Product Description

Discusses a wide range of species and topics, showing step-by-step how to perform the skills and techniques essential for those in animal management. Taking a hands-on approach, it reflects the author’s authoritative experience and emphasizes how to maintain and maximize an animal’s well-being and productivity. Over 800 illustrations, external parts and skeletal drawings, and new photographs offer readers a close look at each species and each livestock management technique. Features chapters on beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, livestock restraint and herd health. Covers all aspects of each species from breeding and conception through their complete lifecycle. Recommends techniques that are best for both the livestock manager and the animal. Provides cautionary notes at appropriate danger points with each step-by-step procedure. Follows a predictable format that includes an introduction to each technique, lists of necessary equipment, a discussion of required restraint, cautionary notes at appropriate danger points, a description of the normal recovery sequence, and a discussion of postprocedural management.  Excellent for those involved in livestock management.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #768394 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 656 pages

From the Inside Flap
PREFACE

The first edition of Handbook of Livestock Management was 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 the Handbook is 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 the Handbook are 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 in Handbook of Livestock Management reflects -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

From the Back Cover

Now in its third edition, Handbook of Livestock Management describes in detail the skills and techniques needed by those who manage livestock — with a focus on maintaining and maximizing animal well-being and productivity. Complete in coverage, it presents techniques and discussions for managing all species of animal agriculture including beef cattle, general cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry, from breeding and conception through their complete life cycle.

Some of the features of the new edition include:

• A hands-on approach, filling the gap between classroom and laboratory.
• Shows readers, step-by-step, how to perform the various manipulative skills of the animal agriculturist in a real-world context.
• Over 800 detailed illustrations.
• Fully support and enhance the text.
• New drugs and new protocols are discussed. Items not approved by the USDA have been deleted.
• Keeps readers informed regarding those drugs most recommended for livestock and those no longer approved.
• Table compiling disease and routes of disease entry has been added.
• Offers readers a convenient tool for reference.

About the Author

RICHARD A. BATTAGLIA, Professor and Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow.

Dr. Battaglia was raised in a farm setting (mixed livestock and grain) near Belleville, Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, with a B.S. degree in Animal Industries in 1966. He received the M.S. degree in 1968 and Ph.D. in 1969, both from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He worked for two years as Animal Scientist (Reproductive Physiologist) at Oklahoma State University; three years as Animal Production Program and Horse Program Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Technical College for Agriculture in Waseca, Minnesota; ten years as an Animal Scientist and Horse Extension Specialist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana; and eight years at South Dakota State University, where he served as Program Leader for Agriculture, Director of Cooperative Extension Service, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, and Development Officer for the University Foundation. In 1991, he joined the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho as Professor and Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science. He is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, and the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Customer Reviews

clear illustrations, directions and descriptions
I loved this book when I used it for class, and kept it for reference afterwards. I really liked how direct and clear the infomation was, I felt that if the need arose, I would be able to appropriately execute a new restraint, etc based on this book. It has a good deal of very relevant information, especially for someone who might not be as familiar with handling a species, for instance a cow person who needs to help someone with their swine. And for someone who might not have been around livestock, there is a lot to learn as well with plenty of illustrations so even if you are still learning the terminology you can see what is being described.

Good for beginners, too basic for more advanced people
I got this book for a livestock management class, glanced through it, and never looked at it again. It goes through how to handle all sorts of different animals, which is great for beginners, but way too basic if you've already worked with them. I wouldn't waste your money on it unless you are an absolute beginner in the animal science world.