Animals and Livestock

Spotlights
Animals and Livestock Quick Find Topics

Select a topic to find recent books, journal articles, and audiovisuals in the NAL Catalog (AGRICOLA).

  • Animal Diseases
 books articles
  • Animal Production
 books articles
  • Animal Transportation
 books articles
  • Beef Cattle
 books articles
  • Beef Products
 books articles
  • Swine
 books articles
  • Pork
 books articles
  • Dairy Farm Manure Management
 articles
  • Transgenic Livestock, Fish and Insects
 books articles
Farm Animal Welfare and Food Safety Fact Sheets

USDA. ARS. Livestock Behavior Research Unit.

LBRU scientists have produced a series of fact sheets covering important farm animal welfare and food safety topics.
Animal Welfare Specific Topic RSS Feeds

USDA. NAL. Animal Welfare Information Center.
Chicks Animal Welfare Audits and Certification Programs

USDA. NAL. Animal Welfare Information Center.

On this page are links to animal husbandry guidelines, animal welfare audit overviews, humane certification programs, food industry animal welfare policies, and related international policies.
Cow in pasture. Disaster Planning for Farm Animals

USDA. NAL. Animal Welfare Information Center.

A resource that lists preparedness and disaster plans for livestock. Also included are training modules on disaster preparedness.
National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP)

USDA. Agricultural Research Service.

This collection preserves the genetic diversity of agriculturally important animals. It includes genetic material from chickens, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, bison, elk, and fish.
Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter: Compliance Assistance

USDA. Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Explains USDA's role in ensuring the humane slaughter of food animals in commercial plants.
Animal Waste Management

USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Links to information about software products, composting, and training opportunities in agricultural waste management.
Researcher observing sheep Animal and Natural Resources Institute

USDA. ARS. Animal and Natural Resources Institute.

Conducts research and develops technology transfer programs that ensure high quality and safe food while protecting the environment.
2007 US Animal Health Report (PDF | 17.2 MB)

USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The report addresses the US animal health infrastructure, animal population demographics, approaches to foreign animal disease surveillance, animal health diagnostics and veterinary biologics, and new initiatives, including emergency management efforts. The 2005 US Animal Health Report is still available online.
Sheep on pasture. Livestock Library

Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

This database contains over 16,000 documents (journal articles, conference proceedings and extension information) with research and extension information for livestock producers and the general public.
Animal Diversity Web

University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology.

An online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology. Provides taxonomic description of organization above the species level, such as phyla, classes, orders, and families.
Livestock Safety

Auburn University. Department of Animal Sciences.

Provides information for the safety of the livestock handler when handling and working with farm livestock.
Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America

Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production.

This report is the culmination of a 2.5 year study of the current industrial farm animal production (IFAP) system in the US. The web site contains links to the full report (released in April 2008) which addresses the effects of IFAP systems on public health, rural communities, the environment, and animal health and well-being.
Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane Slaughter

Colorado State University.

Provides information about welfare audits, humane slaughter of livestock, design of animal facilities, animal welfare, and behavior. Information from Dr. Temple Grandin, Department of Animal Science.
Breeds of Livestock

Oklahoma State University. Department of Animal Science.

Contains descriptions, registries, and photographs of livestock breeds from all over the world. Includes information on cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine, buffalo, camels, llamas, reindeer, yaks, donkeys, and poultry.
Livestock Marketing

Iowa State University. Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

The is an electronic, national resource that offers producers the ability to investigate value-added commodities or niches, gather information on creating a business, research general market and industry trends, and locate resources in a directory.
Breed Identification

Auburn University. Department of Animal Sciences.

Pictures of breeds of dairy and beef cattle, swine, sheep, and horses are provided on this site.
Animal Production and Health

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Animal Production and Health Division.

Comprehensive information to help facilitate the development of the fast expanding and changing global livestock sector in order to provide clean and safe animal products to consumers.
Selection of Alternative Livestock Watering Systems (PDF | 1.31 MB)

University of Tennessee. Agricultural Extension Service.

Discusses three livestock watering systems and options for each: direct flow, gravity flow, and pressure systems.