Website Resources
Website addresses change periodically. The sites listed are current as of August 2004. Emphasis was placed on selecting resources relevant to the care and welfare of beef cattle.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
http://www.agr.gc.ca/ind ex_e.phtml
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides information, research and technology,
and policies and programs to achieve security of the food system, health of the
environment and innovation for growth. Abstracts available from “The Lennoxville
Symposium on Farm Animal Welfare in Canada: New technologies, research and world
trade.”
Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) Association
AFAC
is an association started by farmers. AFAC’s goal is to promote responsible
animal care and enhance public understanding of Alberta’s animal agriculture.
AFAC participates in issues and legislation that encourage research into relevant
to animal care. Website contains Farm Animal Welfare News, a publication that
contains current information on farm animal welfare initiatives, relevant issues,
and research conducted in Canada. Links to reports, codes of practice, legislative
information, and information on training courses on handling and transport of
swine, cattle, and horses.
Alternative Farming: An Annotated Database
http://www.awionline.org/farm/altfrm.htm
Searchab le database containing farmers’ profiles and case studies, useful hints and guides, research articles, book chapters, books and web sites. Coverage includes articles on cattle, pig, poultry, sheep and goat grass-based farming; rotational grazing; deep-litter and outdoor systems; pasture; grassland management; sustainable agriculture; principles of low-stress livestock handling; animal behavior; predator-friendly farming, etc. Emphasis on methods that encourage species specific behavior and conservation of the environment.
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is an international association of veterinarians organized to enhance the professional lives of its members through relevant continuing education that will improve the well-being of cattle and the economic success of their owners, increase awareness and promote leadership for issues critical to cattle industries, and improve opportunities for careers in bovine medicine. The association site provides extensive links to online resources including the Dairy Quality Assurance (DQA) Center which has many resources available to producers, milk handlers, veterinarians, and other members of the dairy industry who want to foster the well-being of dairy animals. The Caring for Dairy Animals Technical Reference Guide and the companion On-Farm Self-Evaluation Guide have been compiled for a wide audience, including researchers, students, the press, veterinarians, and, of course, milk and dairy producers.
Animal Well-Being and Stress Control Systems
http://www.ar s.usda.gov/research/programs.htm
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ARS is charged with extending the Nation’s scientific knowledge across a broad range of program areas. This Website describes ARS research initiatives in the area of farm animal well-being and stress.
Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
National Agricultural Library10301 Baltimore Ave.Beltsville, MD 20705Tel: (301) 504-6212, Fax: (301) 504-7125, Contact AWIC:
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library provides reference services primarily for patrons using animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act. Farm animals used in teaching, testing, and non production oriented research, are covered by the Act. AWIC produces bibliographies on the welfare and husbandry of swine, cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, dogs, cats, rabbits, and rodents. The Animal Welfare Information Center Bulletin contains several articles on agricultural animal care and use including anesthesia, analgesia, animal transport, and animal welfare issues. The AWIC Website includes these documents. The site also contains links to US farm animal policies, guidelines, and congressional activity.
Animal Welfare and Behavior Group at Michigan State
http://www.msu.edu /~zanella/current.html
Description of current research projects of the Animal Welfare and Behavior Group at Michigan State. Projects include studies on memory and learning in pigs, and a novel animal welfare training program patterned after traditional animal judging teams. The program offers students the opportunity to assess the welfare of animals maintained under different housing, husbandry and environmental conditions.
Animal Welfare and Beef Cattle Feedlots
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/27_119_ENA_HTML.htm
This fact sheet reviews important management considerations for beef cattle raised in feedlots including: humane handling, human animal interactions, facility design, mixing cattle, adverse environmental conditions (i.e. hot weather, dusty yards, boggy conditions), nutrition, and health.
Dehorning Beef Cattle Via Genetics is Welfare Friendly
http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/articles/dehorn.html
Recommendations from the Expert Committee on Farm Animal Welfare and Behaviour, on Promoting the use of Polled Sires within the Beef Industry in Canada. Background information on the advantages of using genetics over mechanical and chemical dehorning in beef cattle are presented.
Animal Welfare: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) New Zealand
Full text Codes of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for livestock and other species are available at this site. Humane treatment of livestock during transport, slaughter, and sale yards covered.
Animal Health and Welfare
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/animindx.htm
The
health and welfare of animals are central to Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affair’s (DEFRA) work of protecting and improving livestock
and controlling and eradicating disease. The Animal Health and Welfare pages
are divided into various subject areas including: BSE, Tuberculosis, Identification,
Animal Welfare, International Trade, Disease surveillance and control. Links
available to a number of documents focusing on cattle welfare.
Annotated Database on Refinement of Housing and Handling Conditions and Environmental Enrichment for Laboratory Animals. Part II: Cattle, Calves, Chickens, Goats, Horses, Quails, Pigs, Sheep
http://www.awionline.org/Lab_animals/biblio/refine.htm
An annotated database of articles, abstracts, book chapters, and books, on all aspects of refinement and environmental enrichment are available at this site. Housing and handling of farm animals is included. The database is regularly updated.
Arizona Ranchers Management Guide
http://ag .arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/ranchers.html
Revised and expanded in 2002 this guide is designed to be an information resource for Arizona ranchers. The guide contains extension-developed information on a wide range of issues related to Arizona ranch management. Subject coverage includes: identifying poisonous plants, diseases of beef cattle, feeding in drought conditions, rangeland management systems, marketing, and more.
Beef Cattle @ TAMU
http://animals cience.tamu.edu/ansc/index.htm
Provided by the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University the Online Beef Information Center contains publications and information about a beef cattle and beef cattle management. Topics include information on reproduction, quality assurance, facilities, genetics, health, nutrition, and more.
Beef Cattle Handbook on CD-ROM
http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/mwps/mwpscd1.htm
Information on ordering the 1999 version of the The Beef Cattle Handbook, developed under the auspices of the Beef Cattle Resource Committee of the North Central Land Grant Universities. The CD contains 145 articles and extension bulletins in PDF format. The materials cover reproduction; agribusiness and business management; nutrition; production management; quality assurance and carcass and end products; health and entomology; facilities and equipment; environmental stewardship; pasture, range, and forage management; and breeding and genetics.
Beef Cattle Resources
http://ww w.ansi.okstate.edu/library/cattbeef.html
Maintained
by the staff of the Animal Science Department at Oklahoma State, this site features
an extensive listing of web links for various breed associations, bull test
stations, herd health, reproduction, husbandry, and beef cattle nutrition information.
Animal Welfare Guidelines For Beef Farms
http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2003/animalwelfareguidelines.htm
Basic welfare guidelines geared toward producers raising beef cattle in Ireland are presented. Good stockmanship, husbandry, veterinary procedures, facilities, feeding, transport, and animal welfare legislation are reviewed.
Budd Williams Stockmanship School: Teaching Low Stress Livestock Handling Methods
Stress is an important component of livestock health problems and effectively limits performance. Sources of stress include shipping, weaning, acclimation to new surroundings, processing, pen riding, treating and sorting. People can be trained in stockmanship and management techniques that eliminate stress during these procedures and, in fact, make handling episodes positive to performance, quality and animal welfare. Budd Williams has spent a life time perfecting these techniques and now offers training classes in his unique handling methods.
Clemsen Beef Cattle Information Database
http://ww w.clemson.edu/edisto/beef-db/beef-db.htm
Database contains links to extension educational materials on beef cattle breeding and genetics, reproduction, body condition scoring, pastures and forages, health, management, and handling facilities.
Colonel K.L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare
http://www.aps.uoguelph.ca/~csaw/
Located at the University of Guelph, the Centre’s mission is to promote the welfare of animals through research and education. Research projects focus on: alternatives for the use of animals in teaching; assessing animal well being; enriching the lives of laboratory animals; ethical issues of animal use; animal breeding and genetic engineering; humane husbandry systems alleviating animal suffering; and relationships between animals and people.
Combined Livestock Issues Database Information
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/liru_afs/refman/index.htm
A
reference database compiled for farm animal researchers and educators. The database
provides references on contemporary issues in animal agriculture.
Companion Animals and Livestock: Beef
http://www.agric.ns w.gov.au/reader/beef
This site is provided by New South Wales Department of Agriculture. Beef pages contain information on health, nutrition, drought, herd management, quality assurance, and facilities.
Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) Home Page
CSREES
link the research and education programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and works with land-grant institutions in each state, territory and the District
of Columbia. The mission of CSREES is in cooperation with partners and customers,
to advance a global system of research, extension and higher education in the
food and agricultural sciences and related environmental and human sciences
to benefit people, communities, and the Nation. A clickable map of extension
programs by state is available at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partners/state_partners.html
Beef
producers are encouraged to use this site to locate extension materials
that
are specific to their state’s climatic conditions, types of housing, feed
resources, etc. Cow-Calf
Corner htt
p://www.ansi.okstate.edu/exten/cc-corner/archive.htm Extension
site covering a wide range of topics regarding beef cow-calf management. Topics
covered include estrus synhcronization, pregnancy checking, calving time management,
cow herd health, bull management, nutrition, and more. Determining
the Condition of Beef Cattle http://www.raa.nsw.go
v.au/reader/1749 A
series of photographs of beef cattle with fat scores ranging from 1-4 is presented.
Fat scores are
discussed in relationship to their impact on cattle welfare. Dr.
Temple Grandin’s Web Page Full
text, abstracts, reviews, and general information based on or related to the
work of applied ethologist Temple Grandin. Topics include livestock behavior,
design of stockyards and restraining systems, humane and ritual slaughter, stress
and meat quality, current research, animal welfare/rights, and books. A fact
sheet entitled “Critical Control Points on Feedlots, Ranches, and Stocker
Operations” provides beef producers with tips on proper management practices
to ensure optimal cattle welfare. Effects
of Body Condition on Productivity http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AN0
04 Body
condition can be used by cattle producers to make management decisions. Decisions
about grouping cattle and the type and level of supplemental feed for maximum
profit should take into consideration body condition. This publication reviews
the relationship of body condition to productivity, provides pictures of beef
cattle representative of different body condition scores (BCS), and gives examples
of how body condition can be used to help in making herd management decisions. Encyclopedia
of Farm Animal Behavior (EFAB)
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/liru_afs/EFAB/default.asp This
online encyclopedia containing audio and video clips of farm animals exhibiting
various behaviors, is intended for research and teaching purposes. The encyclopedia
is provided by the USDA, ARS, Southern Plains Area, Livestock Issues Research
Unit, and Multimedia Division. European
Commission on Animal Welfare http://e
uropa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/index_en.htm The
European Commission’s activities on animal welfare recognize that animals
are sentient beings. The Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection
is responsible for setting standards for the welfare of animals on the farm,
during transport and at slaughter. Links are available to animal welfare policy
objectives, legislative action, ongoing initiatives, and international animal
welfare issues. Healthy
Animals http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/ha/index.html The
Healthy Animals Website offers an online compilation of animal health related
research news. The site is maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
chief scientific agency, the Agricultural Research Service. National
Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) http://www.animalagricultu
re.org The
National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is an umbrella organization
of producers, veterinarians, processors, corporations, and commodity organizations
that advocate programs that improve animal health, care, and food safety. NIAA
produces educational videos and pamphlets on animal care, behavior, handling,
transportation, and disease. Authors include animal scientists working in academic
research institutions and commercial production facilities. Videos, pamphlets,
and meeting proceedings may be ordered directly from NIAA. NetVet
http://netvet.wustl.edu/vet
.htm NetVet
focuses on veterinary resources with links to veterinary education, listservs,
organizations, publications, and images. This award-winning site is an excellent
starting point for looking for materials for training personnel in care and
use of agricultural animals. A useful feature of NetVet is the Electronic Zoo.
Among the Electronic Zoo animal group icons are horses, cows, pigs, small ruminants,
and birds. Each icon contains a list of Websites related to these species. Ohio
Agricultural Education WWW Server http://www-cms.a
g.ohio-state.edu/Home.html This
server provides ordering and pricing information for Learning Laboratory Kits,
interactive CDs, books, videos, and brochures. Subject coverage includes quality
assurance, animal care, welfare, and handling, of beef, dairy, swine, goats,
sheep, rabbits, and dogs. Teaching materials for FFA projects are listed as
well. Oklahoma
State University, Department of Animal Science Web Page This
is a quality Website containing sections covering breeds of livestock, free
ration formulation software, extension publications, youth instructional materials,
and more. Ontario,
Canada, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Livestock Web Page
http://www.gov.o
n.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock Web
pages are available for dairy, beef, swine, goats, and alternative livestock.
The swine page includes information on animal welfare, housing, health, genetics,
reproduction, and more. The
International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS) A
not-for-profit organization created to provide clinically relevant, up-to-date
information to veterinary practitioners, veterinary students, clinicians and
researchers worldwide using the internet. The IVIS Website allows users free
access to original, electronic textbooks, reviews, updates, and other resources
on a wide variety of veterinary topics. All publications are original contributions
written specifically for the IVIS Website and reviewed by the editor(s) of the
book. Each book includes links to information about relevant medications. Book
chapters can be printed on a desktop printer for easy reading. Veterinary related
information available for farm, laboratory, companion, and exotic animal species. USDA
APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cnahs Information
on bio security strategies for farms. E coli, Salmonella and other disease pathogens
covered. Welfare
of Cattle Kept for Beef Production
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/out54_en.pdf This
is a report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare,
and was adopted in April 2001. This report discusses the welfare of cattle kept
for beef production and topics covered include definitions and assessment of
animal welfare, production zones in the European Union, beef production systems,
cattle fattening systems, housing systems, behavior of cattle, effect of housing
on the welfare of animals, and the effects of management on cattle welfare.
This 150 page document is in PDF, which requires. Welfare
of Cattle and Calves http
://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/cattle An
overview of legislation and “welfare codes”pertaining to cattle
raised in Europe. Bulletins in PDF format available on: calf survival, condition
scoring, lameness, and the 2003 Code of Recommendations for Livestock: Cattle. Worldcat This is a great way to locate library resources near your home or farm. Your local librarian can assist you in borrowing training materials from state libraries and/or the National Agricultural Library (NAL). However, not all local libraries have web pages. For libraries not listed check your local telephone directly. XPLOR,
University of Missouri, Cooperative Extension: Beef Publications http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/ansci/beef.htm This
site contains fact sheets and abstracts relating to beef breeding, feeding,
health, and management.