agriculturalists, interest and enrollment in agricultural fields of study has stagnated or declined. Lack of exposure, experience and familiarity with agricultural opportunities is likely a large contributor to this problem. By connecting across the state with Extension Agriculture State Specialists and Agents at the ARECs as part of the 2016 tour, 28 inner-city youth had the opportunity of a lifetime to explore agricultural lifestyles and potential careers. Providing more than basic agricultural information books can ever provide, these youths explored the importance of sustainability and stewardship across the state through talks, demonstrations and experiential hands-on learning opportunities. In addition, while learning how agriculture relates to their lives, this also gave them an awareness of career opportunities in agriculture that interest them. Studies demonstrate these interventions yield positive in attracting youth considering agricultural fields as viable career options (McCallister, Lee, & Mason, 2005; Shivy & Koehly, 2002; Esters, 2007; Ladany, Melincoff, Constantine, & Love, 1997). Although measuring the outcome of our youth and their future is beyond the scope of this initial investment, it is hoped that this tour has made a significant impact on the youth’s perception of agriculture outside of the classroom, and encourages them to seek further into this new world of possibilities.
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    Beef Cattle Breeds and Biological Types
    Greiner, Scott P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    There are more than 250 breeds of beef cattle. The breed, or combination of breeds, used in a defined breeding program have a significant impact on the efficiency and profitability of the beef enterprise.
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    Cattle Identification: Freeze Branding
    Hall, John B.; Greiner, Scott P.; Gregg, Cynthia L. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    Freeze branding offers a permanent form of individual animal identification that is easy to read at a great distance, causes minimal damage to the hide, and is less painful than hot branding.
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    Crossbreeding Beef Cattle
    Greiner, Scott P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    A well-designed, manageable crossbreeding system is an important aspect in making genetic progress in the various economically important traits that drive profitability in today's beef industry.
  • Immunological castration temporarily reduces testis size and function without long-term effects on libido and sperm quality in boars.
    Clark-Deener, Sherrie; Lugar, Drew William; Rhoads, Michelle; Callahan, Stuart Russell; Prusa, Ken J.; Estienne, Mark J. (2016-10-27)
    The objective was to determine the effects of immunization against gonadotropin releasing hormone on reproductive characteristics in boars. Seventy-two boars were used in a randomized design with three treatments: single immunization (SI) or double immunization (DI) with Improvest® (Zoetis Animal Health, Florham Park, NJ, USA) and intact controls (no Improvest®; CNT) (n = 24/group). At 10, 15, 20, 25, and 40 wk of age, blood was collected and serum harvested to evaluate testosterone concentrations. Testosterone concentrations were less for DI boars compared to CNT boars and SI boars at 20 and 25 wk (P < 0.001), but not 40 wk of age. At wk 25, 18 pigs (n = 6/ group) were sacrificed and testes were removed, weighed, and measured and seminiferous tubules were examined and scored using histological slides of testes parenchyma. A sample of backfat was assessed for boar taint aroma. All testicular measurements and weights and seminiferous tubule scores were less for DI boars compared to SI and CNT boars (P < 0.001). More (P < 0.05) SI and CNT boars had detectable boar taint aroma than DI boars. Libido was assessed at 32, 36, 47, 60, and 63 wk of age and semen collected at 60 wk of age was analyzed for indicators of quality. There was no treatment effect (P = 0.41) on libido. Semen volume, gel weight and total number of sperm cells were not different among treatments. Sperm concentration was greater for DI than SI (P = 0.01), and tended to be greater for DI compared to CNT (P = 0.10). Sperm motility tended to be greater for DI boars compared to CNT boars (P = 0.066). The results show that there are no permanent effects of immunocastration on reproductive characteristics in boars.
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    Livestock Update. April 2010
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Currin, John F.; Whittier, W. Dee (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-03-29)
    Includes articles on April beef management, cow herd performance and profitability, fall calf options, polio associated with feeding corn gluten, effect of winter on cow pregnancy rates, and foot care and treatment in sheep.
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    Livestock Update. April 2011
    Greiner, Scott P.; Saville, Joi; Estienne, Mark J. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-04-11)
    Contains articles on April beef management, the southwest bull test and assured plus bred heifer sale report, recipient of Superior Service Award, spring breeding of sheep, and an upcoming workshop on breeding swine for small-scale production.
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    Livestock Update. April 2014
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Saville, Joi (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2014-04-18)
    Includes articles on beef herd management, several award recipients, the 2014 southwest bull test, management for fall lambing success, and a sheep update.
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    Livestock Update. August 2010
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Kuehn, Larry Alexander; Thallman, Mark (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-08-01)
    Includes articles on August beef management, summer pasture shortage, 2010 across-breed EPD table, upcoming stocker conference, upcoming Virginia Simmetal field day, sheep update, lamb management, and coping with drought for the sheep flock.
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    Livestock Update. August 2011
    Greiner, Scott P.; Eller, Arthur L. Jr. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-08-01)
    Contains articles on August beef management, Tri-State Cow Calf Conference, Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame, tips for successful sheep breeding, sheep field day, and an upcoming conference on parasite control in sheep and goats.
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    Livestock Update. August 2012
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Porr, C. A. Shea (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2012-08-16)
    Includes articles on August beef management, evaluating nutritional needs for winter, Goat Day 2012, large animal emergency response training, Sheep Field Day, sheep sales, and sheep breeding tips.
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    Livestock Update. August 2013
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Neil, Scott J.; Harmon, Deidre D.; Whittier, W. Dee (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2013-08-09)
    Includes articles on August herd management, phosphorus supplementation of beef cattle, 2013 across-breed EPD table, Applied Reproduction in Beef Cattle event, sheep breeding season tips, and a sheep update.
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    Livestock Update. December 2009
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Currin, John F.; Eversole, Dan Edward (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2009-12-03)
    Includes articles on December beef management, crossbreeding cattle, upcoming beef webinar, winter feeding of beef herds, and 2009 Hokie Harvest sale results
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    Livestock Update. December 2010
    Greiner, Scott P.; Saville, Joi; Eversole, Dan Edward; Estienne, Mark J. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-12-03)
    Includes articles on December beef management, an upcoming beef webinar, southwest bull test season, Culpeper bulls available, Hokie Harvest sale highlights, ewe management tips, upcoming shepherd's symposium, and inhibitors added to contaminated corn diets for weanling pigs.
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    Livestock Update. December 2011
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Whittier, W. Dee (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-12-12)
    Contains articles on December beef management, an upcoming beef webinar, Johne's disease, a shepherds' symposium and a sheep update
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    Livestock Update. December 2012
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2012-12-20)
    Includes the December and January beef management calendars, announcement of an upcoming webinar and symposium, 2012 Culpeper bull sale results, summary of the national beef quality audit, and winter sheep management tips.
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    Livestock Update. February 2010
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Wahlberg, Mark L.; Estienne, Mark J.; Harper, Allen F. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-02-02)
    Includes articles on February beef management, upcoming beef convention and webinar, including clover in forage plans, crossbreeding cattle, buying bulls, bull test and bred heifer sale, ewe nutrition and management, newborn lamb management, and swine welfare
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    Livestock Update. February 2011
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Whittier, W. Dee; Stanley, Thomas; Wood, Cynthia M.; Kyle, Ashley (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-01-27)
    Contains articles on February beef management, spring calving, preventing scours, bull selection benchmarks, upcoming beef webinar, southwest bull test, expansion decisions for part-time sheep producers, and a tentative schedule for the youth swine education day.
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    Livestock Update. February 2012
    Greiner, Scott P.; McCann, Mark A.; Whittier, W. Dee; Carter, Jason; Leech, Rodney; Saville, Joi; Porr, C. A. Shea (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2012-02-17)
    Contains article on February beef management, frost seeding clover, Virginia cattle, antibiotic use in livestock, upcoming webinar, southwest bull test, plants that are toxic to horses, management of newborn lambs, and winter sheep management tips.