Emergencies When Transporting Livestock 

A Jacob ram peaks out the back of a trailer door.

For many, getting on the road with livestock in a trailer can be stressful. When it comes to accidents involving livestock, situations can easily become chaotic. Many who respond to these emergencies, such as police, firefighters, or EMS, have little to no livestock handling experience. Below are a few tips to aid in reacting to … Read more

Disaster and Emergency Planning

Aerial picture of a flooded field and pasture.

One thing that many fear is the unexpected – especially when it could affect your farm and livestock. There are ways to prepare for a disaster and its aftermath. If you are a farmer or rancher looking to create one of those plans, check out some tips and resources below!  Farm Information  When planning for an … Read more

Meet the Vet – Dr. Lainie Kringen Scholtz, DVM, cVMA

Dr. Lainie Kringen-Scholtz poses for a photo with a young calf

Organic and alternative livestock farmers often struggle to find veterinarians who practice non-conventional medicine. The Livestock Project recognizes the importance of giving a shout-out to veterinarians doing just that! This week, we would like to introduce you to Dr. Alaina Kringen-Scholtz (Dr. Lainie) of Twin Lakes Animal Clinic in Madison, South Dakota.  Background Dr. Lainie … Read more

Organic Pasture Management

Beef cows graze on lush green grass in the morning sun.

For organic and alternative farmers, grazing animals is a large part of their feed program. Pasture is convenient and allows for diversified grazing of lands that may not be useful for raising crops. It is important to carefully manage your pastures to prevent overgrazing, soil depletion, and health problems. With proper care, your pastures can … Read more

Immunocompromised people and livestock

Old man holds a lamb while young girl pets it in a barn.

 Ever wonder what they mean when they say immune compromised? It is important to understand to protect yourself, your loved ones, farm visitors, and workers.   What does immunocompromised mean?  Immune compromised means your immune system isn’t working as well as it should. This can happen for many different reasons. Factors like age or medical treatments, … Read more

Direct contact and disease spread

Two sheep touch noses on a pasture.

No matter the size of your herd or flock, diseases can be spread by animals in contact with each other and with you.   How are diseases spread through direct contact?  For a disease to be spread through direct contact, there must be a disease agent in the environment on an infected animal. Animals become exposed … Read more

Monkeypox

Monkey sits on a branch in a leafy area.

A disease you may have heard about in the news recently is Monkeypox. Monkeypox is rare and relatively unknown in the U.S. If you work with non-human primates, you may be more familiar with this disease. There are currently 460 reported cases of Monkeypox in the U.S. as of July 1, 2022. Health officials are … Read more

Keeping your hands clean on your farm

handwashing station attached to the side of the barn

Hand washing is very important when working on a farm or ranch. While it sounds too easy, hand washing is one of the easiest and best ways to protect your animals, yourself, and those on your farm from disease-causing organisms. Stations should be set up around the premises, so employees and visitors can wash their … Read more