Issue #2

Animal Production

Problem, Opportunity Statement*

Animal agricultural production remains a significant component of Pennsylvania 's economy. Pennsylvania farms received $4.5 billion in cash receipts in 2002; 40% of that total, $1.8 billion was from the dairy industry alone. The dairy industry is important to Pennsylvania , which ranks 4 th among the 50 states in milk production and cow numbers. Pennsylvania had 590,000 dairy cows and another 567,000 dairy heifer replacements in 2002. Add to those 1.2 million dairy animals, 1.9 million swine, 133 million broilers, 10 million turkeys, 24 million layers, 200,000 beef cows, 150,000 beef cattle on feed and 215,600 pleasure, work and race horses; and the scale and economic importance of Pennsylvania's animal production can easily be comprehended. While animal agricultural production occurs throughout Pennsylvania , there are geographic areas where animal production facilities are very concentrated.

Pennsylvania 's animal agricultural production industry is not only massive in size, but is also extremely dynamic in response to the increasingly competitive, national and global food marketplace. Farm businesses producing animal products are restructuring in many ways to gain competitive advantages. Some businesses are expanding, while others are seeking direct or niche markets for their products. Most businesses are adopting various alternative production strategies to meet the demands of the consumer, and almost all of the state's animal production businesses, regardless of size, are seeking to adopt new technologies to maintain profits or provide superior products to consumers.

Additionally, Pennsylvania youth show a strong interest in animal production programs. Over 50,000 youth are enrolled in the 4-H embryology program. Another 7,400 youth participate in the 4-H youth horse program annually. Total youth animal projects number over 78,800 each year. Youth animal projects increase appropriate knowledge, skills, production practices, and awareness of animal agriculture issues for our future agricultural leaders.

Because of the economic importance of the animal production industry in Pennsylvania, its size and concentration in certain areas of the state, and because it is often concentrated in areas of significant human population, animal agriculture is worth an intensive and sustained effort by Penn State Cooperative Extension  to meet the industry's challenges and to ensure public support and future viability .  These challenges include:

· Designing milk meat and egg production systems to meet the increasingly stringent quality and food safety demands of the marketplace.

· Maintaining animal health in Pennsylvania 's geographically concentrated industry and in production units of increasing animal populations.

· Controlling new and emergent diseases in animal agriculture, especially diseases with zoonotic capabilities or potential to cause economic destruction to the state's animal production industry.

· Maintaining efficient and profitable production while eliminating negative environmental and public health impacts. Issues of concern include complying with legislation regarding water quality and quantity, air quality, nutrient management and environmental stewardship, as well as employing practices that promote good will and understanding between agricultural and non-agricultural neighbors.

· Providing facilities to improve animal care and comfort, as well as meet increasing societal standards for humane care and management of farm animals.

· Finding new technologies to improve the efficiency and quality of animal production and applying those technologies appropriately.

· Educating the general public (including youth audiences) about animal agriculture and industry standards of best management production practices, while helping producers address the concerns of consumers, neighbors, and communities.

Penn State Cooperative Extension has the capacity to develop and provide objective, research based information and solutions to address all of these challenges. Cooperative Extension will enthusiastically work with producers, agribusinesses, related businesses, consumers and citizens to meet these and the other challenges that the future holds for Pennsylvania's animal production industry.

* Statistics used in this statement are from the following sources:

PA Ag Statistic Survey, 2001-2002

PA Equine Economic Impact Survey, 2003

Feed Management, October 2003

Pennsylvania state 4-H Office

Subject Matter Areas

• Product Quality Systems and Ethics Education
  • Unique Animal ID
  • Pork, Beef and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance for Producers
  • Youth programs Quality Assurance and/or Ethics for youth, parents and volunteers
  • Milking systems and milk quality assurance
    
    
• Animal Health
  
  
• Waste Structures/Nutrient Management
  
  
• Reproductive Management
  
  
• Animal Nutrition
  
  
• Animal and Agricultural Facilities
  
  
• Human Resource Management related to Animal Production
  
  
• Public Policy/Education regarding Animal Products, Production and Management
  • Environmental Issues: nutrient management, flies, odor,
  • Production and Management Practices Issues
  • Insurance Issues
  • Youth education including animal-based school enrichment programs, dairy, horse, swine, beef, sheep, goat, small animal, and companion animal

• Value Added
  

Program Titles and/or Program Topics by Subject Matter Area

• Product Quality Systems
  • Quality Assurance and/or Ethics Training
  • Milking Systems
  • Consumer Issues
    • Alternative Production Strategies(organic, natural)
    • Marketing Diversity
      
      
• Animal Health
  • Disease Control & Prevention
    • Prepurchase testing & vaccination protocols
    • Metabolic disease control
  • Biosecurity in Animal Production
  • New & Emerging Diseases
  • Strategic Antibiotic Use

• Waste Structures/Nutrient Management
  • Farm Site Assessment & Layout
  • Manure Management
    • Structures
    • Hauling & handling
    • Safety and Environmental Issues
    • Manure Regulation Issues (Act 6 & CAFO)
    • Mortality Composting
    • Air Quality
    • Nutrition Strategies Impacting Nutrient Management

• Reproductive Management
  • Strategies to improve pregnancy rate
  • Parturition Management

• Animal Nutrition
  • Forage Quality
  • Grazing Systems
  • Feeding Systems
  • Cost Containment
  • Matching animal requirements to growth stage

• Animal and Agricultural Facilities
  • Design & renovation of animal facilities and farmsteads
  • Animal Comfort, welfare and productivity
  • Handling and safety , including horse safety and horse management skills
  • Cost Containment
    
    
    
• Human Resource Management related to Animal Production
  • Training in Production Systems

• Public Policy/Education regarding Animal Products and Production
  • Economic Impact of Animal Agriculture
  • Public Education on Animal Production Issues
  • Youth Education of Animal Production, Management and Use Issues
  • Liability Issues

Resources

• Animal Health

* State Extension Specialists and Extension Veterinarians

* County Extension Staff

* Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Veterinarians and staff.

* Local veterinarians

* Extension publications

* Animal Disease Laboratories

* WEB based resources

* Industry/Producer Groups

• HRM in Animal Production

* Extension Specialists

* Extension Agents

* Registration fees

* Grant money

* Agribusiness specialist

* Written and web-based resources

* Industry support

* Non-Extension University personnel

• Nutrient Management

* Federal grant

* State funds

* Web sites and list serv

* Staff and faculty

* Partnerships with ag organizations

* Conservation funds

* Equipment

• Animal Nutrition

* State funds for extension faculty and staff salaries.

* Reference guides, websites, videos, computer programs, demonstrations and on-farm research.

* USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit

* Pennsylvania Project Grass Chapters

* Grant money from various sources.

• Product Quality Systems

* Commodity checkoff funds

* PDA grants

* USDA grants

* Departmental allocation of 504 funds

* State funds for agent salaries

• Reproduction and Genetics

* State specialists

* Extension veterinarians

* Agents

* Industry partnerships (artificial insemination industry)

* Tuition (cost recovery)

* Web based resources

• Animal Science Public Policy and Education

* Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, Teachers, Local county and Township Officials

* Species and Breed, agricultural Associations, Councils, etc.

* PA Dept. Ag

* 4-H project materials

• Animal & Agricultural Facilities

* Cooperative Extension Educators and Faculty

* Program Funding

* County program support

* NRAES

* Mid-West Plan Service

* Agribusiness and agrifinance firms

Indicators

• Number of individuals (producers, volunteers, parents and youth) demonstrating increase in subject knowledge and skills (all program areas , including 4-H animal skill activities ).

• Number of individuals receiving individual assistance.
• Estimated dollar value of adopted best management practices.
• Number of individuals implementing recommended action or practice - nutrients, water quality and/or odor.
• Number of individuals implementing or improving an on-farm composting.
• Number of individuals implementing recommended action or practice - reproduction or genetics.
• Number of individuals completing quality assurance certification and/or ethics training.
• Number of producers adopting management practices - product quality.
• Number of producers implementing human resource management practices.
• Number of animal owners implementing infectious animal disease control measures.
• Number of buildings constructed or renovated according to recommended design features.
• Number of facilities sited during new construction to improve farmstead traffic and animal flow.
• Number of municipalities adopting or modifying ordinances as a result of educational programming.
• Number of youth completing 4-H animal projects.