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Livestock Management

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Anaerobic Digester Systems

Livestock wastes can be important sources of nutrients for crops, but manure must be managed properly to prevent loss of nutrients to the environment. One method of stabilizing manure is anaerobic digestion, a microbe-mediated process carried out in the absence of oxygen that breaks down the complex organic compounds in the manure into simpler compounds. The process results in the production of renewable energy in the form of methane-rich biogas.

Related Topics: Cattle, Beef, Livestock Management

Related Topics: Cattle, Bulls, Livestock Management

Related Topics: Dairy Farming, Livestock Management, Business Management

Related Topics: Dairy Farming, Livestock Management

Related Topics: Horses, Livestock Management

Pastures

An area devoted to the production of forage (introduced or native) and harvested by grazing. [NALT]

Pastures are those lands that are primarily used for the production of adapted, domesticated forage plants for livestock.[AGROVOC]

 

Related Topics: Poultry, Livestock Management

Related Topics: Swine, Livestock Management

Publications

Biosecurity and Biological Risk Management for Livestock Enterprises

Matt Hersom, Max Irsik, and Todd Thrift

Handbook of Florida Agricultural Laws: Animal Husbandry

Michael T. Olexa and Connor Brock

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s).

Survey of Mycotoxins Present in Florida Pastures Across Time, Locations, and Grass Species

Hui-Ling Liao, Kaile Zhang, Kaile Zhang, Vijay Verma, Haihua Wang, Brittany Justesen, Justesen,Brittany L., Joseph Walter, Joseph H. Walter, Valerie Mendez Stansly, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Marcelo Wallau, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Ed Jennings, J. K. Yarborough, Doug Mayo, Ray Bodrey, andAaron Stam

The toxicity of grasses caused by mycotoxins has led to economic losses in the United States due to the health impact on livestock feeding on it. Florida's warm and humid weather is favorable for the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi on grasses. The JECFA has provided evaluations and risk management for some high-risk mycotoxins; however, more research is needed in Florida to determine the maximum levels of these mycotoxins, how different environmental conditions affect these levels, and the specialized risk management to prevent animals from getting sick. Our Extension agents were able to collect and examine 195 grass samples from 13 ranchers across dry and wet seasons in Florida. In this publication, we summarized the results for our ranchers to learn more about (1) what (dominant) mycotoxins are generally present in Florida’s pastures, (2) what grass species could harbor more of these mycotoxins, and (3) what seasons or locations may favor these dominant mycotoxins.

Foundational Small Ruminant Management and Husbandry

Christa Kirby, Allison L. Williams, Laura Bennett, Bridget Stice, andBrittany N. Diehl

This article is meant to serve as an overview of small ruminant husbandry practices, which include basic nutrition, health, and preventative management concepts. Written by Christa L. Kirby, Allie L. Williams, Laura H. Bennett, Bridget Stice, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, June 2025.