June is National Dairy month, so grab yourself a nice cold glass of milk and celebrate! The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that we meet our food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages. These foods provide vitamins, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock
External and internal parasites cost the horse industry billions of dollars annually. In this blog we will focus on external parasites such as flies. Flies are not just an annoyance to us, but even more so to our horses. Not only do flies make ... READ MORE
Category: Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS ExtensionHorse Bot Fly (Gasterophilus intestinalis) The horse bot fly or stomach bot is an internal parasite of the horse’s gastrointestinal tract. Geographical location influences seasonality of bot flies. In north Florida, the flies are more active ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Coccidiosis is a common, potentially deadly disease that is spread through the environment, primarily through infected litter. It is normal for chickens to peck their surroundings. Therefore, the more contact the flock has with fecal material ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Spiky, Stinging, and Sometimes Deadly Pasture weeds can reduce forage yields and have been estimated to cost Florida ranchers $180 million annually. Now that's a scary number! What's worse is that some of these weeds have the potential to physically ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension
The chicken mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) is an external parasite that feeds on more than just chickens. Despite the name of this pesky pest, the chicken mite has a much wider range of hosts including wild birds and mammals. Once the flock is ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease
Internal parasites are a problem that impact all types of livestock, especially small ruminants such as goats and sheep. Haemonchus Contortus, commonly known as barber’s pole worm or stomach worm is one of the major internal parasites that ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease
The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) offers a sharp reminder that cacti don’t just reside in dry, desert climates. Instead, this cactus has a home in the wet, southeast with some species native to Florida. It is a shrub forming cactus that ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock
It's getting chilly! Or is it? Fall is here and winter is stepping on its heels, as temperatures drop people are beginning to think about the comfort and safety of their horses. However, your discomfort for the cool weather does not necessarily ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock
Your horse has one set of permanent teeth and it is important to help maintain their dental health as horses life spans increase. Read the edition of the Horse Herald below to learn about equine dentistry and what's really in your horse's mouth. Click ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension