Month: December 2015

Floodwater: Water that spreads uncontrolled onto land that is usually dry. After floodwater recedes, the center of the town was left buried in mud. Properly managing floodwater helps protect farmland and infrastructure.

A renewable energy source produced from the anaerobic digestion of dairy manure and organic waste. For example, producing biogas from dairy manure to generate electricity and heat for farm operations.

FCE: Abbreviation for feed conversion efficiency. This measure helps farmers optimize animal feeding practices to improve growth rates and reduce feed costs.

dribble bar: An attachment that applies a liquid top dressing to a crop through trailing pipes from a boom. Dribble bars help distribute fertilizers and other treatments evenly across a field.

hog cholera: Same as swine fever. Preventing and managing hog cholera ensures the health and productivity of swine herds.

experimental horticulture station: An experimental farm which specializes in plants, rather than livestock. Abbr EHS. Learning from EHS research helps farmers enhance their crop production techniques.

A sustainable land management practice that integrates trees, forage, and livestock on the same land. Silvopasture provides multiple benefits, including improved biodiversity, soil health, and forage production. For example, planting trees in a pasture to provide shade for livestock and produce timber.

vitamin K: A vitamin found in green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage, which helps the clotting of blood and is needed to activate prothrombin. Ensuring adequate vitamin K intake can improve blood health and overall well-being in livestock.

The planning and coordination of the transportation and storage of dairy products from production to consumption. For example, managing dairy logistics to ensure fresh and high-quality dairy products reach the market.

The age and development stage of a carcass, affecting meat quality and grading. Carcass maturity is assessed based on bone ossification and muscle color. For example, evaluating carcass maturity to determine the appropriate USDA quality grade.