Handbook of Livestock Management

by Battaglia, Richard A.

• ISBN13: 9780130104915
• ISBN10: 0130104914
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

The fourth edition of Handbook of Livestock Management discusses a wide array of species and topics, showing step-by-step how to perform skills and techniques essential to those in animal management. Taking a hands-on approach, it reflects authoritative experience and emphasizes how to maintain and maximize animal well-being and productivity. Over 800 illustrations offer readers a close look at each species and each livestock management technique. Chapters on cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, livestock restraint, and herd health make this a complete handbook for students of animal science, veterinary science, and vocational agriculture. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Richard A. Battaglia is Professor of Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Acknoledgments	xv
About the Author	xvii
Livestock Restraint Techniques	1	(61)
Beef Cattle Management Techniques	62	(44)
Cattle Management Techniques	106	(78)
Dairy Cattle Management Techniques	184	(34)
Swine Management Techniques	218	(56)
Horse Management Techniques	274	(88)
Sheep Management Techniques	362	(54)
Goat Management Techniques	416	(57)
Poultry Management Techniques	473	(47)
Animal Health Management	520	(39)
Appendices	559	(40)
Glossary	599	(14)
Index	613

Excerpts

PREFACE The first edition ofHandbook of Livestock Managementwas designed to fill the need for a book that described in detail the skills and techniques needed by those who managed livestock. We, the authors and contributors to that first edition, thought it important that the teacher, student, and producer utilize sound and safe procedures in the management of farm animals, thereby maximizing animal well-being and productivity as well as enjoyment for the manager. The book was intended as a comprehensive text and reference for students of animal science, veterinary science and technology, and vocational agriculture, and as a handbook and reference for livestock producers and technicians. Today, just as when we completed the first two editions, the need is the same--a text, a guidebook, that provides the details of useful, complete, accurate and safe procedures for performing the absolutely necessary livestock management techniques. This book is intended to fill in the gaps between the classroom and the laboratory. The material is not theoretical; it is primarily hands-on. It describes not only what to do but how to do it. In reality, the need for theHandbookis greater today than it was 20 years ago. There are fewer of us growing up on farms, there is a greater awareness of the need to provide for an animal's well-being, and there is less time to teach (and learn) hands-on manipulative skills because of the ever-increasing body of technical and cognitive skills that must be taught to (and learned by) our students in the classroom. Just as in the first two editions, included in this edition of theHandbookare chapters on the management of beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, and poultry, along with chapters on livestock restraint and herd health. The presentation of the techniques in each chapter follows the same format. A brief introduction to each technique is presented along with a listing of necessary equipment, a discussion of required restraint, a detailed step-by-step procedure with cautionary notes at appropriate danger points, a description of the normal recovery sequence, and a discussion of necessary postprocedural management. At every opportunity, the verbal directions are supported by illustrations, of which there are over 800. Parts of the animal, with terms accepted by livestock professionals, are included as chapter frontispieces. Labeled drawings of the skeletal structures of the various animals are presented in the appendices. A useful glossary and a comprehensive, cross-listed index complete the educational package. No specialized knowledge is required for an understanding of the text. Many of the techniques can be self-taught. The book is written and organized in such a manner that the student can learn by doing. When it is commonly recognized that there are several ways of performing a technique, the one presented is preferred by the author and recommended as best for both the livestock manager and the animal. The material presented inHandbook of Livestock Managementreflects -the years of experience and livestock production backgrounds of the author and contributors. It is unique in its approach and in its completeness. The author hopes that this book will serve as a comprehensive, useful text and reference work for those engaged in teaching livestock management to young men and women and for those actively working in production agriculture careers. Moscow, Idaho. RAB