Livestock and Equine Plan of Work

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Boyd County CES

Title:
Livestock and Equine
MAP:
Livestock and Equine Issues
Agents Involved:
Harned
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Equine
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Poultry/Small Flocks
Situation:

Horses are still increasing in number and popularity in the county and the area. It would not be surprising if the number of horse owners is equal to, or above, the number of cattle owners. The majority are for pleasure riding, but there are also a fair number of show horses owned and trained in the county. Of the pleasure horses, it is a mix but many, if not most, are used for trail riding, or plan to be used for that. New and first time owners are growing and the need is there for educational on animal care and horsemanship in general. And there are always new things occurring that even seasoned horse owners need to learn.  Given the previous statements, the interest and participation in equine related activities and programming is increasing annually. Commercial cattle remain the top economic livestock species in the county.  We are seeing a slight increase in pigs/hogs being raised for the custom market. This, along with a new livestock processing facility opening, there is an increasing interest in custom beef,. One area that we are seeing a significant increased interest in is managing land for wildlife, mostly for hunting purposes but also just for viewing enjoyment. We begun to offer educational opportunities to the public who seem to be much more interested in buying local raised, custom processed meat than in the past.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Overall, more equine animals will be vaccinated, properly shod, be fed the proper rations for their usage, and have improved parasite control. The owners/riders will also have implemented safer handling and riding actions for themselves as well as their horses.

Livestock owners will improve the way their livestock are handled and cared for as we become more responsive to the demands of the consumers concerned about animal welfare as well as the quality of the meat products that come from these animals. Additionally, they will implement practices that are more protective of the environment in raising and maintaining their stock. The challenge will be integrating the above practices while still retaining the ability to make a profit. From a cattle perspective, this can at least partially be addressed through having cattle owners become certified through the Kentucky BQCA program. The local food animal producers will have a steady local market for their animals as more local people buy them for custom processing, especially with the new processing facility opened and running daily.

Intermediate Outcomes:

The equine owners and riders will implement the gained knowledge and begin to put into practice. This will lead to more animal friendly living conditions, as well as improved nutrition and health care. It will also lead to safer riding and handling for the owners themselves.

Cattle owners will continue to apply the information they receive to improve the productiveness of their animals, through increased nutritional information as well as health care, handling and facilities. Goat owners will continue to improve their herds health care and nutrition. All will continue to integrate into their operations the practices necessary to protect the environment, including water resources and the quality of life of their charges while in their care. Local food animals producers will continue to see an increase in demand for their livestock as local consumers adjust to buying their meat locally and have it custom processed.

Initial Outcomes:

Equine owners will gain the knowledge that will allow them to improve the care for their animals and the environment their animals live and recreate in. These will include housing, health, and general maintenance of the animals, and basic horsemanship knowledge for the riders themselves.

Cattle owners will continue to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to keep their operations profitable. This will include re-enforcing current practices as well as those that develop moving forward. We will continue to keep them informed about changing laws and regulations that will affect them and their operations, as will small ruminant owners. Local livestock producers and the general public will have a new livestock processing facility to take advantage of, with the goal of having it become USDA certified within 6 months to a year of opening for commercial sales purposes.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Horsemen and horsewomen will attend programs aimed at giving them the skills and knowledge to properly and safely care for and interact with the animals

Indicator: Increased knowledge of how to care for and ride their animals

Method: Written evaluations after programs or verbal personal follow-ups

Timeline: Summer and fall 2024- spring 2025


Intermediate Outcome: Horse owners and riders will be implementing the knowledge they gained from attending the programs offered

Indicator: Implementation of the knowledge they learned at the programs

Method: Personal communication and farm visits, possible written follow-up surveys

Timeline: 2024-2025


Long-term Outcome: Many of the skills and knowledge gained by equine owners will become part of their everyday care for their animals and their use of learned skills when riding.

Indicator: Observed conditions of the animals and their environment, and the way the people ride the animals

Method: Personal communication and farm visits, possible written follow-up surveys

Timeline: 2024 and beyond


Initial Outcome: Livestock owners will increase knowledge and/or skills gained in addressing production efficiency as well as changing social expectations of their chosen operations.

Indicator: More attendance at programs addressing the above issues

Method: Program pre and post evaluation instruments, if appropriate, and group and individual follow-up

Timeline: Summer and fall 2024- Spring  2025


Intermediate Outcome: Agriculture animal owners will implement changes in the operations that address social, environmental and production issues.

Indicator: Increased practices put into action on the farms and farmsteads addressing environmental, social and production issues

Method: On-site visits, increase in number of contacts addressing the issues, personal contacts

Timeline: 2024-2025


Long-term Outcome: Negative environmental impact from animal agriculture will be greatly lessened, the social perspective will improve and the livestock producers will still be profitable, more efficient and still in operation.

Indicator: Improved water quality from testing results, increased livestock production/profits, a more favorable look from the public of animal agriculture.

Method: Site-visits, personal contacts, word of mouth from the public

Timeline: 2024 and beyond

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Equine Owners, County Saddle Club members

Project or Activity: Monthly meeting with educational programming offered, annual East KY Horse Expo

Content or Curriculum: Various, depends on requests and needs

Inputs: Ag agent, specialists, facilities

Date: Monthly 2024-2025


Audience:  Equine Owners

Project or Activity:  Saddle Club sponsored equine training sessions

Content or Curriculum:  Designed by Saddle Club, UK specialists, industry professionals

Inputs:  Saddle Club, Boyd County Extension property and equipment, ag agent input

Date: Summer and fall 2024- Spring 2025


Audience: Equine Owners, horse enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Horse College, Advanced Horse College

Content or Curriculum: Horse College, Advanced Horse College

Inputs: Agents, specialists, industry experts, facilities

Date: Fall 2024 or winter/spring 2025


Audience: New or inexperienced trail riders

Project or Activity: Offer trail riding training

Content or Curriculum: To be developed with local Saddle Club and UK Equine Extension specialist

Inputs: Facilities, volunteers, specialists

Date: 2024


Audience: Property owners with livestock

Project or Activity: Proper fencing program/demonstration(s)

Content or Curriculum: How to make sufficient fences to contain animals as well as to protect/preserve water ways from the animals while still being able to use the water resource

Inputs: Cooperators, fencing supplies, industry experts, UK specialists, Extension agents

Date: Fall 2024 or Spring 2025


Audience: Beef Producers (Highlands Beef Cattle Association or HBCA)

Project or Activity: Scheduled meetings with educational programs

Content or Curriculum: Fencing; processing; forage production; health care issues; genetics. marketing

Inputs: Ag agents, state specialist, industry experts, KDA, KBN

Date: Monthly Fall 2024- Winter/spring 2025


Audience: Farmers/farm land owners

Project or Activity: Ag Water Quality Plan workshop

Content or Curriculum: Ag Water Quality Plan computer program and printed materials

Inputs: Agent, Conservation Office, facilities, computers, copies

Date: Spring-summer 2024 


Audience: Wildlife enthusiasts and general landowners

Project or Activity: Developing wildlife food plots

Content or Curriculum: How to develop food plots for increased nutritional health of wildlife, including game animals for harvesting, as well as just backyard type viewing pleasure

Inputs: Extension agents, facilities, plot work, wildlife cameras

Date::Winter 2024


Audience: Livestock owners

Project or Activity: Livestock composting program

Content or Curriculum: UK specialist provided materials

Inputs: Composting site, composting materials, tractor, personnel to input animals

Date: Year round annually


Audience: Goat Producers

Project or Activity: Multi state Goat Seminar

Content or Curriculum: UK and Purdue Health, nutrition, breeding, and parasite control

Inputs: Agent, facilities, State specialist form UK, KSU, and Purdue

Date: Winter 2024-2025


Audience: CAIP orientation 

Project or Activity: Orientation to the CAIP program offered each time the program is offered in the county

Content or Curriculum: Will provide orientation of the program to any who are wanting to participate, general overview and what is needed and expected

Inputs: Ag Agent and county CAIP administrator

Date: Spring/summer 2024 and as needed moving forward


Audience: Forage and  Forage Animal Producers, General Public

Project or Activity: Forage Demonstration and weed control plots

Content or Curriculum: Developed in conjunction with UK Forage Specialist

Inputs: State specialists, facilities, etc.

Date: Fall 2024 and/or winter/spring 2025


Audience: Farmers/producers

Project or Activity: CAIP program

Content or Curriculum:  State Ag Development Board and KOAP provided in order with HB 611; 

Inputs:  Provided by KOAP and state Ag Development Board

Date: Summer/fall 2024


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: BQCA (Beef Quality and Assurance Program)

Content or Curriculum: Standardized curriculum/training offered to any beef producer who wants or needs it

Inputs: KBA and UK developed content, as well as national level content and standards

Date: As needed, but usually in conjunction with a new CAIP program being offered

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