Top Livestock Stories
UK Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center attains national accreditation
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Aug 6, 2009)

For the past five years, the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center has worked toward attaining national accreditation. All the hard work paid off as the center recently received its certificate of full accreditation from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians for all species.

The center's director and epidemiology professor, Craig Carter, said the accreditation will allow the center to better serve the people of Kentucky and beyond.

"This is our gold star," he said. "It elevates our status and also enhances the way those in the agricultural industry view us. It also enhances our international reputation. It means others can be confident that when we run a test, the results are reliable, accurate, and repeatable in other labs in this country and in other countries as well."

Carter said with accreditation comes the opportunity to join the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The network strengthens the United States' defense against large-scale foreign animal disease outbreaks and provides a way to track such threats should they become an issue.

"We would be a part of a national strategy to coordinate our work with all organizations that provide animal...
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Marion County Field Day focuses on beef industry, family fun
LEBANON, Ky., (Jul 16, 2009)

Marion County Field DayFor Kentucky producers to make profits in the beef industry, it's important for them to look for ways to improve their herd, reduce production costs and increase profits.

Marion County beef cattle producers learned ways to get the most productivity from their herds at the county's recent field day on a local producer's farm.

"The beef industry...
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Sunny Acres Farm hosts soggy Funfest for rural and urban guests
LOUISVILLE, Ky., (Jun 26, 2009)

Crossroads Farm City Funfest 2009More than 200 people braved soggy, muddy conditions to learn about agriculture at Sunny Acres Farm in Louisville. The biennial "Crossroads: Farm-City Funfest" went on despite torrential downpours at times. The weather didn't distract volunteers and vendors from their purpose, however - to show rural and urban folks alike what's happening...
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UK ag meteorologist warns of livestock heat stress threat
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Jun 24, 2009)

Recently Kentuckians have experienced some of the highest heat indices of the season. Livestock become uncomfortable when the heat index reaches about 90 degrees. With heat indices at or above that level this week, it's critical for producers to be aware of what's going on with the animals.

"The heat index is a combination of air temperature and humidity and is used to describe how it feels outside," said Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture meteorologist. "The University of Kentucky Agricultural Weather Center regularly...
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Safety awareness can help farmers prevent accidents, deaths
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Jun 15, 2009)

Summer is a busy time for Kentucky farmers, and farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. With the recent farm-related death of a Lincoln County man, producers across the state need to be vigilant about safety on their farms.

"This recent death involved entrapment beneath a round baler tailgate. Whenever you are working around or beneath farm machines or machine components held up by hydraulics, you should always engage the locking devices supplied by the manufacturer," said Mark Purschwitz, agricultural safety and health specialist...
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UK All Commodity Field Day returns to Princeton in July
PRINCETON, Ky., (Jun 15, 2009)

It's time for the biennial showcase in Princeton of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's latest research and extension work - work that is not only conducted on its western Kentucky research station, but throughout the entire college. This year's event is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT Thursday, July 23 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton...
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Dairy Transitions Meetings coming up in east and west Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky., (May 21, 2009)

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will host meetings in east and west Kentucky to educate prospective and current dairy farmers about transferring farms from one generation to the next and establishing lease or contract arrangements to start a new dairy.

The east Kentucky meeting is June 4 at the Fleming County Cooperative Extension office, and the west Kentucky meeting is June 5 at the Christian County extension office. Meeting times are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

Meeting topics include human dynamics, alternative dairy business models...
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Kentucky Meat Goat Field Day set for June 4 in Berea
QUICKSAND, Ky, (May 21, 2009)

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were more than 3.15 million meat goats in the United States in 2008. However the USDA report stated that U.S. producers still could not meet the demand, and they still have a difficult time finding information dealing specifically with meat goats.

Berea College, the University of Kentucky Robinson Station, Kentucky State University and the Madison County Cooperative Extension office will offer specific meat goat educational opportunities at the Kentucky Meat Goat Field Day June 4 at Berea College.

Beginning...
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